DIY Home Renovation Tips to Save Money

If you’ve been in the same house for more than, let’s say, 10 or 15 years, you’ve probably sit in one corner of your house and wonder what your home would look like if you renovated it. This though sounds appealing specially if you find your old house plan not functional enough for your daily requirements or you discovered inspiration from Facebook groups like Home Buddies and Scandi Homes Enthusiasts or watched Flip and Flop on HGTV or YouTube.

Whether your current home is no longer functional for your needs, your family is expanding, or you simply want to make some changes to improve the aesthetic appeal of your home, renovating an old house is a viable option. However, keep in mind that the task at hand will not be simple. When dealing with the more delicate parts of the house, you’ll need to be more cautious, and you’ll also need to keep an eye on the budget.

The renovation process a house can be costly and there may be times when unexpected costs arise, so you must be financially savvy with your money. You could save a few thousand if you are committed to understanding how the remodeling project begins, what are the building materials, and, most importantly, your priorities.

Here are some insider tips to get you started and save money on DIY HOUSE RENOVATION in the Philippines:

Draw Up Your New House Vision

It is your vision that will power the whole home renovation project, turning the gears of design, materials, and labor. Talk about it with the people who are living with you in house. Make a detailed plan and visualize your new house design or home improvement from the ground up. Don’t forget to meticulously plan and write down your wish list down to the last detail. It may be a lengthy list, but it is critical to include everyone’s perspective on what they want for the home improvement. Get ideas from magazines, social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, and YouTube, or by looking at homes in your neighborhood or town. Finally, don’t make a snap decision based on the first beautiful image or video you see, create a house vision that would be functional for everyone in the household and can fit your budget.

Establish a budget, Stick to it, and Create a timeline

Begin with a well-defined budget that accounts for all costs associated with home renovations. Make a list of everything you’ll need to pay for, including labor, materials, tools and equipment, permits, and cleanup. Consider all potential cost components and create a realistic cost breakdown. This ensures that you will not overspend on your home renovations. . Put your home renovation cost breakdown in a spread sheet or, if you’re old school, yellow paper and a calculator, which will also serve as your house renovation checklist or a way to check if your spending is on track with your budget. Also, be familiar with your mathematics and formulas. If you used the area method, make sure you used it all of the time.

Set aside a contingency fund (roughly 10% to 20% of your total budget) for unforeseen expenses.

Plan Ahead

Start digging in the hallways of various home improvement centers and hardware stores to compare prices of various appliances and fixtures to stay within your budget. It’s also a good idea to check out the online stores of home remodeling products, as they may have promotions and offers that are only available to potential shoppers. Check out tiangges and surplus shops for low-cost and on sale furniture and decorative elements.

More complex tasks on your DIY home renovation will be managed by a professional. Before you hire and sign to contractors, conduct an interview, ask possible costs for new construction, home remodel, cost estimates and obtain at least three quotes. Consider not only the cost estimates, but also their proven record and relevant experience in the line of work you require.

Aside from double-checking the fixtures and materials you’ll need for your home renovation, you should also prepare in advance if you’ll need a home renovation loan, as house renovation costs in the Philippines are not at all cheap. Save more on your home renovation costs by taking out a home loan with manageable monthly payments. The cost of a loan is determined by factors such as the lending institution, the interest rate, your revenue, and the repayment period you select.

Apply Fresh Coat of Paint to the Area of the House That Needs It

Now that you have a vision, a plan, and a budget, the first step to begin your DIY home renovation project by applying a fresh coat of paint to the areas of your home that necessitate it. Repainting is much less expensive and simpler than demolition or replacing walls and modifying the structure of your home. And it works wonders in improving the surroundings of your room without the need to purchase home furnishings or accessories.

Start the DIY project by painting yourself or with the support of friends or family members to cut cost on home renovations. If you’re going to repaint the entire house, pick a color that will evoke the mood you want in each room. For example, you can paint the living room a shade of green to reflect the colors of the natural world, harmony, and renewal or white to allow your living to bathe in natural light coming from the windows.

If your budget is really tight, you can start by painting your cabinets. Start from one room to another until you finish the whole house or space.

Install Light Pipes

If one of the reasons you want to renovate your home is to improve the lighting, you should consider installing light pipes rather than installing a new windows, which is more expensive. A light pipe costs three times less than a window. Light pipes distribute natural light and can also be used to distribute artificial light. Light pipes are used to transport light to locations far from the source with minimal light loss. 

Create a Flex Room

Rather than spending money on a costly house expansion project or home remodel, make more space in your home by getting rid of all the clutter. Create a flex room or space depending on your household needs. For example, if you want your decluttered space to be an entertainment area, you can install air-conditioning and lighting that promotes energy efficiency, new flooring such as tiles or hard wood, and other finishing touches. You can also turn this new space into a bedroom or storage area by install overhead shelves, floating shelves, under-the-bed storage, and built-in cabinets as needed. You can decide and develop a lot of possibilities in a decluttered space.

Reuse and Recycle Existing Furnishings

A house renovation must not imply a full design revamp. Except if your home was built more than fifty years ago, there’s no need to dismantle all established pieces of furniture and rearrange the floor plan of every space. Utilize as many recycled materials as possible to cut costs of your renovation and avoid dumpster rental. Repurpose any old but usable items from your property as well as hand-me-downs from family and friends. For example, you could repurpose some wood from displaced doors to make a cabinetry for your kitchen or vanity for your bathroom; or use a tall mirror from an old cabinet and achieve a framed mirror in your bathroom wall.

House renovations are time-consuming and expensive. The tips in this article are a good place to start, but keep in mind that if you are unsure what to do with your home renovation, it is still best to consult with professionals.