Home improvement, renovation, remodelling. Whatever you call it, the mention strikes fear in the heart of a homeowner – and for good reason! They are one of the biggest stressors after moving. Not least of the concerns is the price. Work often has a habit of uncovering other problems, leading the budget to quickly get out of hand. Here we’ll look at 7 ways to keep costs down.
- Make a plan
You’ll already know what you want done, and may think a plan is unnecessary. However, even the simplest of tasks can go awry so it’s worth assessing the work needed. Do you need different tradespeople? Are there any likely pitfalls? Identifying these should mitigate any nasty surprises.
- Create a budget – and stick to it!
Utilise your plan to make a realistic budget. Knowing what needs to be done allows you to be more accurate with funds. Establishing the budget is the easy part, sticking to it is much more difficult. It’s always tempting to go high-spec on furnishings with little other areas to scrimp on. This is a surefire way to burn through cash, so keep things simple. Minimalism is on trend as well as budget friendly.
- Have a contingency fund
It can be a cruel twist of fate that, if you don’t have one, you’ll need one! If any surprises or mishaps occur you have the funds to sort them. If not then you have some spare cash for any fixtures or to put towards the next project. It’s a win-win situation.
- Get more than one quote
Retailers can differ greatly in the amount they charge for a given item. Unfortunately much is also true for contractors. Therefore as when shopping we need to do our due diligence and get multiple quotes. This allows you to get a general idea of the cost, which can be useful for making any amendments to the budget.
- Research your tradespeople
In addition to quotes make sure you do adequate research when hiring. It is not an insignificant amount of money you’re spending, so establish their reputation. Are they reliable? Do others recommend them? There are several services now available to check ensuring a smooth project.
The cheapest option is not necessarily the best. Instaloft may not be the cheapest option out there, but they are certainly of a higher quality, and money spent on quality is money well spent. Using companies purely as they are inexpensive may save money in the short term, however the work will most likely need to be redone. This cost can often be higher than that of the more expensive contractor in the first place. It never pays to cut corners!
- DIY
For those who are handy you may find this extremely rewarding. It can be surprising just how many jobs can be done yourself such as painting and tiling. If you’re a dab hand at DIY you may already have some of the things you need!
It would be irresponsible to suggest that you can do everything so honestly assess your capability. If in anydoubt contact a professional. Especially when dealing with gas, electric or plumbing.
- Salvage materials
Another way to save money is to salvage. Many vintage inspired items such as Belfast sinks are timeless, and originals were built to last. Hitting the reclamation yard is a great way to save money without sacrificing quality.
Happy renovating!