12 Home Remodeling Tips to Save Money

Avoid overspending on your next home renovation with these ideas.

Your Athens, Georgia, home is your pride and joy. But it’s not unusual to be on the lookout for home improvement projects that will increase your curb appeal. We all love watching HGTV shows and dreaming of remodeling projects, but let’s face it, those projects don’t really get accomplished in an hour, and even with careful home remodeling estimates, it’s easy to overspend.

We’ve put together a few ideas that can help you save money on your next remodeling project. Thinking and planning ahead can make a big difference in keeping you from overspending on a project you want to tackle!

1. Keep your foundation footprint.

Before you jump into building an expensive home addition, give serious thought to how you could make your existing home’s footprint space more efficient. Removing a wall, building additional walls, or adding cabinetry in wasted spaces inside your house can make a huge difference in your home’s livability.

Think about maximizing your attic space and basement areas. If these spaces are currently unused or underutilized, consider turning them into a home office or playroom. Additionally, garages with extra room can be ideal for a craft space or home gym because you can open the garage door if you’re working with chemicals or once you start breaking a sweat!

2. Pay cash rather than taking on a home equity loan.

Saving money ahead of time is always the best way to save money overall. The less you need to pay on a high interest loan or through credit cards, the better. One exception is financing options that charge no interest, so you can start your project sooner without paying more.

3. Do your home remodeling project in the off-season.

Home contractors are usually overloaded with work during the summer and before the winter holidays. If your renovation project can wait, consider putting it off until times when contractors are more available, such as after New Year’s. They may even be happy to take on your home renovation project at a lower price. Don’t be afraid to ask.

An upside to our southeastern climate here in Georgia is that January, February, March, and April tend to have moderate temperatures, so it is unlikely for open doors to cause any issues.

4. Keep it simple. Tackle one project at a time.

It is important to prioritize your wants and needs when it comes to interior and exterior renovations to your home. Updating one room can snowball into another and another. For example, a shiny new kitchen may make your living room look outdated. However, don’t try to do your whole house at once. Doing so can lead to major expenses and a major headache.

Relax. Enjoy one home renovation project success at a time, and let your budget recalibrate before jumping into the next.

5. Do your own demolition.

Here’s your chance to let out every frustration as you swing that sledgehammer. Removing cabinets, flooring, and non-load-bearing walls yourself can save you hundreds versus the cost of hiring a contractor to have all that fun. You may even be able to hire a few neighborhood teens or UGA students to help you out for a much lower price than a contractor would charge.

6. Don’t play with plumbing.

Any time you decide to move a sink or a toilet, you push your renovation expenses way up. So, if you’re doing a kitchen or bath remodel, keep plumbing lines in the same place if possible.

If you want a little extra privacy in the bathroom, it may make sense to enclose the toilet area with a pocket door or sliding door rather than moving the current plumbing that may be sunk into a concrete foundation.

7. Resurface or replace cabinet doors rather than replace the entire cabinet.

Do you really need to replace those kitchen cabinets? Solid wood cabinets can last forever. They may just need to be refurbished with paint and new knobs and pulls. Or you can simply replace the doors and hinges with the style you prefer.

If you really need to see those cabinets go away, think about only removing the upper cabinets and replacing them with open shelving. Update the lower cabinets with pull-out shelves to make the space more efficient and their use more practical.

8. Replace windows and doors using the same space and size as the old ones.

If your windows and doors have seen better days, consider remodeling with energy-efficient replacements. Energy-efficient replacement windows cost less than new windows. If you keep the same size window opening, you can update your windows with casement designs, awning windows, garden windows, acrylic block designs, or traditional single or double-hung windows.

9. Know exactly what you want before contractors show up.

Be ready. Once the work begins, you want every minute to count toward your finish date. Remember every minute lost with indecision or new ideas can

become very costly for you.

Know your preferred finishes, flooring, window shapes and styles, countertops, appliances, lighting, and fixtures. Spend time shopping for the best prices ahead of time so you aren’t at the mercy of contractors’ or installers’ prices.

Talk to your contractor about any ideas they have that can save remodeling costs on these elements. For instance, they may have some leftover paint available that you could use at a deeply discounted price.

10. Check out recycling and salvage centers for fixtures, doors, and more.

Lucky for us in Georgia, Athens has lots of great antique stores, architectural salvage, and recycling centers where you may be able to find fixtures like door knobs, cabinet pulls, shiplap, reclaimed wood, and wood beams for your home remodeling project. This is a great way to add personality and creativity to your renovation. Consider an old cabinet or farm table to reuse as a kitchen island. Or an antique door for your pantry.

11. Consider renting tools for DIY projects.

Did you know you can rent floor sanders? Ladders and scaffolding? Augers? Before you hire a professional to do the job, ask yourself what you might accomplish if you had the right tools. Renting remodeling tools can save you lots of money and the space it would take to store such items you only use once or twice a year at most.

12.  Know when to call in a pro — don’t let your DIY get out of hand.

In the interest of time, expertise, and your sanity, it may make sense to talk to an architect and a contractor before you get too far into any project, especially if you’re thinking of moving walls or laying foundation. They can help you save money with ideas and the home remodeling experience they’ve learned through other renovation projects.

Your friends at Window World of Athens will be happy to discuss your exterior home remodeling ideas. You can trust Window World’s 25+ years of experience, from free consultation to professional installation. Energy-efficient windows, doors, siding, and garage doors can increase your curb appeal and transform the home you love. Contact us for your free quote.