Getting started on a home remodel can be overwhelming. Even though youโre excited about the upgrades and adding value to your home, youโre probably not looking forward to spending thousands of dollars and living in a construction site. To help ease the pain, weโve compiled a list of seven ways to save both time and money on your renovations:
1: Make a plan and stick to it.
Take the time upfront to:
- Cut out pictures in magazines.
- Draw your layout ideas.
- Create a detailed budget.
- Pick your colors.
Having a solid idea of what you want out of your remodel will save many hours once you start shopping for materials. There will probably still be some unexpected expenses, but if youโve already created a detailed budget, youโll be able to adjust quickly.
2: Research your materials.
There are many opportunities during a home remodel to select lookalike materials instead of the more expensive, high-end stuff. Finding the right balance of high- and low-end materials can save you hundreds of dollars while still increasing the value of your home.
For example, you can splurge on the granite countertops, but choose laminate floors instead of real hardwood. The national average cost of installing laminate flooring is nearly $3,000, while the average cost to install hardwood is about $8,000. Hardwood may last longer, but you can get new laminate floors twice and still save about $1,000.
3: Reuse materials.
Reusing materials you already have in your home or materials that have been used by someone else can be an enormous time and money saver. Be sure to ask your contractor if they have any materials left over from another job that may work in your home. You can also shop at auctions instead of hardware stores. Something that didnโt work for someone else may be perfect for you. Just be careful not to sacrifice quality or safety.
4: Start in January.
Most people renovate their homes in the spring and summer. By getting started during the winter months, youโll catch contractors during the off season. Youโll likely be offered better prices and may even get the job done quicker. Many of the materials youโll need will also be on sale around the beginning of the year.
5: Leave the plumbing where it is.
It can cost more than $1,000 just to move a sink, toilet, or shower because of the complex plumbing that has to be moved with it. Unless itโs throwing off your entire remodel plan, try to leave plumbing fixtures where they are and design around them. If your dream bathroom requires moving them, the contractors at Fletcherโs Plumbing & Contracting have 45 of experience and can make your vision a reality as quickly and affordably as possible.
6: Do (some of) it yourself.
There are a lot of things during a home remodel that you can do yourself. Itโll lower your contracting bill and prevent you from waiting for them to get it done. Here are a few things to consider doing yourself:
- Painting. This is a relatively easy job with only a few necessary tools.
- Demolishing. So long as youโre careful to avoid water and electrical lines, and anything structural, destroying the old parts of your home can be a fun and cheap thing to do yourself. Taking out your own deck, stripping your own wallpaper, and pulling out your own trim means you only have to pay a contractor to build the upgrades.
7: Enlist help.
Bigger projects like replacing cabinets and countertops and installing toilets and showers should be left to the professionals. Thereโs a good chance itโll take you much longer than them, and you may even end up spending more in the event that you cause some damage like hitting a pipe. In the long run, hiring a contractor can end up saving you time, money, and countless headaches.
The committed team at Fletcherโs Plumbing & Contracting can help you create your dream home from start to finish. Weโll help you plan, take care of any demolitions you donโt feel comfortable doing, and install all the materials and fixtures youโve picked out. Contact us today to schedule your consultation.