The urge for home improvement is in the DNA of all homeowners, but the money it requires often forces them to put things off until they raise the funds they need.
Any home remodeling project you embark on will always cost you. How high that cost is going to be will depend on your choices, though.
Home remodeling costs may tend to be high, but you can actually keep them down if you want to. Here are some things that will help you do just that.
Shop Around For Bargains Early
Stores hold sales all the time. Sometimes, the discounts they offer are a little too small to make an impact, but they do strike a substantial percentage off their prices from time to time.
If you stumble upon construction materials on sale at huge markdowns, grab the chance even if your home remodeling project is still some time away.
Switch To Cheaper Materials
Let’s say you’ve been dreaming about replacing the asphalt shingles on your roof with slate.
While slate is an excellent choice on so many levels, it also happens to be one of the most expensive roofing materials on the planet.
If you have the budget for it, then go for a slate roof, by all means.
If you’re short on funds, you might want to ask any reputable roofing contractor you know about the benefits of cheaper alternatives like metal and plastic polymer.
All construction materials have more affordable versions that are just as decent as the more expensive ones. If your budget can’t cut it, consider going cheaper so you can proceed with your home remodeling project without delay.
Do Some of The Work Yourself
The cost of construction materials seems to get higher by the day. The same goes for labor.
If you can do some of the work required for your home remodeling project, you should be able to save hundreds of dollars in labor costs.
When shopping for construction materials, you can haul them yourself if you have a truck, so you won’t have to pay other people to deliver them to your home.
If your home remodeling project requires some demolishing, pick up a sledgehammer yourself and knock those walls down instead of hiring others for the job. Just make sure you’re not taking down a load-bearing wall or hitting electrical and plumbing lines because that would be a much bigger problem altogether.
You can also benefit from personally taking on any prep work needed. Let’s say you’re getting the floor done, and it requires the removal of your old carpeting. Instead of leaving the task to contractors who will promptly charge you for it, remove and discard the carpeting yourself.
Choose Contractors Well
You are going to need the services of a reputable and budget-friendly contractor to help you with your renovation project.
Get quotes from at least three contractors to see which one will give you a fair price for quality work. Better yet, meet them in person so you can conduct interviews and get a sense of whether you’d be comfortable working with them or not.
Also, make sure that the contractor you’re eyeing is properly licensed and has the right contractors insurance coverage.
For a list of ways to cut home remodeling costs, it may seem counterintuitive to recommend hiring insured contractors who tend to charge more for their services than uninsured ones.
However, hiring contractors who don’t have proper contractors insurance coverage could cost you more in the long run.
For example, if a contractor that doesn’t have worker’s compensation insurance suffers an injury while working on your project, you could be held financially responsible for that. You could end up paying for that worker’s medical bills and lost wages.
And if your contractor doesn’t have general liability insurance, you will have no choice but to foot the bill of any property damage he or she might cause while on the job.
If you want to save money on your home remodeling project, never hire uninsured contractors to do it.
These are just some of the things you can do to keep home remodeling costs down. Home remodeling may be inherently expensive, but it doesn’t have to be, not when you follow the tips listed above.
About the Author
Rachel Porter is the content specialist for Custom Contractors Insurance, LLC, an Arizona roofing and contractors insurance company. When not writing, she enjoys reading and mountain biking with her friends.
