With spring on the way, many homeowners have spring cleaning on the mind and are considering home renovation—major or minor. If this describes your household, keep in mind these money-saving tips so that home renovation doesn’t have to put you and your family out of your household budget.
Supply Your Own Labor
This is perhaps the place where you can save the most money. Professional labor can be extremely expensive in the realm of home renovation, making purchasing project materials and doing the work yourself a great way to save. For example, the average cost of having a bedroom professionally painted can vary from about $200 to $400, yet two gallons of wall paint comes out to only about $60 to $140. With the wealth of online DIY tutorials, home renovation TV shows, and print resources available today, do-it-yourself projects for the home are now easier and more accessible than ever.
Do-it-yourself projects don’t require you to be a seasoned carpenter or woodworker with a professional workspace in your home, either. If you’re lacking for tools, borrowing them from neighbors and friends is a great budget-friendly option, and many hardware stores even offer tool rental services.
Hire an Expert Where You Truly Need It
While do-it-yourself projects are invaluable to saving money during any home renovation, sometimes hiring an expert will save you money in the long run. Do-it-yourself projects gone wrong could be the source of an unexpected and costly home expense, and many home renovation projects simply require more skill than you would expect. Moving a wall, for example, requires not only moving drywall but also often rerouting electrical wires, plumbing, floorwork, and more. Long story short, if you’re nearing a home renovation project that requires some technical skills that you don’t feel confident acquiring on your own, go ahead and hire and expert.
Look for Lower Sales Tax
Do you live near an area that enjoys lower sales tax than your own area? Consider driving a few extra miles to save big on large do-it-yourself project expenses. Or perhaps a sales tax holiday is coming up in your state, which will allow you to enjoy no sales tax on energy efficient kitchen appliances. Wait to do your shopping then.
Ask for a Discount
When purchasing project materials or working with a professional, sometimes all you need to do to save a little money is to ask. Purchasing flooring for the entire first floor of your home? Ask if there is a volume discount. Meeting with a bathroom tiling professional and have a budget in mind for your project? Communicate that to the person you’re meeting with.
Use Existing Home Features
Things like rerouting plumbing and moving walls can make any home renovation project much more expensive. Instead of creating a plan to make a bedroom closet larger, for example, consider how you can be utilizing that space better with improved organization.