Ways to Save Money on Your Home Remodel : Plan Backward

The main motivation behind a home renovation is to make your house look more beautiful, functional and comfortable.

Home remodeling is a special project that needs tons of planning and sometimes a lot of money. And because you may not have the expertise to plan everything from scratch, you usually need the help of professionals.  But did you know that it’s possible to make your remodeling project a success without spending a fortune?

For example, proper planning and making the right decisions at the right time will reduce your budget significantly without jeopardizing the quality of your renovations. Simply put, the key to making your remodeling more efficient is to have a clear-cut plan beforehand.

One way to renovate your house beautifully and efficiently is to plan backwards, i.e. start at where you want to be at the end, and then figure out what you need to do to get there.

Before pumping thousands of dollars into the remodeling project, consider its potential return on investment and be sure of what you want to achieve.

For example, it would be inefficient to renovate a house today and then, due to a miscalculation, end up selling it in a couple of years with little or no profit. Considering your result and its significance five or 10 years down the road is important.

With the result in mind, it is time to consider your financing options:

  • Will you finance the remodel from your pocket or will you do it on credit?
  • Have you saved up enough for the remodel?
  • If you will rely on bank credit, are the interest rates at your bank reasonable or do you need to check out another bank?
  • How friendly is the bank’s repayment plan?
  • Is it possible to pull out some equity from this remodel?

Getting these answers will save you the headaches that come with unclear and hasty financing choices.

For the actual remodel, decide whether you want a modern or postmodern home. With kitchen renovations, for example, you have to decide whether you want a kitchen that will look current even after a decade or a kitchen that will look okay today and outdated tomorrow.

Deciding on the renovated room’s look will help you choose the right appliances and renovation materials.


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