13 Ways to Cut Costs When Renovating Your Home

Published on Friday, May 7th, 2021

Most homeowners will renovate their homes every 15 to 20 years to repair damaged fixtures, update the overall appearance, and increase the value of their property. As exciting as renovations can be, they are also expensive! Nobody wants to pay more than necessary to build, renovate, or extend their own home, and most people undertake these projects on a tight budget.

Here are 13 ways to cut costs when renovating your home. These tips will ensure that you are getting the best value for your money without compromising quality.

13 Ways to Cut Costs When Renovating Your Home

Set Your Budget From the Beginning

Determine your budget as soon as possible and have a clear mindset of what you want to achieve. Be sure to communicate this information to your architect or designer. Your designer should have years of experience designing and building projects. The right designer will help you bring your ideas to life! This is the most important step when starting a renovation, so think carefully about how you will spend your money. Writing everything down and having a solid concept of what you want can help you later on if you encounter difficulties during the renovation process.

Choose a Simple Design

After you have determined your budget, select a design that fits within your budgetary constraints. There are hundreds of different renovation options, which can make this step fairly intimidating. But don’t stress! You can work with your designer to select fixtures and styles that reflect your tastes without going over budget. In most cases, less is more! Take advantage of your designer’s experience and kick off your renovation by choosing simple, affordable designs. 

Stick to the Plan

Make a plan and stick to it. Remember that once you begin a renovation, there is no going back. Though construction isn’t a guarantee, a good design executed with integrity will save time and money. When it comes to cost and delivery, what you specify is crucial. Expect extra expenses if you keep changing your mind along the way.

Pay Cash

It might seem obvious, but paying for your project with money you already have would save you a lot of money in interest. If possible, avoid taking out a loan or putting the expense on a credit card that you can’t pay off right away. However, if you are renovating to sell your house, it would make financial sense to take out a loan because you know you’ll get a return on your investment.

Be Creative with Inexpensive Materials

Think outside the box when it comes to low-cost materials. Can you replace costly hardwoods with plywood, OSB (oriented strand board), or rough-sawn softwood? What free materials do you have or can you find to recycle or upcycle? 

This also applies to your lighting—a simple pendant rose with a colored cable and a globe LED bulb, for example, will look just as good as an expensive light fitting.

Price Work Separately to Save on Build Costs

Consider separating the costs of different aspects of the project. For example, estimate the cost of supplying your roof tiles and then ask three certified roofing companies to estimate the cost of installing them. It’s a path that could save you as much as 20% or more! 

The more shipments you get, the more money you’ll save, but keep in mind the work involved and how to better arrange the various trades that will be arriving.

Consider Long-Term Costs, Not Just Short-Term Gains

This is something you really need to think about when you plan your expenses. Be careful with your long-term goal.

Consider where you are building your home and what are the climate conditions around you. Remember that factory finishes are applied on dry wood under controlled conditions—no rain, no harsh sun. Something that seems appealing in the beginning may cost you more in the long run. Have an open mind to various options and find someone to advise you.

Learn a New Skill and Don’t Be Afraid to DIY

Most of these saving options are connected with you doing your own project. This includes collecting your materials as well as delivery fees. If you are trying to save money, consider buying a single-axle utility trailer, which you can tow behind your SUV. Use it for a half-dozen trips, and it’s paid for itself. Find trailers for sale near you via eBay Motors, or try your local classifieds.

• Cost of 10 deliveries: $750
• Cost to buy a used trailer: $400 
• Saved: $350, plus you get to keep (or sell) the trailer

Also, if you can, do small construction tasks yourself. This is one of the best ways to save money during a renovation. Another way to save money is to ask your tradesmen what small jobs are required to save them from doing these low-skilled tasks. They are usually quite appreciative of this and will guide you through what they need before the next site visit. This way they can get straight into doing what they are trained to do.

Cut Costs with Flooring Options

Scottsdale Flooring America offers a vast selection of flooring options, including carpet, tile, stone, hardwood, and laminate. Our pricing is fair and there are NO add-on features. All estimates are at no cost or obligation to you and are performed by one of our owners. They are the Scottsdale flooring experts eager and qualified to help you find the floor of your dreams. 

When it comes to flooring there are two materials that are considered cheaper. Here is a comparison between them so you can choose the one you prefer. 

