10 Ways To Save Money On Home Improvements

Media / Blog

10 Ways To Save Money On Home Improvements

Prev

Do You Change Lanes In Traffic?

January 24, 2014

For almost a decade in the 1990's, we were entertained by the standup comedy turned TV show starting Tim Allen called Home Improvement. Tim played the stereotypical American male doing all the manly things with his 'tool man' belt, sports cars, and watching sports. Who can forget the funny projects turned bad on the Binford sponsored Tool Time show within a show and the Tool Time girls including Pamela Anderson and Debbie Dunning. All jokes aside, home improvements are a big part of our lives. Often, we make impulse decisions on new projects or additions to the home. I put together my 10 Your Smart Money Moves tips when it comes to saving on the bottom line for your next home improvement project.

  1. Look for natural light- Surprisingly, cutting a hole in a particular part of the house an installed a quality window or sunlight can be relatively inexpensive and cut down on overall electricity costs.
  2. Use a 'how to' on You Tube- Even if you aren't a home improvement expert, you may be able to do a small project or install by watching someone else on You Tube.
  3. Do Your Own Demolition- You must be careful on this one so you don't take down piping or electricity in the house. If you pay attention, you can shave some dollars and cents while also releasing some stress.
  4. Ask for a GC's resources- General contractors make their living by finding high quality lower cost sub-contractors. If you have a painting job or possibly a bookcase build out, you might be able to go right to the subcontractor and negotiate a person to person deal.
  5. Borrow The F-150- It really could be any kind of truck with a flatbed, but by moving your own materials like stone, wood, etc., you can cut down on the cost to get the materials to your house.
  6. Limit Your Rearranging- Moving items like showers, toilets, or sinks that totally change the plumbing system can be very expensive. Only rearrange items that will not soak up your entire budget.
  7. Bid The Job-It will usually be best to get three bids to make sure you are getting the best deal for the best quality.
  8. Consider Purchasing Remnants- Some lots that sell a fair amount of stone will have remnants or leftovers for sale. If you don't have a big project, this could be a good way to put a few more bucks back in your pocket.
  9. Try Refinishing First- You would be surprised that if you get bored with your current rooms, just changing a few small things may make a difference. Change the cabinet knobs, paint color, or add a new slipcover to the couch. These will all be cheaper than buying new.
  10. Get The Gutters To Work- All of us that own homes know that water is the one damage that drives us crazy. Make sure your gutter system is working correctly because poor drainage or overflow could cause flooding that will cost you money. Moreover, ensuring an adequate gutter supply is paramount. Gutters play an essential role in directing rainwater away from your home's foundation, preventing potential structural and internal water damages. Investing in good-quality gutters can save homeowners significant repair costs in the long run.

These are just 10 of my smart money move tips. What have you done to save money on your home improvements?

Written by:
Ted Jenkin

Request a FREE consultation: www.oxygenfinancial.net

Next

Who Gets The I-Tunes Account When You Die?

Sign Up

Sign up for our exclusive Sunday Paper with a weekly market commentary, insightful personal finance blogs, and life changing education guides.

Email sign up

Securities offered through Kestra Investment Services, LLC (Kestra IS), member FINRA/SIPC. Investment advisory services offered through Kestra Advisory Services, LLC (Kestra AS), an affiliate of Kestra IS. oXYGen Financial is not affiliated with Kestra IS or Kestra AS. Kestra IS and Kestra AS do not provide tax or legal advice. https://Bit.ly/KF-Disclosures

This site is published for residents of the United States only. Registered Representatives of Kestra IS and Investment Advisor Representatives of Kestra AS may only conduct business with residents of the states and jurisdictions in which they are properly registered. Therefore, a response to a request for information may be delayed. Not all products and services referenced on this site are available in every state and through every representative or advisor listed. For additional information, please contact Kestra IS Compliance Department at 844-553-7872.

PLEASE NOTE: The information being provided is strictly as a courtesy. When you link to any of the web sites provided here, you are leaving this web site. Kestra IS and Kestra AS makes no representation as to the completeness or accuracy of information provided at these web sites. Nor is Kestra IS and Kestra AS liable for any direct or indirect technical or system issues or any consequences arising out of your access to or your use of third-party technologies, web sites, information and programs made available through this web site. When you access one of these web sites, you are leaving our web site and assume total responsibility and risk for your use of the web sites you are linking to.