1. Plan your project and get bids well in advance – Contractors plan out for months in advance and trying to find someone in March to get that new three-season porch completed by March will be tough. You will pay premium prices to get fit into their busy schedules. Building trades have busy seasons, here are some good times to schedule different projects:
- Roofing – cold or rainy months
- Heating – late summer
- Air Conditioning – late winter or early spring
- Chimney Cleaning – any time other than fall!
- Project Design – fall and winter
2. Pay extra now for energy-saving features – Some ideas for this would be higher efficiency windows, heating and cooling products and appliances. Compare the energy savings between the products, try to find something with a pay-back period of 7-10 years. Don’t forget to keep in mind any tax credits available to help offset the higher cost! Upgrading while remodeling will save you money over upgrading in the future.
3. Hire an architect of designer, at least the initial sketch – The most expensive mistake you can make is building an addition or remodeling a room and not being happy with the finished project. Most architects will walk you through the design phase and be able to help tailor the space to your needs while pointing out key details you may have not of thought of to help make that room special.
4. Don’t be afraid to pitch in and take on some parts of the project yourself – Some great ways to save money are demolition, moving materials, digging and cleaning up the job site, sanding trim and painting. Make sure you coordinate the work with your contractor to keep everything on schedule and the project flowing smoothly. Delays can be expensive!
5. Plan for future upgrades if you can’t afford them now – This goes back to working with a contractor to help plan for future upgrades. Things to consider would be higher capacity electrical service, in-wall wiring for electronics in every room, rough plumbing for a future bathroom, rough framing for future doors / windows, or French doors that open to a future deck.
6. Compare the cost of remodeling over buying new – In our current housing market, this is most likely an easy decision. With house prices as low as they are, it usually makes more sense to buy existing and create the living space of you dreams.
7. Shop for materials yourself - You won’t save much looking for building materials (ie: sheetrock and lumber), but finish materials, as in carpet, appliances, faucets and lighting fixtures can pay off by getting exactly what you want and finding bargains.
8. Don’t overdo windows and skylights – These are great additions to any room by adding beautiful views and a feeling of openess, but more is not always better. Aside from the higher cost of materials, even energy-efficient windows will increase your heating and cooling noticeably. Large skylights can turn a room feel like a furnace in the summer. These additions could lead to having to replace your air conditioner, heat pump or furnace, or possibly adding different units in the room to keep a comfortable living space.
9. Try to avoid moving any plumbing or changing the foundation – These can’t always be avoided, but when needed could add thousands to a remodeling project. The older the home, the more costly this becomes. Plumbing especially as codes are always changing.
10. Don’t forget the internet – You have access to a wide selection of products and discounts of up to 40- 50%. Anything from appliances to lighting fixtures, even flooring at great prices.
Erik Laine
LP Design
http://www.lpdesignonline.com
(888) 340-1769
