Last week, I gave you some tips on how to renovate your bathroom without breaking the bank. Today, I’ll give you some further tips.
Image: Juhan Sonin / Flickr
1. Keep the DIY in your reno
Whenever possible, do as much of the work as you can. Most renos go through money to pay for the labour, rather than materials. However, as always, make sure it is stuff you can do yourself. If you try to do something that you just don’t know how to do, it could potentially cost more than you would like it to when you have to fix it.
The things you can probably do yourself are the ones that are labour intensive but not very skilled. These include demolition, tiling, installing floors and painting. Save the electrical and plumbing to the experts.
2. Be the boss
When you hire contractors, cut out a middle man by doing the hiring yourself. To make sure you aren’t scammed, get a referral if possible. If this isn’t possible, try to get several estimates, and choose the most professional and comprehensive one.
3. Shop around
Save money that you would spend on materials by shopping around for the best prices. You can sometimes pick up steals from salvage yards, or directly from the manufacturer. The Internet is
also a great place to pick up for deals.
When you do find any good materials, make sure that you measure your space correctly so that you know how much you need. As well, buy a little extra, particularly when you are purchasing tiles. If you need to repair any tile work in the future, this extra tile will come in handy, and will save you if the tile you used has been discontinued.
4. Reuse whenever possible
If you don’t have to get rid of it, don’t! You can always paint an existing cabinet, or have an existing bathtub refinished. Mirrors that aren’t damaged can usually be framed to appear more attractive. Reusing is not only environmentally friendly – it will also help you save money.
Hopefully these tips have been helpful. As always, if you have any more particular concerns, consulting directly with a contractor or other expert can help you save a lot of money in the long run.
Heleen Jacobsen
Broker of Record with InfoMarket Group GMAC Real Estate
www.infomarketgroup.com
