Renovation: 5 Essential Money Saving Tips!



When planning a renovation most people will go to an renovation firm and get a package deal. This may be seem to be the easiest way to do a renovation but will not be the cheapest. Busting the budget is everyone's biggest fear when it comes to planning a renovation but doing the due diligence of building in a 10% cushion to cover the nasty surprises or get contractor references and checking them is not the only thing you can do to save money. Staying on budget is hard, but there are ways you can save money. Here are 5 ways you can do this. 

1. Ask for leftover materials. Ask your contractor if he has any odds–and–ends stock left over from other jobs. They may not be exactly what you want but you'll probably be able to negotiate a hefty discount. 

2. DIY. Handle your own demolition, or do some of the finishing work yourself. If you want to save money, dig in and start helping out. You can do the insulation, painting or sanding. Help with the cleaning up every day instead of paying someone to pick up sawdust off the floor , this will leave more time for the contractor to do his work. Speak to your contractor and agree a plan forward with him in advance. 

3. Make decisions early. Before the work renovation  starts, get a good feeling for what you want in fixtures and appliances and what they cost. If you aren't absolutely specific up front about what you want, you'll have to rely on your contractor's quote and his notion of what is acceptable may be quite different to yours. For example, you may have had a glass–tile splash back in mind, but your contractor's quote was for ceramic.

4. Don't move plumbing or electric.  Moving the plumbing for the sink or toilet will be costly. Try to plan your renovation around the current plumbing. Adding or moving electrical outlets is also expensive. Consider the hacking and material costs. Ask your contractor for their advice and always consider their advise. 

5. Stick to stock sizes.  Try to use standard sizes when you purchase materials. Custom made item will cost more than the stock items. For example,  custom kitchen cabinets can cost 60% to 80% more than stock cabinets from IKEA.  

Doing a renovation can be more rewarding when you have got your hands dirty. You will have your friends come around to look at the finished job you can stand there proudly and say, I removed that wall or did the painting. You will always have the memories of the hard work you put into your renovation and not just what the contractor had done.


If you are planning a renovation and need a contractor?


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