Easy Ways to Save Money on House Renovations
Renovating your house can seem a little bit daunting but we have some top tips to get you through the process without too much stress – and with some money saved. For more tips, check out this Home Remodeling & Renovation Guide.
1. Set yourself a budget. If you have been planning this for some time, you will have had plenty of time to save up and will have a budget set in stone. It is vital that you price everything up correctly. Not making a note of quotes, or just having a guess at roughly how much something might cost is not a smart move. And when setting a budget, don’t forget that you need to include a budget for hiring a waste disposal company like South Park dumpster rental. Budgeting and expense tracking helps bring to light potential costs and is therefore easier to manage.
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2. Can you do it without an Architect? It depends on the size of the job; there are some things that you are going to need to get in touch with professionals and find someone who can do the job. If not, then you can do the following:
Get your pencil out – You are very free to draw up the plans yourself. As long as you include all the information that will be needed by any local authorities and the people who are handling the job.
Ask your contractor – some contractors are happy to come up with plans.
Hire a draughtsperson – they’re qualified to come up with precise plans for your project. Check their insurance before you go ahead with this one.
3. Get your suppliers in order. You are likely going to need a few different suppliers and tradespersons to get the job done. Check out local electricians, merchants for any fittings you are going to need, companies like ABC Home & Commercial Plumbing Services are ideal. Don’t be fooled by glossy brochures and slick websites. You need a job done well, so seek out reviews. There is also no reason that you shouldn’t hire a smaller company, they usually charge less and often do a better more personal job.
4. Shop around. Never take the first quote. Write a list of approximately 10 or so quotes for every job you need to be done. Once you have the cheapest quote, you have space to haggle. Use it. You might find that the mid-priced companies are willing to come down and you might get the company you wanted at a much lower rate.
5. Consider using old materials. This one might require a little bit of a hunt around, but you can pick up some very good, high quality, low-cost materials from other renovation projects. Have a chat with your contractors, and search online. Repurposing will save a bucket of cash.
6. Mix the Cheap with the Expensive. More companies are producing high-quality items for half the cost, and most people won’t be able to tell the difference. If you want to say that your new counters are made of a specific type of material, then that will have to be something you list a non-negotiable. To cover that cost, you’ll need to consider making cutbacks elsewhere. You might also think about, if you need to buy things like cupboards, doors, shelving – you buy the cheapest wood version and spend some time sprucing them up to match the look you have in mind.
7. Keep your eyes peeled for ex-display items, large auctions, bankruptcy sales and more.
8. While you can spend out on a person to manage the whole project – if you have time, try to do this yourself. It is a big decision to take on the role, and shouldn’t be taken on lightly, renovations and building is very time-consuming. However, you will have a very firm grip on how much you are spending, where the most significant chunk of the money is going, and you will be able to make changes to save cash as you go along.
9. Do It Yourself. Yes, some DIY is going to be the easiest way to save some money. There are plenty of things you will be able to do yourself. From finishing touches like painting, polishing, and primping to bigger things like installing the cupboards, laying the flooring or plastering. If your skills reach that far then don’t be scared to get involved. However, if you know for sure that it is a little beyond your capabilities – hire the professionals. That is what they are there for.
At the end of the project, you should be left with a little bit of money left over and a home that you are delighted with. Renovations can seem like a huge task, and while they usually take a while to complete once they are done, you can be filled with a sense of achievement.
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