How to Save on House Remodeling

Between saving money, learning new skills, and feeling connected to your home, there are plenty of reasons the DIY market has grown to nearly $14 billion.

If you’re interested in home remodeling but worried about your budget, going DIY could save you money. House remodeling projects vary in size but there’s a low-cost solution no matter what the end result is.

Lots of house remodeling projects can actually add value to your home. Remodeling a kitchen, redoing a bathroom, or adding a garage can add all kinds of value. Even a more permanent fix like roof repairs or electrical work can make a home more valuable in case of a sale or refinancing.

If you’re interested in some house remodeling tips that could save you money, follow our list of 6 items that can help you stretch your dollars.

1. Put Down The Sledgehammer

There are very few instances where you have to fully gut an existing room. You can often save money on house remodeling by simply fixing up and refurbishing the fixtures that you have. New light fixtures, molding, or hardware can make a room feel brand new.

If you’re working in your kitchen, you might not need to buy a whole new set of cabinets. Why not sand down and restain or repaint your current cabinetry? Adding new handles and knobs could save thousands and give you something that feels familiar while still looking new.

The cost of cabinets can be a huge expense on your budget. You could save nearly 50% by buying a floor model or something used on Craigslist.

Before you gut out a room, see what elements could be added or modified to make the home feel new without disrupting the structure of the building.

2. Buy Midgrade or Refurbished

Buying the highest end materials will increase the cost of your remodeling while adding minimal value. Set your budget before you begin. If you find something that’s out of your budget but you’ve fallen in love with, try to find comparable material that’s somewhat cheaper.

Carpeting can be a big budget eater when you jump from synthetics to natural fibers. You can make a jump by a factor of 10 with little visual difference at all. If you’re recarpeting a huge room, think about alternatives.

If you’re going to buy a new countertop, you could be writing a massive check. Granite can cost $60 per square foot while a cheaper Formica look-alike will only be $10. Set your priorities when you want to save money on house remodeling.

Refurbished or reclaimed materials are hot right now. See what demolition or contractors in your area can offer you. By picking up some material that has some mileage on it, you could save hundreds or even thousands.

Guests could fall in love with your big reclaimed wood breakfast counter or your found granite countertop.

If you’re looking at adding a garage or a carport, look at metal carport prices and compare what it would cost to skip the garage building process. If your time is valuable, a midgrade carport could address your needs without tying you up with a project for weeks. You’ll be miserable if you disrupt your work-life balance with a complicated project.

3. Do Grunt Work On Your Own

Hiring contractors will cost you a high hourly rate. You can work at home for free.

In order to reduce those hours you’re paying to have someone do work you could do, why not handle it on your own. If carpet needs to be pulled up and tossed out, you can handle that. If tiling needs to be done, let your contractor go home for the day and get down to the tedium of tiling yourself.

If you need something dismantled and pulled out of the way, do it the night before your contractor gets there. If a wall needs to be taped off or furniture needs to be moved, do it before workers get there to ensure that you’re not paying for someone to do work you can handle. When every penny counts, it’s time to get your hands dirty.

4. Design Can Work Wonders

Rather than focus so heavily on house remodeling, why not think about how some furniture can make your home feel brand new? Some small end tables, a new couch, or a vintage lamp can change the entire character of a room. If you’re not happy with your living room, ripping up the carpet, redoing with wood floors and buying a living room set could be cheaper than tearing out a wall.

New furniture will change how you feel inside of a space. It will also change how other people feel inside your home. New furniture could inspire you to start hosting more guests at your house.

Interior decorating can create a whole new ambiance in an old home. By adding a new bold color along your splash wall, you could make your kitchen feel rustic or modern. Reclaimed wood combined with a few new appliances can improve the feeling of your kitchen and make you love cooking again.

Never underestimate the power of color on how you feel.

5. Get Quotes From Contractors

Working with a contractor who you get along with is essential to a great result. You need to be working with a contractor who you feel is always listening to you. You should get a good feeling from your contractor on the first meeting.

If you feel like the contractor is not listening to you, pushing too hard for their own ideas, or not going to finish on time, talk to another one.

Pay attention to the details from a contractor. If they show up late or don’t answer your emails, they may not value you as a client. If they’re attentive, call you back immediately, and help you shape your ideas, you could have a great working relationship.

House Remodeling Can Change Your Attitude

If you’ve been living in a home for several years and plan to spend several more there, a little remodeling can shape it the way you’ve always wanted it. Your home is a sacred place and it’s essential that you feel comfortable there. A few small remodeling projects could change your attitude and your living situation.

House remodeling can be a stressful process, so make sure to follow our guide to stress management while you work on your home.