Even if you follow the essential advice we've been handing out for years, build a 20 percent cushion to cover unpleasant surprises, get contractor references and review them, banish words while doing it from your vocabulary, it's hard not to end up shelling out more than you want. DIYers can make big savings with recycled or underused accessories and building materials. Habitat for Humanity operates around 400 Restores nationwide, offering reclaimed materials at half off center prices. If your addition requires clapboard cladding, for example, you can save more in the long run by opting for the pre-primed and pre-painted variety now.
It costs an additional 10 to 20 cents per foot, but will end up paying half of the paint jobs in the future, says Paul Eldrenkamp, owner of Byggmeister, a design and construction remodeling company in Newton, Massachusetts. Don't schedule your reindeer in the middle of summer or between September, when the children return to school, and Christmas. It's premium time, explains Lisa Stacholy, owner of LKS Architects, in Atlanta, Georgia. Suppliers tend to be busier, labor is scarce, and deliveries are slower.
A Virginia-based contractor offers discounts of between 4.5 and 5.5 percent (based on the general budget) on projects during their downtime, just after the new year. You're renovating because you want your home to look more beautiful and feel more comfortable. Think of your home renovation plan as a business plan or as your special project that is starting from scratch. If possible, live in your home for a while before making reform plans.
The first step is to develop an idea of what you want to do with your home remodeling. Write a prioritized list of your needs and wants. There are many sources to find design ideas for your home remodeling project. Look at magazines and websites and collect photos of homes or remodeling projects you like.
The more clearly you can visualize the project and describe it on paper, the better prepared you are to make your decision.
