If you’re remodeling your home, you’re probably excited to see big changes. Part of planning a major renovation is to first create a budget for the project. However, sticking to the budget is easier said than done. To save money on your upgrades, shop around and plan ahead. Here are a few more ways to cut your remodeling budget.
To Cut Your Remodeling Budget, Improve What’s There
If you have quality fixtures in place, update or improve them instead of opting to completely replace them. Installing new kitchen cabinets can cost from $4000 to upwards of $25,000, depending on the type of materials and the size of the kitchen.
Instead of tearing out the cabinets and installing new ones, refinish the cabinets in your home. There are plenty of options from painting or staining them a new color to specialty finishes like high gloss paint or an antiqued or distressed look.
Add drama to a room by creating a focal point with a bold accent wall. Apply a new coat of paint that complements the colors of the space or apply wallpaper to draw attention to the area.
By improving what is already in place in your home, you’ll make drastic changes, but without spending as much money.
Leave Major Fixtures in Place to Cut Your Remodeling Budget
When remodeling the bathroom, leave the shower and toilet in place. Moving a fixture – like a kitchen sink – even just a few feet becomes expensive when plumbing is involved. Unless you need to completely replace the plumbing pipes, you’ll save a lot by leaving fixtures in their current locations.
Before tearing down a wall to expand a room, assess the room to see if you can make better use of the space there. Increasing the square footage of your kitchen is much more expensive than making the kitchen better organized and more functional.
Shop for Secondhand Items
Thrift shops, salvage stores, and online marketplaces are great places to look for home improvement supplies. Take advantage of the fact that people who have recently completed remodeling projects will have extra materials. You can often purchase their surplus supplies for a fraction of the cost of new materials.
Check local online groups for leftover flooring or tiles. A local Habitat for Humanity ReStore will be stocked with new and used building materials you can purchase. If you’re remodeling a smaller area, you may only need a few boxes of tile, stone, or flooring.
Many times a contractor won’t use salvaged materials, but if you are planning to DIY some of your renovations, you can save a lot of money buying a used faucet or surplus bathroom tiles.
Premier Inspection Services provides inspections to customers in upstate New York. If you’re buying or selling a home, contact us to schedule an appointment.