More Remodeling Tips
Posted by Lee Cameron on Tuesday, November 9th, 2010 at 11:01am.
I've given other remodeling tips on this website, whether it's giving advice about making your existing home seem larger, or helping you decide which projects have the best chance of paying off when you go to sell your home, or even simple painting tips. But this blog will probably be everyone's favorite - simple ways to save money when remodeling.
Remodeling is always going to be a big expense (unless maybe you know a guy who knows a guy) but if you follow some of these tips you should be able to shave a few numbers off the final price tag.
1 - Take Care of All the Little Things at Once
If you have a small repair such as a broken fan or a leaky faucet, the repairman will likely charge you a set minimum price just to make the trip out to your house worth his time - regardless of how difficult or how long the repair actually is. To get the most bang for your buck, try, if possible, to wait until you have a handful of small repairs that can be taken care of at once before you call in the repairman.
2 - Wait Until the Off Season
Some contractors say you could save as much as 10% on the price of remodeling if you wait for an off season. "When is the off season," you ask? Well it depends on the project. Think about when most people would get your project done and plan to do it six months from then. For example, many people will want to replace their air conditioner or install lawn irrigation during the summer. If you wait until winter to do it, you may see a nice discount for your patience.
3 - Support Local Moms and Pops
Smaller, local, "mom and pop" remodeling companies will usually have a smaller overhead than the larger companies and can afford to put in lower bids on projects. Some professionals estimate it could be a difference of 5% to 20% off the final price!
4 - Donate the Leftovers
Whether you're replacing appliances, plumbing, doors, windows, siding or anything else, there's a good chance that you can donate the old materials to something like Habitat for Humanity. Get a receipt and you can deduct the value of the materials as a charitable donation next time tax season comes around.
5 - DIY
The most obvious tip of all - if you can do it yourself, do it yourself. It will always be cheaper to do a project yourself than to pay someone else the time and labor required to do it. Save the easy things like staining and painting to do on your own. If you are knowledgeable and confident, take on even larger projects yourself. Just make sure you really do know what you're doing or you might end up having to pay a professional to fix your own remodeling job!
Remodeling is expensive but if you're smart and take the time to research, you can always find places to save money. Every penny helps. Now get out there! And be careful with that hammer!
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