Whether you need to move walls or just need an update, getting your home renovation done for the best price will take patience and planning. Make sure that any big changes, such as tearing out walls, are carefully checked out by a contractor before you pick up a hammer. Start small, build your skills and tool stock, and don’t go for the big expensive projects unless they’re absolutely necessary.
Paint First
If your home is feeling cramped or tired, start with paint. There are multiple benefits to repainting a room.
1) You have to move everything off of and away from the walls.
2) Once you do that, you need to wash the walls, patch the holes, sand, and prime the patches and paint.
3) When you’re done with that, you might as well wash the floors or clean the carpets.
4) You can put things back in place in a new arrangement to make the space feel a bit roomier.
Unless you’re really strapped for time or facing serious physical limitations, all of the tasks above can be DIY projects. If you have handy friends that are willing to help, invite them over. If you have un-handy friends willing to help, ask them to fix food for the crew.
While prepping to paint, you can also declutter and reorganize the space. Getting rid of things you don’t use can give you a lot more space and may reduce the need to add on to your home or move walls.
Repair, Don’t Replace
Carefully review what you have and try to make it work. For example, if your laundry room is hard to organize and you really want a stackable washer dryer but don’t need a new washer dryer, you may be able to do a temporary laundry room renovation with hanging baskets, wall cabinets from a Habitat Restore, or new hardware overall.
Using what you have instead of replacing items that are still working will go a long way toward protecting your renovation budget. From cooktop repairs to getting the waterline to your refrigerator replaced, you can protect your budget and still enjoy a terrific new-to-you kitchen, bath, or laundry room.
Hire a Pro For the Big Stuff
Do make sure to hire a professional for the big stuff. Changing out a light switch or an outlet is a simple DIY project, but if you don’t know what you’re doing, it can result in a nasty shock. A simple plumbing repair may appear doable, but it only takes a small leak to result in a big mess and expensive damage.
You may be tempted to open up the wall between the kitchen and the dining room, but if you don’t have the strength or the skills to
- determine if the wall is load-bearing
- re-route electrical wires and phone lines
- move water lines
- cap off gas lines
you could be putting your family, self, home, and investment at risk.
Buy What You Need With the Right Card
If you know that you’re planning on making big changes and have hired a contractor that you trust, get a product list and a supply list from them or make one for yourself. As possible, try to buy the supplies for your project yourself with a card that will give you points or cashback.
As your goal is to enjoy a successful renovation and keep costs down, make sure you have enough cash to cover the estimate on the supplies and labor. Head to the hardware store and buy the items that you need, even if you leave them to be picked up by the contractor in a larger vehicle. When the bill comes due, pay the debt with the cash you’ve saved.
When using a card for points, make sure you keep an eye on the expenses that creep in. Your renovation project may include turning an attic into a bedroom, so don’t buy new curtains for the living room while you’re at the home improvement store. Make a list and stick to it.
Knowing why you need to renovate is the number one step in setting up a renovation budget. Hire a skilled professional for the projects you’re not sure about, and do what you can on your own.
