You aren’t happy with your home. Maybe it’s too small and your family has recently outgrown it. Or perhaps it’s outdated and you’re sick of looking at what you see. Maybe your home is having some maintenance issues that can no longer easily be patched up. Whatever the case, enough is enough and it’s time for a remodel.
Except, you can’t afford that remodel, can you? Or at least, that’s what you think. But what if I told you that you might just be able to afford that remodel? What if I had some hints that could help you stretch that tight budget to fit in the upgrades you so desperately want/need to make? Sound enticing? Then read on…
Common Reasons People Like You Think They Can’t Afford a Remodel
Here’s why most people are pretty certain that their dream remodel isn’t realistic:
1. Prices for materials are skyrocketing. I can’t argue with this. Did you know that in the last year or so, the price of lumber has gone up about 45 percent? Think about it. If you would have spent a thousand bucks on materials a year ago, now you will spend closer to 1500. That’s just insane. Chances are your salary hasn’t gone up enough to compensate for this price difference.
2. You can’t afford to put aside the time it would take to do the job yourself. Time is money and you’re in short supply. But aren’t we all? Truth is, pretty much all of us are stuck in the rat race. So odds are, you have little time to spare to try and handle the remodel yourself. Which leaves the option to pay a professional…
3. Paying someone to do the job for you costs way too much. Sure you could find someone at www.craigslist.org to do the job cheap, but do they really know what they are doing? How can you be sure? Are they even licensed? Yeah, maybe you could get by hiring a carpenter or someone for cheap, but what about a plumber or electrician? You can’t cut corners here! There are codes to uphold, and not to mention, it just isn’t safe.
Why You Want to Try and Make the Remodel Happen
So you’ve accepted defeat. You’ve reasoned with yourself why you shouldn’t move forward with the remodel (for one or more of the above reasons). However, I’m about to try and change your mind. I’m about to tell you why you might want to reconsider and move forward with the remodel.
Did you know that there are certain renovations you can make that will pay for themselves? Not right away, of course. But when it comes to resale value, there are certain projects that will prove winners. According to money.cnn.com, it starts with the entryway. In fact, simply adding a new entry door could give you well over a 100 percent return on your investment.
A few other renovations that could prove winners are:
- Wood deck—people love the way a wood deck can feel like an extension of the living space. With more and more people pushing outside, the texture of a deck acts as the perfect transition from the living area to the backyard.
- Kitchen remodels—I’m not saying go crazy. Kitchen remodels can get expensive quick. However, there are some relatively minor things you can do that won’t break the bank but will add some value to your home. For example, you could add new countertops. And I don’t necessarily mean granite, as it’s quite pricey. But there are some medium range manufactured stone counters that look nice and give you a real bang for your buck.
- Flooring—Let’s face it, carpet is disgusting. Sure it’s cheap, but it harbors all sorts of filth and allergens. Rip that crap out and put something in that’s hard. To save money, consider engineered flooring that will click into place. You can probably install it yourself. Also, it’s better than laminate but not as pricey as regular hardwood.
Ways to Cut Costs
Still concerned that you can’t afford the remodel? Well, there are a few ways to cut costs along the way. First of all, you can hire someone but do some of the prep work yourself. For example, if you can’t do all the flooring yourself, perhaps you can remove the existing flooring, patch up what’s underneath, and set the stage for the people coming in. You can also try buying the flooring from a discount flooring company or even a store that sells recycled goods. Of course, there are always coupon sites. Sure, you probably think of coupons for groceries and clothing. But sites like GreatDeals.com can get you great deals to stores you can use like Home Depot.
You can make that remodel happen. Just be smart about it and get moving!
Brian Roberson is a DIY man at heart. Whether he’s building dog houses in his backyard or cabinets in his kitchen, he’s constantly keeping his hands busy. Oh, and he’s writing about it all along the way!
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