When it comes to remodeling your home, the number one question homeowners have is “how much is this going to cost?” And it’s a fair question. Everything has a price tag. At Eakman Construction, we work hard to provide homeowners with luxurious home remodels that fit their budget. While every project is different, there are some key aspects and approaches that are the same for everyone – and they happen to help you save money on your project. If you are thinking about remodeling your home in Kirkland, WA in the near future or you want to tuck away some ideas for future use, this list of how to save money on your project will help make your money go further.
- Make a list of renovations and project ideas before you begin – this will prevent wishy-washy decision making
- Prioritize that list based on what needs to be done versus wants – where do you need to put your money first? This is difficult because so many homeowners want to put money into the finishes. It’s hard to justify putting thousands of dollars into new insulation when you can’t see it, but it’s a “must have”.
- Start with the big items on your list – it will cost you more now, but save you money in the long run.
- Shop around – you don’t have to take the first quote on a project or service and are allowed to ask for discounts or bulk-service prices.
- Pre-purchase materials when they are on sale – if you know you are going to renovate your bathroom and see any taps, toilets, windows, or other materials you need without having to measure how much your contractor will need, buy it on sale.
- Get expert advice about where to put your money – if you aren’t sure what needs to be done, get experts to tell you how to spend your budget so you can make the most of every dollar.
- Don’t schedule renovations when weather is supposed to be bad – colder weather building can take longer, driving up the prices of your home remodel.
- Build “delay time” into your renovation budget and timeline – this saves you money in the long run because delays are going to happen and they usually bring some kind of cost. If you plan ahead, you won’t be disappointed when they happen.
- Allow for overage of materials – you might come up short and products go in and out of stock all the time. If you pre-purchase all of the flooring for your family room and then come up short, you won’t be able to return it. Let the contractor order the flooring to ensure there is enough. You can always return what you don’t use.
- Get it all done at once – coming back to finish a job later means it will cost you time, energy, and money if you need to rework a pre-existing renovation.
- Schedule subcontractors properly – don’t have them overlapping one another. This creates chaos and can make it difficult to get things done in the right order.
- Do some of the work yourself – paint, finishes, decorating. There’s no need to pay someone to paint your finished walls unless you want that done for you.
- Make sure your plans are solid before you start – changes mid-project can cause a lot of problems and cost thousands of dollars if you change your mind.
- Get a quote in writing and be clear on what “extras” will cost.
- Use licensed contractors and subcontractors – some workers may be cheaper, but not permitted to do the work. This can cause delays and issues with permitting and passing inspections and adds up to lost dollars and time fast.
Want more expert tips on how to save money on your remodel? Call Eakman Construction today. We’ll help you plan for your next home remodel in Seattle, WA and ensure your project comes in on time and on budget.