Home Remodel Tips: 19 Ways to Keep Costs Down

This powerhouse website is filled with information that you can tailor to meet your needs perfectly. If what you’re really after is practical advice on how to carry out projects around your home, then you can’t go wrong with Ask the Builder. Tim Carter breaks everything down easily into step by step procedures for everything you could possibly need to know about renovating your home.

A breathable, nontoxic wall covering made of fine glass filaments, Texturglas has a similar look and feel to the fiberglass matting used in auto-body work. It's available in a variety of surface patterns, takes paint readily, and is designed to be installed right on top of existing surfaces, adding strength while covering up dings. The homeowner can then give the sketch to a builder or take it to a drafting service, which will charge about $1 to $1.50 a square foot to crank out formal construction drawings. You might be able to tap an architect's design savvy by having him undertake a one-time design consultation. With some strategic thinking about design, materials, and timing, you can cut costs without cutting corners.

Don't schedule your reno in the height of summer or between September, when the kids go back to school, and Christmas. "That's premium time," explains Lisa Stacholy, owner of LKS Architects, in Atlanta, Georgia. Suppliers tend to be busier, labor scarcer, and deliveries slower. One Virginia-based contractor offers discounts of between 4.5 and 5.5 percent on projects during his down time, right after the new year.

Building a home addition costs $22,500 to $80,100 on average but can range anywhere from $5,000 to $150,000, with homeowners spending an average of $49,600. This depends on the extent of the addition and the finish materials you choose. Different rooms may require different materials or components, making rooms with plumbing more expensive to add compared to a primary bedroom or sunroom.

Apply for any required building permits so you won’t get slapped with any fines. You wouldn’t want to have a brand new kitchen and flooring if you have a leaky roof, Home Renovation for example. An FHA 203 loan provides money for purchases, repairs, and other related expenses for individuals who want to buy and rehabilitate a damaged home.

Once your estimated costs are calculated and work begins, log the actual cost in column E. If needed, adjust your budget and log your outstanding balance accordingly. For years, when I went to other people’s homes, I wished I could have spaces like these. Your home’s HVAC system are some of the most important things in your home to maintain. Studies show that people will often choose not to purchase a home if the HVAC system is in poor shape or outdated.