Renovating Your House on a Budget

If you have a home that needs updating but are concerned about costs, start thinking about renovating your house on a budget that is carefully set to meet your needs. Remodeling your home is always a tempting idea but it actually requires thoughtful planning if you don’t want to end up broke. You have to understand how much each room costs to remodel, how much it costs to hire contractors, and the time that it takes to finish each room. You also have to pay attention to the order of remodeling a house and what projects are more suitable for DIY methods. Here are the proper step you should take if you’re serious about renovating your home in the near future.

Steps to Renovating Your House on a Budget:

1. Your Renovation Budget

It goes without saying that before you set any plans in stone, you need to have a budget set! Renovating your house on a budget can be difficult because budgets are hard to establish because unless you have an insane amount of experience with home renovations. Prices always seem to be higher than you anticipate. Consulting, permits, and hiring contractors to help you remodel your house all add up and it’s easy to get overwhelmed with tracking the prices of everything. Here are things to consider when drawing up your renovation budget.

 

*Other average home renovation costs can be found at HomeAdvisor.

So as you can see, making big changes can get pretty costly in the blink of an eye. When renovating your house on a budget, you have to be mentally prepared to set money aside and even more money than your estimated costs for emergencies that are bound to happen. Once you set a certain number aside that you can afford and that you’re comfortable with, you shouldn’t have to deal with running out of money mid-project or having to take out a loan to cover this extra cost.

Also consider updating certain parts of your house that you believe will provide you with the most use. Such as updating new appliances, furniture, or backyard renovations that you and your family will appreciate and use the most. Another idea is to renovate your home in pieces by upgrading in intervals, so you have time to replenish your funds in between. Taking steps like these will help get your home feeling new and refreshed.

2. What Do I Remodel First?

If you’re planning on living in your home for many years come, it definitely makes sense to update things like your plumbing, air conditioning unit, and energy efficient appliances that will save you money in the future. But if you’re looking to just update the aesthetics of your house, pick certain rooms or areas you want done first and create an order of remodeling a house that suits your immediate needs.

We always recommend updating the room you use most or the room that needs updating the most. If you spend a large amount of time in your living room, kitchen, or backyard, then you should look into renovating those areas first. Renovating your house reflects your personality, so if you’re obsessed with taking long baths every night, then treat yourself with an updated bathroom that feels like a spa! The great part about renovating your house on a budget is that you get to choose what you want to remodel first.

3. Preparing For Remodeling

Part of remodeling that people forget about is that professional renovation takes up time and space in your home. If you get a kitchen remodel, there’s a great chance you won’t be able to use anything in your kitchen for over a week! If you get your master bedroom remodeled, you’ll need to find another room to sleep in while the contractors do their job. And if you get multiple large-area rooms done at the same time, you should probably just go stay with a friend or in a hotel to not get in anyone’s way so the job can get done faster.

Take these things into consideration when you’re choosing the order of which your home will be renovated. Remember which rooms you’re going to update and that you’ll need to take time beforehand to clean them and remove all furniture from them. If you’re not willing to eat out all the time while getting your kitchen renovated on a budget, then set aside some microwavable meals or leftovers as well as moving your fridge and microwave to a more convenient and accessible location. Thinking about these things ahead of time will help you be better prepared when remodeling day comes around.

4. DIY vs. Professional Contractors

There are countless projects that homeowners have started on their own since so many DIY websites have popped up over the years, and for good reason! You’re way more capable than you think you are when it comes to small home renovations, and using your own tools definitely comes in handy when renovating your house on a budget. You can do things like repainting kitchen cabinets, building gardens, and restaining wood to give it that fresh new feeling. But when it comes to tearing down structures, ripping up flooring, and safely installing appliances that you’ll be using everyday, hiring professional contractors is the best way to go.

Many contractors differ in how they price their services and you’d be surprised to find that most contractors have special deals and coupons for the renovation work you’re looking for. Hiring someone with experience will show with regards to how spectacular the end results will look as well as how securely everything is set to avoid future damage costs or harm to you and your family. It’s better to spend money and play it safe than to take a risk and save a couple bucks in the long run.

When Should I Start Renovating?

So now that you’ve taken a look at average costs of home remodels and the planning that goes into renovating your home on a budget, it’s time to make a decision! Refreshing a home for you, your loved one, or your family is a delicate process that shouldn’t just be decided on a whim. The first step to understanding what you want to renovate and how much you want to spend can be accomplished by getting in contact with a contractor from Fix My House. You can explain what you want and ask any questions about what to update first and how to budget to get what you want done on time.

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