Apr

1

Ten Ways To Save On Your Remodeling Costs

April 1, 2007 | Leave a Comment

For home improvement projects, many of us have lobster appetites on a cheeseburger budget. We envision over-sized rooms pouring with natural light and overflowing with the latest and greatest materials and fixtures.

Here’s the point–you usually can’t do everything you want to do. In many cases, you have to sacrifice square footage, quality, or additional features. The question begs, how or where should you prioritize? Here we look at ten ways to trim your remodeling budget without too much compromise.

Set your priorities.
Decide what is critical and what isn’t. You may be willing to settle for vinyl flooring if it means you can get a higher grade of cabinets. Of course, the work that absolutely must be done is usually self-evident. There are probably some things at the top of your wish list, too. If you’ve always wanted radiant heating beneath the bathroom floor, this may be your chance. Budget for what you really want.

Rethink the scale of your improvements.
Consider whether cosmetic changes such as replacing fixtures or updating with paint might suffice. For example, changing your home’s lighting is a simple technique that can make a tremendous difference in the way rooms feel.

Stretch the future value of your dollars.
Achieve this by choosing improvements that offer a strong return on your investment, particularly if you intend to sell your home within the next few years. For more about this, see High-Value Home Additions.

Avoid costly construction.
If possible, don’t move bearing walls, alter a roofline, restructure a floor, install new windows, or make involved changes to plumbing and electrical. You can usually save money by working within the existing exterior walls and roof. When possible, plan bathrooms and kitchens where they can share major drains, vents, and supply pipes. Doing so can dramatically reduce the cost of plumbing labor and materials. Similarly, you can save by arranging plumbing fixtures against one or two walls.

Explore ways to achieve great looking results with moderately priced materials.
Get familiar with the many options available. Knowing the world of possibilities gives you the ability to choose less expensive materials or fixtures without compromising results. If, for example, stock cabinets can achieve the same look as custom ones, why pay the premium?

Don’t cut corners on highly visible work.
If it will cost a little more to get a high-quality drywall job or crafted trim work, spend the extra. On the other hand, be aware that some highly visible features, such as plumbing fixtures or paint treatments, may be relatively easy to upgrade later.

Get at least three bids from contractors or other professionals.
This will clarify what the work will cost, and each professional may offer suggestions about ways to save money.

Protect yourself from cost overruns.
Hire only qualified, reliable professionals, and be sure to detail every aspect of the work to be done in a written agreement.

Don’t pay more than you need to for financing.
You’ll have to do the math to figure the best option. Refinancing with low fixed interest rates will allow you to pay for your remodel over the life of your mortgage; but setup costs may be higher than for other types of loans. A home equity loan, added as a second to your existing loan, is usually very inexpensive to set up but will have a slightly higher interest rate. Then again, if you have little equity in your property, a more expensive home-improvement loan may be your only choice. Be sure to consider the tax consequences of any choice you make.

Consider doing some of your own work.
Because labor often accounts for half of a major project’s cost, you can often save significantly by reducing the labor factor. Just be aware that this can be a big job, and you can’t always do it cheaper than a pro. Remember that your time has a value, and you may pay more for materials and subcontractors. All of these things add up.

Mar

21

Albuquerque, New Mexico, Hardware Stores - Albuquerque Remodeling Resources

March 21, 2007 | 1 Comment

Glass-Rite
808 Gibson Se, Albuquerque, NM
(505) 764-9899
Category: Hardware-Retail: Kitchen Bathroom

Sherwin-Williams
816 1st St NW, Albuquerque, NM
(505) 243-6677
Category: Hardware-Retail: Kitchen Bathroom

Kwal Paints
1018 4th St NW, Albuquerque, NM
(505) 248-1810
Category: Hardware-Retail: Kitchen Bathroom

New Mexico Plaster & Supply
4100 4th St NW, Albuquerque, NM
(505) 345-6881
Category: Hardware-Retail: Kitchen Bathroom

Home Depot Inc
200 Eubank Blvd Se, Albuquerque, NM
(505) 271-1900
Category: Hardware-Retail: Kitchen Bathroom

Diamond Vogel Paints
1016 3rd St NW, Albuquerque, NM
(505) 243-1000
Category: Hardware-Retail: Kitchen Bathroom

Orepac Building Products
5815 Edith Blvd NE, Albuquerque, NM
(505) 345-8135
Category: Hardware-Retail: Kitchen Bathroom

Lowe’s
3010 Juan Tabo Blvd NE, Albuquerque, NM
(505) 323-5816
Category: Hardware-Retail: Kitchen Bathroom

Home Depot
10200 Coors Byp NW, Albuquerque, NM
(505) 899-1290
Category: Hardware-Retail: Kitchen Bathroom

Home Depot The
1220 Renaissance Blvd NE, Albuquerque, NM
(505) 344-1900
Category: Hardware-Retail: Kitchen Bathroom

Pat’s Doors
3611 2nd St SW, Albuquerque, NM
(505) 877-7524
Category: Hardware-Retail: Kitchen Bathroom

T J Hardware Inc
3111 Amherst Dr NE, Albuquerque, NM
(505) 881-4325
Category: Hardware-Retail: Kitchen Bathroom