Whether you are working on a whole home remodel, or just a bedroom these 7 Tips for Remodeling on a Budget are going to help stretch your budget farther. Being able to do your own work around the house will help you to save money on contractors. Having some great shortcuts to save money will also give you a bigger budget for upgrades like new furniture, appliances or even just to tuck away into your savings account for future use. I recommend using your savings to go toward better insulation, better windows or even solar panels to make your home more energy efficient.
7 Tips for Remodeling on a Budget
Do demo work yourself. If you will be doing a lot of demo work to make room for new rooms, installing fixtures, windows, or even changing out the drywall in a room you can save a lot of labor hours by doing the demo to remove existing items before the contractors arrive. Make sure you know where electrical and plumbing is located so you do no unnecessary damage before you get started. You can also save money by hauling off any trash or unusable items yourself instead of having contractors bring in a dumpster.
Do prep and painting yourself. There are a lot of prep things you can do yourself. From removing wall paper to prepping and painting walls after drywall has been hung. Check with your contractor to see what they have on their list to do, and work around it to save money by handling some tasks yourself.
Repurpose items that are in good shape. Doors, windows, and even some pieces of paneling or crown molding can be used again in the same room, or for a great fun upcycled craft project in your home. Doors and windows are especially great for using again to save money, but if you want to replace for better quality and insulation, then use them as a base for other fun projects.
Shop Habitat For Humanity Restores. This is a dual purpose budget friendly remodeling tip that I love. Habitat For Humanity operates a multitude of Restores which are great resale shops. If your community has one of these locations, you can find quality items for your remodel from sinks and bathtubs to fixtures for your home. Some are even brand new. This is a great way to stay in budget, while giving back to your community.
Look for construction outlet stores. In some areas there are what are considered construction outlet stores. These hardware stores will have things like cabinets, doors, bathtubs, counter tops, and more at discounted prices because they are an odd size or slightly damaged. It may be that cabinets have marks on the sides that could be painted over, or a bathtub has a ding in the base that leaves it not as pretty. These are excellent places to pick up great deals on quality items.
Hire local teens to help with labor. If you are going to have a lot of labor intensive work to be done, but you know you can manage it on your own, you can hire a local teen to help out with labor. Things like cleanup, hauling out trash, and painting can all be done by teenagers in a safe way. Make sure the things you have them help out with are safe and not exposing them to tools or products that could cause damage. You may also check with your local unemployment office to see if they have a day laborers list of individuals who need money badly and can come help out.
Upgrade appliances while you are remodeling. This may not seem budget friendly, but often in the long run it is. When you are remodeling, you may want to look at how old your existing appliances are. Older models may even be unusual sizes that you would need to build a custom area for. Consider upgrading your appliances while you are in the midst of kitchen, laundry or bathroom remodels so you aren't burdened with added expenses of resizing things later down the road.
These are some great budget friendly remodeling tips that are sure to keep you in budget and give your family a great upgraded new home. Whether you are remodeling one room, or your entire home these tips are great for keeping in mind.
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