Part of the joy of owning a home is having the opportunity to reshape it as your heart desires. Over the past few decades the DIY home renovation movement has truly blown up, with massive chains like Home Depot and Lowe’s now providing the weekend contractor with all of the tools and materials necessary to tackle basically any home improvement job. And thanks to the internet, you can also find step-by-step guides to walk you through any situation, many featuring videos that show you those tips in action. So while you may have access to the resources and the information, that doesn’t mean you have an unending bank account to fulfill your every desire. Yet the work must go on, and some home improvement projects are more necessity than vanity. So here are five ways you can save money and still get those big home improvement projects done.
The most reliable way to save money is to plan the project inside and out. That may sound obvious, but you’ll find an endless amount of horror stories about people who bit off more than they could chew spending thousands more than they thought to finish a job they had no business starting. Any big home improvement job should be planned down to the smallest detail. Call around and get quotes, talk to professionals about their experience, lay out a budget and design the physical work fully and completely. The more time and energy you put in before the project begins, the greater the chance you’ll finish it on time and perhaps even under budget.
Although the big jobs may be quite daunting, you’ll always save cash if you can figure out how to do it yourself. If it’s a highly skilled job such as plumbing and electrical, you may not be up to the challenge. In that case, handle absolutely everything else yourself, and then bring in the pros for the piece you cannot handle. Remember, you’ll find detailed plans from experienced professionals available for free online and in printed manuals. Study up and give it a try. Even if it takes you longer you’ll still save a bundle.
Next, be smart about how you purchase the materials. You should know that not every home improvement store has the same prices. Just as with most things in life you should shop around and hunt down the best deals. Get involved, and don’t just rely on the opinions of others. Learn the differences between the various brands and styles. Look for ways to use recycled raw materials if you possibly can. And always handle the pickup yourself, even if you need to rent a truck. It’s these little details that will save you big bucks over a large job.
Demolition is the messiest part of any project, but it’s also a great place to look for savings. Grab a sledgehammer and a friend and take care of things yourself. As long as you know where the gas, plumbing and electrical systems are demolition doesn’t take much skill at all. Ask for a bit of advice and give it a shot. You may actually find it to be a lot of fun.
You should also try to look for ways to bundle jobs together, even if you weren’t considering tackling one aspect right now. For example, if you’re replacing the sink in the kitchen, consider upgrading your plumbing at the same time. You’ll have to get into it during the sink job, so you’ll save time and money by tackling both as part of the same project. You’ll also insure that your new appliances work at an optimum level, instead of working down to the outdated system you are leaving behind. When you’re knocking down walls, have ERH power inc check out the wiring you uncover. That way you won’t have to pay the professionals for the added step of getting into the walls.