5 Practical Tips to Save Big on Home Renovation Costs

One of the biggest showstoppers when it comes to conducting a house renovation is the budget to make it all happen. This is not without good reason though since money will always be a homeowner’s biggest concern when trying to make this big decision.

But as with everything that involves home improvement, it doesn’t have to be outrageously expensive. With careful planning combined with knowing how to DIY easy home repairs, you can make the necessary improvements in your home without spending a fortune.

1. Plan Ahead

It is absolutely crucial to draw detailed plans on what you want to be done in your home before doing anything else. This will help you determine the budget needed for your renovation while identifying which parts of the house need tearing down and what kind of remodeling should be done.

Having an established budget also helps you stick to it to lower the overall cost.

2. Seek the Services of Professionals

If you are planning to make huge changes to your home, it’s always a smart decision to hire the services of professionals. They can help you figure out what is needed to be done, how they’ll do it, and give you an idea which options will cost less.

In this regard, there are two you need two guys needed for the job:

• Architect

An architect can draw up the right plan to cover both the aesthetics and functionality of your renovation, so you might want to consult one to save on costs. This could also be beneficial in terms of the safety and durability of your home by improving its structural integrity through your planned renovation.

• Contractor

The contractor is tasked to do all the dirty work, so he needs to be hands-on with the construction to deliver a topnotch job. This is going to be key in keeping costs at a minimum by making your expenditures worth it.

3. Shop Around for Good Deals

Looking around for good deals on both furniture and appliances and work around them can be a cost-effective way of remodeling your home. Keep an eye on promos and discounts that include freebies for more bang for your buck.

Keep in mind that everything doesn’t have to be new, so decide on which can be reused or repurposed.

4. DIY What You Can

Your renovation should follow an established time frame to help you stick to your budget, so anything you can do to help even with the minor repairs can be a huge deal.

Here are some easy home repairs that you can DIY to save time and money:

• Install the lighting fixtures

This task is easy enough to do even if you only have basic handyman skills. Most bulbs are screw-on, so this doesn’t pose much of a problem.

Installing fixtures might be more of a challenge, but if you carefully plan how to go about it, this can be done. Remember, when handling electricity, safety should be your number one concern.

• Replace the doorknobs and hinges

Hinges are easy enough to do since all you need are a tape measure and a screwdriver to screw them into the sides of your doors. The doorknobs can be a bit tricky, though, but if you understand the whole process, installation is going to be a breeze.

It is important to note that doorknobs and hinges, including locks, should be of high quality, which means these are items you should not scrimp on. You wouldn’t want to compromise your safety just to save a few bucks.

• Unclog the sinks and drains

You don’t need a professional to remove the blockage from your pipes, so it would be best to do this on your own.

Easy home remedies like pouring boiling water down the drain can dislodge and wash away the buildup. If that doesn’t work, a more potent solution involving vinegar and baking soda might do the trick.

• Clean up the mess

Taking out all the trash and cleaning up after all the construction in and around your home shouldn’t be counted in your expenses. Haul out the excess materials yourself and have them picked up by your local trash trucks.

You can also donate appliances or furniture you don’t need. As for the final touch, you can ask friends to help you clean up instead of hiring cleaning services.

All these relatively easy tasks can cut the lead time and make you save on your daily expenses. However, there is one caveat. If you think you can’t do it the right way, leave it to the professionals.

5. Always Think Long-Term

Saving a lot of money may be great for your finances, but always remember never to compromise quality and efficiency. It’s going to be beneficial in the long-run.

Lean towards making sustainable and energy-efficient decisions like using LED lights, inverter air conditioning units, and maybe a few solar panels to heat water.

You can also remodel your home in a way that makes the most out of natural lighting through clever window designs. This might be a little costly, but think of the huge savings you will get from it over time.

Author Bio:

This is a guest post by Oscar Florea. Oscar is a content contributor for Avida’s lifestyle blog Pursuit of Passion. He is an engineer by profession but a multipotentialite by destiny. Just like a normal dude in a basketball-crazy country, one of his passions is shooting hoops. Grant Hill is the older brother he never had.