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HOME IMPROVER: Tips to reduce remodelling project costs
It's important to stick to your budget
Whether it’s multiple home improvement projects or maximising your long-term investment, keeping costs low can be a priority for many homeowners. There are plenty of steps you can take to reduce costs.
READ MORE: Home Improver
- Creating and sticking to a budge is important. Don’t be talked into add-ons you don’t need, be prepared to say no if something will put you in the red. Prioritising needs over wants is key.
- Renovation often exposes structural issues that you weren’t aware of, many of which will need to be fixed before you can proceed with the remodel. Experts usually recommend preparing for 10% to 15% in overruns.
- Get quotes from multiple contractors. Many will offer free quotes, so talk to several different companies before making your choice.
- Even if you’re not an experienced DIYer, you’ll be able to do parts of the project yourself, including preparation and clean-up. There may also be tasks like painting a room that you could tackle. These are the tasks to DIY.
- If you are thinking of using high-quality materials, you can often get good deals by shopping around or watching out for sales.
- If possible, reuse and refinish old materials like cabinets and flooring instead of buying new.
- Work within the current structure and layout of your home. Moving walls or plumbing adds a great deal of time and work to any remodelling project, as well as increasing the price.HAVE YOUR SAY
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