Renovating a Home on a Budget: 7 Smart Ways to Save

If you’re renovating a home, you know that the price tag can add up quickly. Between materials and labor, it’s easy for the bill to get out of control quite quickly. Fortunately, you can do these seven proactive things to keep your costs in check:

1. Look for less expensive alternatives

One thing everyone wants during a remodel is plenty of natural light. Unfortunately, large windows and skylights are expensive. To take some of the cost out of natural light, but enjoy the beauty and functionality of plenty of sunshine, anyway, consider adding “light tubes” to rooms where you want more light. These tubes insert between the rafters of the roof and direct sunlight downward, without cutting a large hole in a wall or ceiling.

2. Look for recycled materials

Materials can be expensive during a remodel. To save some money on yours, look for recycled materials from housing centers, demolitions, and junkyards. In addition to forcing you to be more creative during your remodel, this approach will also help save some money in the long run.

3. Become a demolition aficionado

While there are many things you should consider outsourcing during a remodel, demolition is one thing you can undertake on your own, without too much stress.

To save money and make the most of the human resources at your disposal, be your demo crew for areas like bathrooms and bedrooms. Just be sure to consult with a building specialist beforehand, since the risk of taking out a load-bearing wall does exist.

4. Ask for help

If there’s a job that requires unskilled labor, ask your friends and family to get involved. Calling in your support community is a great way to save money on your remodel, and it can go a long way toward making the entire thing more fun and a bit less expensive.

5. Do your own finish work

If you have the time and the skill needed, do some of your own finish work. Simple things like painting, cleaning up, and completing trim work on your own can save you thousands in the long run, and will likely teach you some new things in the process.

6. Consider cheaper alternatives

It’s all too easy to fall in love with that radically expensive flooring or beautiful finishings. Unfortunately, these things can blow your budget right out of the water. With this in mind, consider where you can find cheaper alternatives. If it’s possible, go with these rather than the more expensive piece you initially fell in love with. Chances are, they’ll look virtually the same, and you’ll save a great deal in the process.

7. Do your renovations in batches

If you can’t afford to complete all of your renovations at once, consider working in batches, instead. In addition to allowing you to move at a slower pace, this also helps you gauge your budget and allocate resources accordingly.

Renovating a Home, the Budget-Friendly Way

While renovating a home can be expensive, these seven tips can help your budget stay in check, without forcing you to give up the home renovation items you’ve always wanted.