Casula
With the new series of the Block going to air tonight, I’ve got no doubt that Australians are about to be hit with renovation fever!
Renovating can be a great way to help add value to a property however it can be very expensive, and it’s not always as easy as it’s made to look on television.
So this week I thought I’d give some tips for those who want to renovate, but want to keep their renovation costs as low as possible:
- Shop around for your materials – You can find cheap, good quality building materials if you look in the right places. Check out auction clearance centres, or try places like eBay, GraysOnline or Gumtree to find everything from tiles to entire kitchens!
- Think about where you can use alternative finishes in your house. For example, a marble bench top would be nice, but you might be able to get the same effect (and add just as much property value) by using something like laminate instead.
- Embrace the older parts of your building! That old plaster or timberwork in your house might seem old and dated, but with a little tender loving care it might help add character to your house.
- Ask yourself if you can do any of your own handy work. Tradies don’t normally come cheap, so if you can do some of your projects yourself, you could potentially save yourself thousands of dollars. Make sure you’re capable of doing the work you intend to do though, and don’t undertake anything that you need a qualification for such as electrical or plumbing work.
- Get plenty of quotes! If you’re renovating you’ll probably need to hire somebody at some stage, but make sure you shop around and get plenty of quotes so you have a fair idea of how much certain projects will cost.
These are just a few ways you can help save money on a renovation, but if you have any more suggestions then please share them!