What makes your house a home?
For many of us, our homes are not just prized possessions but serve so many different purposes. They’re a place we can relax, be a host to friends and relatives, and to raise our own families.
Having a home decorated and designed according to our own styles, tastes and personalities might actually help us to feel happier, and there are plenty of ways to give your home a mood-lifting makeover.
However, starting your dream project can be expensive, and you should never go into one underprepared. In the following guide, we’ve outlined our top tips for saving money to help you get your renovation underway.
- Follow a plan
Even though it might be tempting to start by working on the parts of your home you’d like to change the most, it could make a lot more sense to write out a plan first. You’ll need to consider just how difficult, technical, or time-consuming each job might be – and then fit the work around your schedule.
- Create a budget and stick to it
Before you dive in at the deep end, it’s sensible to have an idea of how much you’d like to spend on each part of your renovation.
Whether you need to budget just for your renovation project or to help you manage your finances, here are plenty of free tools and resources available online to help – including this one from Citizens Advice.
- Do some of the work yourself
If you’ve got a few tasks on your list that might not require the help of a professional contractor, why not give them a go yourself? Making sure you’ve got the right tools to start even the most basic jobs – like a utility knife, pliers, hand saws and screwdrivers – could make the difference between a successful project and falling at the first hurdle.
- Reuse materials
Buying new building materials direct from suppliers can be expensive, but we know you’ll want to work on your project without compromising on the quality of materials used. Luckily, it’s easy to source spare materials left over from previous projects.
Not only could this help you save some cash on your own renovation, but you’ll also be doing your bit to make your project as eco-friendly as possible.
- Pay in cash
It’s perfectly legal to pay contractors in cash, and many even prefer it. What’s more, you’ll likely save a significant amount of money on loan charges and credit card fees. Paying in cash could potentially make it easier for you to budget, too, since you can set aside and see the physical amount needed for each step.
Do you have any money-saving tips to share from a previous renovation? Feel free to share them in the comments section below!