Home Remodeling on a Budget

Remodeling or renovating your home is one of those dream-come-true projects. You spend a lot of time dreaming about updating your kitchen or bathroom because it seems super expensive to renovate or remodel.

Whether you just want your home to have a fresh look or you want to sell, remodeling your home doesn’t have to bust your budget. By doing the following tips, you will make your house more comfortable to live in, increase market value and save money.

Understand What Needs Renovating or Remodeling

Set a Budget for Your Remodel or Renovation

A budget is just a lump sum of money you put aside to remodel. It doesn’t have to be a huge sum. Just enough to make sure you can get the type of things you need when you are in the process of changing the space in your home.

Clean Before Making Changes

No one is saying your house is a mess. This is a tip for everyone. It is best to put things where they belong so that you have the opportunity to see things are currently arranged. After you clean, try to rearrange furniture. Maybe you can choose a better location to place items that is more pleasing to the eye.

Getting rid of all the clutter also makes a space look bigger compared to when everything is crammed in one area. You can save even more items to another room. This tip requires sweat equity and no money.

Make a List and Think Small First

Once you’ve cleaned your home, the next step to saving money is to consider changes that will make the greatest impact first. These should be things that give you the most bang for your money, like changing lighting, painting, and installing a different floor. Making some minor changes may be what your home needs instead of a remodel.

The next step is to continue to think small. Small kitchen renovations can have a huge impact, too. Invest in changing cabinet hardware in the kitchen instead of replacing the cabinets. Add a drawer organizer instead of installing new drawers. Repair worn items that still function instead of replacing them. It helps to change a rug in the bathroom rather than changing the tiled floor.

Do Some of the Remodeling Yourself

One of the best ways to save money while remodeling is to do some stuff yourself. If you have the skills to do it yourself, you save a lot more money than hiring someone to do the work for you. Always make sure the project is something you can do without causing any damage or encountering any complications.

Use Creativity to Save Money

When you start remodeling your home, it’s time to get creative. This means you look for the most obvious ways to save money on your projects. One example is bartering and trading. If you have friends experienced in remodeling, ask them to trade or barter. Negotiate a trade such as installing a sink for babysitting, running errands for them, or cooking.

Borrow or Rent Tools

This will save a lot of money. Libraries now lend tools. There are a lot of places that rent tools to non-contractors too. Always look at second-hand rehabs for materials. Places like Habitat For Humanity Restore have many second-hand materials that fit well with today’s decor. Restores also sell gently used and new items for the home, like home accessories, appliances, and building materials.

Compare Service and Material Costs at Other Stores

Before you buy anything new, shop around. Prices vary tremendously for certain items such as tables and cabinets. Thus, it’s a good idea to try to get quality services and materials at reasonable prices. You also want to look at the clearance section to find great deals on quality materials. No one will know unless you tell them how much it costs. You can save on services and materials if you wait until November, when the home improvement industry tends to run sales.

Don’t Buy What You Don’t Need

When shopping for materials, you’ll find a lot of special features and other items. These things will always look attractive, but they won’t be what you need. For example, you may find a great deal on windows, but you don’t have the budget or need for new windows. Resist buying needless items. You’ll thank yourself later.

Consider Money-Saving Companies and Programs

The last tip involves government programs. Look for companies and government programs that can save you money. For example, a government program may allow you to get a rebate for turning in your old refrigerator or tax credit for making energy improvements.