Unless you’re lucky enough to get on a Channel 4 George Clarke programme it’s unlikely that you’ll be able to get a fresh architect to re-design your house for free. This is the dream of course but even on those programmes you have to use your own budget for your renovation or home improvements and it almost always ends up being half the budget again on top! Here are 6 ways to save a little money on those all important home improvements.
1. DIY
Doing things yourself can save a hell of a lot of money as you’re obviously not paying for labour but only take jobs on that you’re confident that you can complete to a really high standard. Painting and decorating can be something that you can take on yourself if you have a steady hand but I wouldn’t recommend plumbing your new kitchen if you haven’t got a clue!
2. Mates Rates
Shop around and ask everyone you know if they know someone they’d recommend for certain jobs. You know more skilled tradesmen than you probably think. Since we’ve joined our new gym about 6 months ago we’ve discovered that we now know kitchen fitters, bathroom specialists and more!
3. Ex-Display
Buying ex-display goods like kitchen units, bath tubs, taps and sinks can be a great way to save money. Check online retailers such as Norwood Interiors or even your high street stores like B&Q or Homebase for their ex-display stock and you could get a full kitchen for as little as £2,000. Always make sure that you visit the store or showroom and check out the pieces before you buy to ensure that there aren’t any really noticeable scratches or dents though!
4. Sales Shopping
Waiting to buy things instead of rushing into purchasing it could pay off. Contact stores and ask them when their sales start and you could be less out of pocket than you thought you might have been!
5. Go Straight To The Source
Heading straight to the timber yard to get your reclaimed timber instead of buying it through a reseller can save you a tonne of money. Also by hitting the stockists for materials like plaster instead of buying from the high street can really save you a lot of money!
6. Buy Cheap, Buy Twice
This might seem silly but to save money you don’t have to buy really cheap things to go into your home improvements or renovations. If you do buy cheap, it’s more than likely that you’ll end up replacing what you’ve bought with another so you’ve essentially spent twice as much.
