Renovating your home can be expensive, but there are some creative strategies that can help you make many substantial improvements on a budget. Before you conclude that you have to postpone your home renovation project, you should consider some of the following tactics.

Save Money on Supplies

Don’t assume that you have to buy all of your supplies at full retail cost. One way to cut the cost of supplies is to search for building supply auctions in your area. You never know what you might find at these auctions, and in many cases you can save dramatically.

 

Another option worth considering is getting recycled or used materials at one of Habitat For Humanity’s Restores. There are hundreds of these stores in the U.S., so if you live near one you should schedule a visit. This is mainly for DIY projects, though, as many contractors will not work with such supplies for liability reasons.

 

Don’t Hire Contractors During Peak Season

Contractors are usually busiest in summer and fall, so if you plan on hiring help it’s best to schedule the job earlier in the year. Not only will it be harder to find someone during the peak seasons, but they will tend to charge more.

 

A good time to start making calls is late in the winter. Last year, for example, we needed work done on our roof. I began doing searches for “Denver roof” in March and found someone who gave me a good price. The work was completed by June, so we had a great roof by the summer. By timing your renovations the right way, you can save money.

 

Make the Best Use of Your Space

It’s common for people to think about expanding their living space when they could make more efficient use of the space they already have. This is a much cheaper option, and often yields very pleasing results.

 

For example, you can build higher shelves to give yourself extra storage space. Shelves that go all the way up to the ceiling can be very useful for storing books, CDs, boxes and anything you need to store. If you can’t reach that high, you can do what many stores and libraries do -use a stepladder.

 

Another way to save space is to have furniture that contains storage space or that has multiple purposes. Captain’s beds, for example, have drawers where you can store blankets and sheets.

 

By using your space more efficiently, you may find that you don’t need to build an addition after all.