Renovations are a great way to breathe new life into an old house, but they can also be expensive. Luckily, there are ways to save on your home renovation. Take these tips into account.
1. Use Repurposed Items
Upcycled barn wood, recycled timber and similar items are all popular right now. Unfortunately, their popularity can make them expensive. If you want to save money, you can't just get get online and order these supplies from companies.
Instead, you need to get dirty, and that can mean literally. Take drives around your community and look for people with skips full of old remodeling stuff. Ask if you can take a look and see if you find anything you need.
Also, scour internet ads for free stuff. If you're diligent about searching, you may find anything from vintage lights to old windows to pallets.
2. Think About Long-Term Efficiency
Savings don't just happen during the renovation itself. You can actually save a lot of money down the road if you think about efficiency. To illustrate, imagine you are putting in a new window.
One window is less expensive, but it is also less energy efficient. In this case, you should crunch the numbers. The long-term energy savings may make the more expensive window worth it in the long run.
3. Focus on Renovations With Less Labour Intensity
With you're deciding between different types of modifications to your home, consider choosing the option that is the least labour intensive. For instance, pendant lights are generally easier to install than recessed lights. Similarly, knocking out a whole wall may be easier than adding a complicated archway.
4. Be Cautious About Doing It Yourself
Before you start knocking down walls, make sure you have the knowledge, experience and skills to do the job correctly. Doing renovation work yourself can save you money, but if you make a mistake such as knocking out a load-bearing wall, repairing that issue could cost more in the longer run.
If you want to do as much as possible on your own, you may want to ask a contractor to do the skilled work, while you offer to handle some of the less-intense tasks. For instance, you could go to the store to buy materials, or you could paint the walls.
5. Know When It's Time to Replace
In some cases, renovation simply isn't the best option. If you live in a home that needs an excessive amount of work, it may be time to demolish and start over. A renovation expert can help you make the choice from a financial perspective.
