As some of you may have seen through Pretty and Smart Co.’s Instagram stories, I recently purchased a house that needed a little TLC. So Austin and I embarked on the big task of renovating our first home. When we started on this journey, our plans were some paint and new floors. However, like most renovations, it quickly turned into completely gutting the place.
Renovations can be very expensive depending on what you’re doing. So when we decided to do more than what we originally set out to do, it was time for a budget and reality check. We quickly learned what we could afford and what we couldn’t, then we got to work. In the end, we built a beautiful home, while staying under budget. So today, I’m sharing some of my tips on how to do home renovations on a budget and stick to your budget.
Create a Budget
Creating the budget is the most boring part your renovation journey, but sadly, it’s also the most important. Never go into anything without knowing your budget. This is something that took me a while to learn but it helped me out so much in the past couple of years. We sat down and came up with a list of the things we needed for our renovations and then began searching to find the most cost-effective options. Sitting down and taking stock allowed us to go approach the project with realistic expectations. It also helped us figure out where we could cut down in prices and where we could increase if you need to. It is important to add a contingency to any project so be mindful of that when you go to make your reno budget.
Lean on Your Friends
We went into renovations asking for a lot of help from our friends. Leaning on each of their specific skillsets for a helping hand when needed. Lucky for us, we had a lot of friends who were willing to help, which saved us from having to hire contractors. When it came to friends who couldn’t help with the project themselves, they directed us to friends of theirs who could. Lean on your people! Simply asking for help, helped us save a lot of money and headaches. I’ve said this in previous blogs, so I will say it again. It’s okay to ask for help when you need it! Just remember to always say thank you and return the favour.
Facebook Marketplace
Facebook Marketplace or anywhere you can find things second hand will be your best friend for saving money. When I was looking into furnishing the place or finding a new vanity, I always checked Facebook Marketplace first. It saved me money and allowed me to splurge on other things. You know what they say, one man’s trash is another man’s treasure!
Never Take the First Quote
I feel like this is common knowledge but just in case let me say it again, never take the first quote given to you on anything. I learned quickly, that you should get three or four quotes before deciding on who to go with. Just because the first quote is cheaper than what you were anticipating doesn’t mean it’s the best quote out there. When we were looking at getting our windows replaced and kitchen redo, we had gone to multiple places before we found the lowest quote. Another tip is to look into what each quote comes with, sometimes you can negotiate the price or bring the price down depending on what hidden fees you don’t need. For example, we saved a lot of money on our kitchen because we took out the installation fee and installed it ourselves, with the help of a friend.
I hope these tips and tricks help you stay on budget during your home renovations! If you’re looking for other ideas on how to style your house or apartment, check out this post on how to make your apartment feel like home or Ana’s interview with Kerri Webb who’s an interior designer.
