Home remodeling costs can add up fast, but the good news is that you don’t need to worry about busting your budget. By thinking strategically about design, materials, and timing, it is possible to save money without sacrificing quality. Here are our top tips.
Build Smarter, Not Bigger
You may want to think about reconfiguring your kitchen for maximum utility before you start knocking down walls to add more space. Replace shelves that hog up space with cabinet-height pull-out drawers and racks for canned goods and the like. Add dividers, pull-out pot trays, and lazy Susans to get the most out of your cabinets. The upgrades will cost a few thousand dollars, but you’ll save a lot more by dropping the quest for additional square footage.
→ Cost to add 200 square feet: $48,000 to $95,000
→ Cost of efficient, custom-designed cabinets: $35,000
Saved: Up to $60,000
Think Twice Before Adding Windows
Before you make a hole in the side of your house and move the framing, consider less invasive and cheaper ways to light your rooms. For starters, you can easily brighten up a dark bathroom or hallway by slipping a light tube between the roof rafters.
→ Cost to install a double-pane insulated window: $1,500
→ Cost of a light tube: $500
Saved: $1,000
Dig in And Start Helping Out
To save a few extra bucks, consider doing some of the demolition or finishing work yourself. You can insulate, paint, sand, or help with cleanup every day.
→ Cost to professionally demolish a 200-square-foot deck: $1,000
→ Cost to do it yourself: $450 (Dumpster rental and parking permit)
Saved: $550
→ Cost for the construction crew to clean up the sawdust: $200 per day
→ Cost to do it yourself: $0
Saved: About 3 to 5 % of the overall job cost
Go Schlep!
Save money by picking up materials yourself instead of paying a delivery fee. If you don’t already have a pickup truck, you can buy a preowned utility trailer for less than $500. Opt for one that lets you haul 4-by-8s — it will pay for itself in no time.
→ Cost of 10 deliveries: $750
→ Cost of a used trailer: $400
Saved: $350, plus you can keep or sell the trailer
Consider Imitations that Make Sense
Lyptus is a fast-growing natural eucalyptus hybrid that’s becoming quite popular. The clear-grained hardwood is sustainably harvested in Brazil and looks and feels remarkably like mahogany. It is available as tongue-and-groove flooring or as planks or sheets for cabinetry and millwork.
→ Cost of 100 board feet of mahogany: $808
→ Cost of 100 board feet of Lyptus: $395
Saved: $413
Consider Stock Sizes when Planning
Save money on custom fabrication by using off-the-shelf dimensions from the start. Don’t build something 10 feet wide if plywood comes in 4-foot-wide sheets. The same rule applies to stock doors and windows.
→ Cost of custom doors: $1,500-$2,500
→ Cost of standard doors: $500-$800
Saved: Up to $2,000
