HOW TO: 13 Ways To Save Money Renovating A House On A Budget!

If you’ve made it here then you’re about to start one of the most amazing life adventures, renovating! We all want to maximise project profits so renovating a house on a budget and budgeting for a home renovation is the savvy choice, I’m thrilled you’re here.

Pinterest, isn’t it an amazingly dreamy place? Full of truly breathtaking interiors and totally gorgeous designs. Off you skip to your builder/architect/designer/hubs  “THIS is it, this is what I want to create”…. And then someone drops the BOB (Bedroom Obliterating Bombshell), the cost!

We hear you, we hear you. Champagne taste, beer budget? It happens to most people and you’re not alone, it’s rare I hear “Wow, really, so cheap”. See here’s the thing, renovating and designing homes, well the stylish, well-built, quality stuff…..it’s expensive. 

After my recent post 9 things you need to decide early in a renovation project, I want to share with you some of the tricks of the trade I’ve learnt over the last 10 years helping people boost their budget and save money renovating houses… Renovating a house with no experience can be a costly endeavour so let’s look at a few simple ways to help.

The secret to renovating a house on a budget is to spend in some areas and save in others…. And make sure you stick around until the end when I show you how to save up to 90% at all your favourite high street places and start your home renovation project the smart way.

So here are 13 of my best ways to save money renovating a house. You don’t need to sacrifice anything if you’re renovating a house on a budget.

The Kitchen Worktops

Fallen in love with the marble but not so much the price tag? Fear not lovely. Get on over to google and look up an engineered stone like Silestone and Ceaserstone. I do adore the look and beauty of real marble, but it does have weaknesses; being a natural material, it’s porous and allergic to acids (which cause etching). 

So for the renovating a house on a budget win-win solution that will last and put a few pounds back in your pocket, go with tough, durable, non-porous and easy-to-clean engineered stone.

If you’re thinking of marble floor tiles, be sure to check out floors of stone in Loughborough (for any UK peeps), amazing price and quality. There are of course many porcelain marble effect tiles on the market too. 

Be Clear + Stick To The Plan

Knowing exactly what you want to do from the start and sticking with it, well it’ll stop costs from spiralling. If you make changes that mean your trades have to redo work, well that’s extra time and it will cost you more. Be clear, don’t change your mind, and always keep the labour element at the front of your mind!

Fixed Price Contract

Trades will often want to work on hourly rates, they have no skin in the game for hiccups this way. If a problem happens (as they often do) this becomes your problem, your trade does more hours, and you pay more labour. 

If you can try and agree to a fixed price contract, I they’ll work faster, there is no real reason for them to up pace on an hourly contract. And SOME trades could even see slower working as a cash flow opportunity. If you’re renovating your house on a budget, get a contract!

The only time this doesn’t apply is when you find a trusted trades, and there are many around, but until you know, you don’t. I get a text from my builder on a weekly basis with what I owe, and and I really hope you do too, because finding those that you have complete trust in, well never let them go!

Free Standing

Let’s talk about the bathroom. Although freestanding baths are often a higher price than a built-in bath, the saving is a false economy…. by the time you’ve factored in labour, tiling, materials and time…. Freestanding becomes considerably cheaper. We’re all for cheap renovation ideas #DitchTheBuiltIn

Walk-in Wardrobes

If you want the built-in wardrobe look, but don’t want the built-in wardrobe price tag, head to Ikea.. the pax collection will be your best pal. And thinking about pimping your pax? Some truly astonishing walk-in creations over on ikeahacks and you would honestly never tell!

Pimp The Handles

Knobs and handles for cabinetry can be super expensive. Head to ebay, TKMaxx and Ikea are all great places to bulk buy beautiful individual knobs and handles, and often for a couple of pounds a pack….. Even with low prices, I’ve had some amazing handles for less than £1.

Before you declare fit for the tip, think about how you can pimp a piece and give it an individual look. Changing the handles on an old bedside cabinet can be enough to save it. Renovating your house on a budget or not, it’s not only sustainable but gives you such a lovely feeling giving items a new lease of life.

Headboard

Seriously, headboards can set you back handsomely! If you want to create a focal around your headboard but need some cost-effectiveness….. forget the upholstered headboard and bedframes, use an arrangement of big pillows and wall art to create the perfect focal.

Unfinished Look

If we’re looking to save money renovating a house, we’re looking to save as much labour as possible, that’s the name of the cost-effective reno game…..an easy way is to think about unfinished finishes. Materials like birch-faced ply, exposed brick etc. can save you on plastering. Tip: don’t think about exposed brick on external walls, or you’ll feel the cold in the winter, just internal walls that don’t need insulation.

Do it all at once

Now if you’re thorough with your renovation planning stage, you’ve properly worked out your budget, what you need to do, and all the deets, then you can save more labour by planning your timeline to do it all at once. Staging your project out might help your cash flow, but you’ll definitely save in labour if your trades only need to block out one window of time.

Do you need an Architect??

Adding a small extension, think you need to hire an architect? Well, not always. Now we’re not suggesting that architects aren’t of massive value, and they’re of course, essential for larger or complicated projects, but if you’re running a small simple project, then you do not need an architect to draw your plans.

From a planning perspective, you could do them yourself, as long as you include all the relevant dimensions and things the planner needs to assess.

The architect I use still hand draws his plans #WorksOfArt. If you want to learn how (and digital plans, too), click here for more details on HomeEnvy Pro, and ALL the skills to start your own design business in the digital age.

Be Your Buyer

You don’t need to rely on your trades to supply your fixtures and fittings. You can often get better discounts if you shop around at online retailers that volume sell more than your plumber/electrician might be eligible for his turnover. Head online and get sourcing your own items to save money renovating your house.

Get supplier trade accounts

If you really want to get saving on your renovation projects, and you’re renovating your house on a budget, you need trade accounts!

Come and join us in Home Design Vault where you get your very own trade accounts with all our sought-after brands from UK flooring direct, victoria plum, loaf.com, Little Greene Paint, Mandarin Stone, Farrow & Ball and all the brands you’d normally see in a typical interior showroom.

If you’d like to get my top secret way to get saving 90% at high street shops such as John Lewis, Loaf, Feather & Black, Victoria Plum, and Bath Superstore? Click here to grab the Ultimate Home Design Toolkit.

Renovation Budget Template UK // how much does it cost?

If you’d like to get your home renovation project started the smart way then grab the Renovation Roadmap a renovation budget template UK. Packed full of budgets, templates, trackers, schedules and a ton of renovation ideas.