10 Ways to Save Money on a Home Renovation

By Wendy Dessler

Are you in the process of renovating your home? Often, major upgrades can get quite expensive if you aren't paying attention, so if you're on a tight budget, consider focusing on saving money while renovating.

Related: NAR Report: These Are the Top Home Improvements

For example, if you plan to upgrade your kitchen, it may be better to purchase low-cost materials and cabinets. You can find quality affordable kitchen cabinets online for a fraction of what you'd pay in most traditional retail stores.

Here are 10 powerful ways to save money during a home renovation:

1. Set a Budget and Stick to It
One of the biggest mistakes homeowners make when renovating their property is failing to set a budget. By not having one in place before you begin work, you'll often end up spending more than you originally intended. Be sure to take time to figure out how much you can afford and create a budget for your renovation project.

2. Make Every Effort to Save on Material Costs
Another area where homeowners get in trouble is that they spend way too much on material costs. For example, you can buy recycled or reused building materials, which will help cut down on your costs. Even better, some of these reused materials are in excellent condition, so you'll get a good bargain on more high-end items. 

You can also check Craigslist, eBay or Freecycle to find free or cheap materials online. Many people are often literally giving this stuff away on these sites, so take advantage while you can.

3. Find Good Deals on Essential Pieces
No one said you had to pay top dollar for the most essential pieces for your home renovation. Instead of spending a small fortune for new granite countertops, you can wait a little while for the materials to go on sale. The same holds true with kitchen island installations, brand-new windows and just about anything else that needs replacing during the home renovation process.

4. Pay Cash for Materials and Contractor Expenses
This tried-and-true idea works wonders when attempting to cut down on renovation expenses. You'll be able to save a significant amount by offering to pay cash for your materials and contractor fees for a couple of reasons. First, by paying cash instead of using credit, you can avoid the possibility of paying hefty interest charges. Second, sometimes contractors will give their customers a price break when you offer to pay cash for their services.

5. Don't Rush the Renovation Process
Sometimes people are eager to finish their home renovations. This can turn out to be a major mistake if you aren't patient. Instead of using your credit to pay for your expenses, wait and save up. Additionally, you might end up spending top dollar for materials or contractor fees when you could've paid much less if you were willing to wait a little while longer.

6. Perform DIY Renovations When You Possess the Skills to Get the Job Done
Some repairs and renovations are going to be out of your league. However, many folks will have no problem handling some DIY projects on their own. Instead of paying somebody to complete easy to moderate repairs or demolition, you can take the bull by the horns and perform these activities yourself.

7. Reuse Materials Whenever Possible
Instead of letting certain materials go to waste, feel free to reuse them whenever you can get away with it. This is a great way to save money without going over your budget or breaking the bank. For example, you may be able to reuse some of your cabinetry and appliances without replacing them.

8. Avoid Making Big Purchases Until the Items Go on Sale
If you're renovating your kitchen and putting in brand-new appliances, you should always wait for them to go on sale. Of course, this only works if you aren't under any time constraints, but instead of buying an appliance on a typical Wednesday, you could wait until a big Fourth of July sale is happening. You'll save a lot of money this way, so take advantage of these excellent opportunities.

9. Shop Around When Hiring Help for Home Renovations
You obviously want your home renovations to look amazing; however, that doesn't mean you have to pay top dollar for the most expensive contractors in your area. You can shop around and get multiple bids from as many contractors as you see fit. This will help you find a top-notch and inexpensive contractor that meets your needs.

10. Sell Any Working Appliances That You Intend to Replace
Do you own a refrigerator that's in good working order? How about a well-used stove that's still in good condition? Instead of throwing these valuable items away when you replace them, you could list them on Craigslist, eBay or the Facebook Marketplace. You never know what someone may want to purchase. Selling your old, but working, appliances could help you recoup some of your renovation expenses and lower your costs at the same time.

It's possible to save money on your upcoming renovation. You just have to be willing to do things a little bit differently than most people. Take advantage of sales when the opportunities arise, hire good but inexpensive contractors to help with the renovations and use the rest of these tips to the best of your ability in your pursuit of saving money!

Wendy Dessler is a super-connector who helps businesses like best online cabinets find their audience online through outreach, partnerships and networking. She frequently writes about the latest advancements in digital marketing and focuses her efforts on developing customized blogger outreach plans depending on the industry and competition.