Tricks to Reduce the Cost of Your Home Remodeling Project
Whether you have a large or small budget, the expense of a home remodeling can easily spiral out of control. Thankfully, there are several things you can do to reduce the costs. These things include: Create and stick to a budget. Budget does not imply cheap, but when you spend money, it’s good to know the amount of money you have to set aside for the purchase. You should start with a budget in mind before making design decisions. By doing this, you can tell the prices of the different fixtures and supplies and get a sense of what will and won’t fit your budget. Home addition companies recommend that you have a spreadsheet and just enter everything you need for the project. As you can tell, this will require you to first research and find the prices of the different materials. You need to find the cost of the flooring, countertops, lighting, faucets, paint, cabinets, outlets and switch plate covers, tile, grout, appliances, and other things. The best way to research is to make phone calls to obtain quotations for goods and labor. When preparing the budget, include tax. From your budget, you can tell the areas that require a lot of money and those that don’t need much. You will also know the areas where you can make adjustments by selecting less expensive materials or opting to eliminate items. As much as you should stick to a budget, you should note that there are always unexpected occurrences. To avoid going beyond your budget, account for unforeseen expenses. A good way to do it is to set aside 10% of your budget. Pay in cash It may seem obvious, but paying for your project in cash will save you a large amount of money in interest than you would otherwise pay if you took out a loan or put things on a credit card that you couldn’t quickly pay off. If you’re remodeling to sell your house, it may make financial sense to take out a loan if you know you’ll get a return on your investment, and you will pay off the loan promptly. However, in general, paying with cash is the best option. If you currently don’t have enough money, start thinking about methods to cut your household budget to save money for your project. Don’t be in a hurry. Waiting for funds to renovate isn’t always a terrible thing, because time is your friend when planning for a renovation. It can be tempting to renovate your home all at once if you have the money, but it can be stressful to make a lot of excellent and cohesive design selections when you’re factoring in so many factors. If you rush through things, you will regret some of your decisions. The best way out is to start with one or two rooms and work through them before going on to other sections. Most people find it difficult to complete an assignment before moving on to the next. Prioritize the most time-consuming project and do it first; else, it could take years. You won’t have to live in a […]
Read more
5 House Renovation Ideas When Working On a Tight Budget
Remodeling your house gives the house a new look and increases its value, so if you are looking to sell the house, you sell it at a much higher price. While we all dream of making expensive changes to the houses, we often don’t have the resources. Does this mean that your dream to transform your house is gone because you don’t have enough money? Absolutely not, as there are plenty of affordable home renovation ideas you can use. Here are some of these ideas as given by home remodeling architects. Paint the house Nothing transforms the look of a house as fast as a new coat of paint. And the beauty is that you don’t need to spend a fortune on it. All you need to do is find a color that will complement the house and then apply it. You can hire professionals to help with the painting, but if you don’t have money to hire one, apply the paint by yourself or with the help of your family members. To get the most from painting the house, use high-quality paint. Also, ensure that you use a good quality brush to give you the even spread you need. If painting the house by yourself, watch a few YouTube instructional videos before you start the painting. This is to arm yourself with the necessary basics. Refinish the kitchen cabinets If your kitchen is in bad shape, the best way to transform its look is to install new cabinets and appliances. Unfortunately, these don’t come cheap. If you don’t have the funds to buy new ones, consider refinishing them. When it comes to the cabinets, sand them, then apply a new finish. For the appliances, clean them or apply new paint. Install crown molding Crown molding is the angled trim that lines the areas where the ceiling meets the walls. When done right, the molding significantly adds value to the house and improves the overall aesthetic appeal. The cool thing is that the installation process is relatively easy, as it only requires cut angles. If you have never done it before, let an experienced contractor help you avoid mistakes. Wooden molding is often the best, but if you can’t afford it, there are plenty of non-wood molding options that you can go with. You only need to ensure that the work is done expertly. Replace the cheaper accessories When most people renovate, their attention always goes to the large, big-ticket items. While these items have a significant impact on the house’s look, they are expensive, and chances are you don’t have the money for them. To transform the house for less, you should go with the cheaper options. An excellent option is to replace the smaller accessories. Are there old pillows littered throughout the house on the bed, couch, and chair? You should replace them. As long as the larger items are clean, you will make such a huge difference in the house’s look without breaking the bank. Hang artwork or photos Most homeowners will install expensive mirrors and accessories on their large empty walls. While there is nothing wrong […]
Read more
Is It Worth Remodeling An Old Home?
If you have or looking to buy an old house, you must be wondering, is it worth remodeling an old home? After all, you don’t want to waste money on a dodo. According to home remodeling architects, remodeling an older house can be worth it, when done right. To help you out, here are the tips to consider: Know the house’s history If you are looking to buy the house, don’t go at it blindly—ensure that you know its history. After all, you don’t want to buy a house, then find out it’s constructed on riparian land. Since nature never forgets, this can be catastrophic. A good way to understand the house better is to look at the old maps from your local historical society. You can also look back at the real estate listings of the older properties in the area. If there are older occupants in the neighborhood, ask them about the house. Even if the house is selling dirt-cheap and you are sure that you can turn it around, don’t make the purchase if you don’t know its back story. Avoid adding another room. It can be tempting when you are renovating the house to add another room. While it can be a good move, it often interferes with the look of the main house. The reason for this is you will be building a new house next to an old one. While you might ensure that the details and finishes match the rest of the house, it will always stick out, and if it doesn’t look good, it will always be a bother to you. You should always avoid adding another room to the house unless it’s necessary. Always prioritize working with what you already have, then look outside if the space isn’t enough for you. Don’t renovate the house by yourself. With everyone recommending DIY projects and with the never-ending supply of YouTube tutorials, it’s easy to try and handle the house renovation project yourself. While you will learn a thing or two from the project, chances are you will make mistakes that will be costlier than hiring a contractor. Obviously, when you are handling a complex project such as bringing down a wall, it’s recommended that you hire a professional, but when you are dealing with older houses, even the simple projects can end up being catastrophic. For example, it’s easy to replace a faulty faucet in a new, modern house but a completely different game when dealing with an older house. With an older house, the faucet and knob cutouts are of different dimensions from the modern faucet assemblies, so you would have to find salvage pieces or custom make the faucets. And you can’t do all of these as a DIY, can you? Even a simple task such as removing the old paint can be an issue as the paint can be containing lead, which increases your chances of suffering from cancer. To be on the safe side, regardless of how minor the task looks, let it be handled by experienced architect builders Washington DC. When hiring professionals, don’t simply look at […]
Read more