How to Renovate a House on a Budget
Several times a year, my wife gets bored with the appearance of our house. I tell her to hold her horses, because a major renovation isn’t the answer. But one of my primary duties is to make her happy, and a few DIY renovations on a budget isn’t a problem.
“Renovating a property on a budget is an efficient way to add to the resale value.” The concept of a huge budget has now become moot with the sea of DIY renovation options. Last year, my wife DIY’d a bookcase for our study, and it turned out fabulous.
When I spoke with Jon last week, he told me that “he is currently renovating his home office on a set budget, and so far, the results look great.” As you can see, it is possible to renovate on a budget. And if you’re considering selling your home, renovating on a budget is handy.
How to Plan A Home Renovation in 3 Simple Steps
We have established these three steps over the years of flipping homes on a budget, and they bear decent results.
1) Know Your Budget
Home improvement projects can quickly turn you into an ATM if you’re not careful. Set a preliminary budget with contingencies before you begin the project, and then stick to it. You need a plan on how to fund the home renovation and follow it religiously.
No, you don’t need those gold sconces for the dining room. The extra-thick wallpaper is not different from regular wallpaper, but costs more. During the course of the renovation, your budget will be tested.
2) Educate Yourself
When I first started with an at-home renovation, Jon advised educating. “You don’t want to end up with shoddy paintwork or uneven tiles because you didn’t prepare beforehand.”
3) Check Legalities
This step is missed by most first-timers. You can avoid code violations by educating yourself on the regulations and legalities. Some DIY renovations also require permits.
How to Renovate a House on a Budget
We have established it is possible to renovate a house on a budget; we can now move on to how it is done.
Kitchen
The kitchen is one of the most frequented spaces in a home. Regular and minor touch-ups go a long way in prolonging the life of the kitchen. Here’s what’s possible on a limited budget:
- Repainting the kitchen cabinet.
- Replacing the handles.
- Introducing versatile lighting (accent, ambient, spotlights).
Bathroom
An efficient way to renovate the bathroom on a budget is to replace old tiles.
One of our contractors recommends that “with new tiles costing between $2 to $20 per square foot, changing the tilework is a cheap solution with long-term positive results.”
Living Room
With the living room, there is more flexibility with a limited budget. Renovating a living room is the most affordable home renovation. As long as there is sufficient seating, you can get creative.
Bedrooms
The bedroom is another space where you can creatively remodel on a budget. “When flipping homes, we set the bedroom in a neutral setup to enhance staging the open house.”
For bedrooms, keep things simple and invest in features that create a focal point in the space. These can be achieved through “painting the wall behind your bed a calming color or hidden storage solutions that match the theme of the space.”
Summary
Renovating your home doesn’t have to be an expensive job. All you have to do is ensure that these renovations add value to your home and are considered relevant to the buying market.
