How to Save on Home Renovations

Everyone has their own reasons for home renovations. Some people are looking to renovate to improve their living space, while others just want to add value to their homes. In some cases, renovations might be enforced, if aspects of your home are starting to degrade over time. Increasingly, people are opting for renovations to make a home more environmentally sound.

Renovations in the spring or summer can often avoid disruptions caused by the weather. However, if the groundwork is required, the winter might be a good choice, as vegetation dies down.

Types of Home Renovations

Basement Renovations

Renovating a basement can make the most of the living space in your home. Renovations might turn a cellar or storage space in the basement into a liveable area or an extra bedroom.

Bathroom Renovations

Renovating a bathroom might be needed periodically due to wear and tear. This can involve structural changes and a lot of plumbing work as you replace a shower or other bathroom fittings.

Kitchen Renovations

Kitchen renovations can be simple jobs like refinishing surfaces and cabinets, or they can be expansive projects. If you want a whole new kitchen suite or to move around appliances, sinks, and electrics, it can quickly become a big job.

Ways to Save on Renovations

Take a DIY Approach When Possible

Approach this tip with caution, but if you already have some skills that can be put to use, then it makes perfect sense to do so.

You may not need a professional for every aspect of your home renovations. A lot of manual labour such as removing old materials and emptying a room don’t even require specific skills. Just be prepared to put in some hard work.

Don’t attempt to do everything yourself. If you don’t have the skills, it can be dangerous to do so. Plus, it costs more to repair a botched job.

Take Advantage of Seasonal Offers

Seasonal offers and sales can save you a lot of money. Sales may occur in the winter when not as many people are undertaking renovations. Some building materials, appliance, and suite sellers even take part in January or Black Friday sales. Subscribe to DIY and material store newsletters so you are always kept in the loop on sales.

You might be surprised what looking at seasonal offers can do for your costs.

Research Online

Thanks to the internet, we live in an age where more information is available at the tip of our fingers than ever before. So, take the time to do some research on the project you’re undertaking to see how others have approached it. There might be clever ways to cut costs or reduce the work required to get the desired results.

Even if you don’t find what you desire, having more knowledge of the subject lets you understand what to expect in terms of costs and labour.

Avoid Complete and Complex Remodels

If you want to remodel your kitchen or bathroom, it is tempting to rip it up. However, this can lead to more costs, such as costly plumbing work.

Projects like moving a kitchen to a new room can be exciting, but they run up huge costs. Instead, try to keep a lot of fixtures and fittings in the same place, as this can avoid having to get expensive structural work done that may not be worth the extra expense.

Go for Mid-Range Materials

This is a simple “rule of thumb” to follow. If you go for the absolute cheapest materials, expect to replace them quickly. Go for the most expensive, and the costs get out of hand.

The mid-range is full of quality options that don’t need to be replaced every couple of years. For example, granite is a popular material for use in kitchens, but it is expensive. A lot of people use Formica or other laminates instead. They’re still excellent quality but can cost half the price.