Home renovations are often costly, which can be a real nightmare for any of us trying to stick to a budget. 

However, it is still possible to save money through careful planning and a little bit of DIY know-how, so you don’t have to eat into all of your savings. 

Below are just some of the ways to save money on your home renovation, so keep reading for some practical ideas.

1: Shop around

The internet is a great resource for comparing contractor quotes so don’t settle for the first person you come across when looking for builders (and other professionals) online. Look for the cheapest prices but remember to factor in the firm’s reputation too as you want to avoid any disreputable firm that will sting you with hidden charges.

Shop around for appliances, internal fixtures, and building materials too, as well as anything else that is needed for your home renovation. It’s also a good idea to wait for sales season, such as Black Friday or the January sales when certain items may be cheaper. 

2: DIY what you can

There will be some jobs that you can’t do alone, such as anything relating to pipework that necessitates the services of plumbers, and electrical jobs that are too dangerous for anybody not qualified. However, there are some tasks that you may be able to do, such as painting, tiling, and wallpapering. By taking on some of these jobs yourself, you won’t need to pay for the services of a professional.

3: Don’t renovate everything at once

We know it can be frustrating to wait, but if you don’t have the budget for all of the renovations you want, it is better to wait and save up before taking out an expensive loan. Prioritise the things that are important to you and for anything else, hold out until you have enough money stored away in the bank.

4: Know what you want before work begins

Renovations often end up being more expensive when homeowners change their minds about something halfway through a project. Not only is this annoying for anybody they have hired to do the job, but it’s also more costly, as there might be a need for the professional to work for longer. There might also be a need for more materials which can also add to your expenses. So, before work begins, make a thorough plan, perhaps with an architect or building contractor, and use this time to clarify your thoughts about what it is you really want from the renovation. 

5: Balance your spending

There will be some items that you want to spend more on, such as statement pieces for your living room and designer tiles for your bathroom. Then there are things that you won’t have to spend a lot on, such as handles for doors and cabinets and any other fixture that won’t be noticed by anybody but yourself. By balancing your spending in this way, you will have more to spend on anything you really desire. 

Finally

You don’t always need to break the bank to make your home more practical and better-looking, so consider these suggestions. 

Then consider ways to make money for your renovation, perhaps by selling any appliances you will be replacing, and by trading unwanted metal fixtures to scrapyards for cash. This way, you will have more money for the things you want to spend extra money on and more money in reserve should you need it down the line. 

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Disclosure: This is a collaborative post.