Hardwood 

Scottsdale Flooring America offers over 500 styles of natural hardwood from major manufacturers like Shaw, Columbia, Ernest Hemingway, and Reward. Because of its natural beauty and durability, hardwood flooring continues to rank highest in flooring trends. You may feel overwhelmed with our range of colors and styles, but this is a great thing! Whether you’re installing hardwood into your kitchen, living room, or bedrooms, we can help you find just the right style.

Often, people are confused about which style to choose for their homes. Scottsdale Flooring America can help you with this. If you’re unsure of what type of flooring to have in any room other than the kitchen, bathrooms, or entryways, hardwood flooring Scottsdale is a fantastic option.

It also is an excellent option for active homes. If properly built and maintained, hardwood floors will last a lifetime. To clean, simply use a dust mop or vacuum to remove dirt, dust, pet hair, and other debris that may scratch the floor. If you prefer vacuuming for its convenience, make sure to use a soft floor-brush attachment to avoid scratching your floors. The key is to start protecting your floors right away.

Laminate

Scottsdale Flooring offers the best laminate choices including Quick Step, Armstrong, Mohawk, and Shaw. Current trends for laminate flooring in the market involve hand scraped, distressed, and smooth piano-finish laminate, all competitively priced and professionally installed. Our extensive Laminate selection includes over 400 selections for you to choose from. These floors offer the look of a wood floor with the durability of a laminate.

Laminate flooring is a great budget-friendly option to get that great wood floor look at a lower price. It offers good durability over its lifespan and has a relatively quick installation compared to real hardwood. Although the laminates closely mimic the real hardwood grain, there is no substitute for the weight and feel of true hardwood.

One of the biggest advantages here is easy installation. The first step in our installation process is to remove the old flooring, clean and level the supporting floor, acclimate the new flooring, and calculate how much material you’ll need. Then we will prepare the door frames, lay down the underlayment, and finish by laying down the flooring. The parts are designed to snap together, making assembly a breeze.

When you consider the advantages of laminate flooring, it’s easy to see why this material has become so popular. It’s cost-effective, long-lasting, easy to install, and clean. This flooring will last for many years if properly cared for. It also comes in a variety of models to suit different tastes. Anyone who leads a busy lifestyle would benefit from this form of flooring.

Eliminate Waste and Focus on Proper Flooring Installation

Designing your home to maximize the efficiencies of your chosen build system is the best way to save money.  Think beforehand of all the things you need or don’t need so you can avoid buying materials you won’t be using after all. 

Organizing yourself is another extremely important step to avoid unnecessary costs.

Although you may have a do-it-yourself mentality, installing your floors with little or no experience is strongly discouraged. When you entrust the installation of your floor to flooring professionals who are approved, qualified, and certified, you can rest assured that the job will be done correctly. Furthermore, when you trust Scottsdale Flooring America, you’ll be treated to a competent installation crew who will efficiently and effectively complete the job. 

Make the Decision Early

Get a clear idea of what you want in terms of fixtures and appliances, as well as how much they cost. If you’re not completely clear on what you want up front, you’ll have to rely on your contractor’s estimation, known as an allowance. His idea of what’s reasonable can vary significantly from yours. 

For example, you might have envisioned a glass-tile backsplash, but your contractor’s proposal called for ceramic. Be clear about what you want so there is no confusion down the line. 

Bring in Natural Light Without Adding Windows

There are many ways of bringing more light into your home, but “natural” light is always number one. Before you consider cutting a big hole in the side of your house, just add a touch of natural brightness. 

You can brighten up a windowless bath or hall by installing a “light tube,” which slips between roof rafters and funnels sunshine down into the living space.

• Cost to add a double-pane insulated window: $1,500
• Cost for a light tube: $500
• Saved: $1,000

Partner with Your Constructor

Some contractors will provide hourly consulting and mentoring services to experienced do-it-yourselfers, despite the fact that the practice is controversial among the trades.

Partnering with your constructor will save you time and money in the long run.

• Cost to drywall one room: $1,000
• Cost with DIY consultation: $300 (2 hours of coaching), plus materials
• Saved: $700

With these 13 ways to cut costs when renovating your home, you can be sure you’re getting the most for your money during any renovation project.