Nobody likes spending money, especially when times are tough. However, sometimes you don’t have much of an option or you may have a large home improvement project lined up. For example, your kitchen is one of the most important rooms in your home and it may well be crying out for a refurbishment.
The good news is that it is possible to save money while carrying out a large project like this. Here are some tips to help you out.
Plan In Advance
One major mistake that some people make with large renovation projects is that they don’t plan enough. They might have a general idea of what they want, but leave some things for the last minute.
However, the right time to plan your preferred counter layout isn’t while you’re trying to put them together on the day, but it’s before you even purchase the counters. This is an extreme example, but it’s clear how problems can occur. As well as knowing what you want to be done, you should also work out a timeframe so that you know how long it will take. True, things do go wrong, so don’t be afraid to add some extra time if you need to.
Without proper planning, the project will be forced to constantly stop and start while you make decisions on the fly. There is a difference between being flexible and being able to adjust things when needed and being unprepared and working from a vague idea.
Proper planning can even make you more flexible, as you know what’s likely to go wrong before it happens. You also know what ideas can be adjusted and what things would cost too much or take too much time. Speaking of costs, one huge part of planning your project is working out how much it will hit your bank account.
Budget and Save
Large home renovation projects like a complete kitchen remodel are expensive. Depending on what you want to be done, it can cost thousands of dollars and your kitchen may be out of commission for weeks. However, setting a budget can help you to cope with this expense far better.
The trick to budgeting for a kitchen refurbishment involves balancing what you want, what you need, and what you can realistically afford. It’s often easier to work out what you can afford beforehand, before designing a beautiful and unrealistic kitchen that’s bound to end in disappointment.
Ideally, what you can afford should at least cover what you need and hopefully some of what you want, but you might have to rework your plans to make them more viable. Once you have a general idea of what things will cost, factoring in the cost of work and potential hiccups, you can start saving.
You don’t have to save up the entire cost of the kitchen refurbishment, but it’s beneficial to have at least some of the needed money tucked away so that you can pay in cash. This makes it easier to get a loan and reduces the amount that you’d have to pay back over time in interest.
Do It Yourself
Much of the money-saving process of home improvements occurs before the project starts, but there are still more ways that you can cut the costs. For example, much of the work may have to be performed by paid contractors.
You can refurbish a kitchen yourself, but this requires some skill. An unskilled job will look and function poorly, and won’t last as long as something that has been put together properly. Make sure that you know what you’re doing before you start work, and stick to your plan and budget.
The good news is that there’s plenty that you can do yourself even if you aren’t handy enough to rebuild your kitchen. Painting walls, for example, is something that the whole family can help out with. You can also repaint cabinet doors or other surfaces. Painting does require a measure of skill and care, but it’s something that most people can tackle with the right tools.
As well as taking on these tasks, it also pays to check your appliances. Replacing appliances like refrigerators is expensive, but it might be necessary. However, before dedicating that money to a whole new appliance, check them and see if they can be repaired. Sometimes you can replace a part, rather than the whole thing. For example, you can replace the water filter in your fridge yourself and enjoy fresher, cleaner water without spending too much.
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