Keeping Renovation Costs Down

veryone says a renovation will cost more than you expect and take longer to complete. And that's completely true in most cases. But you can hold down the costs--by making tough choices ahead of time.

First, plan ahead--way ahead. If you have a year or more to plan your renovation, you can shop for discounted materials, and pick up bargains like tile that's being closed out or a sink that's on sale.

You can also decide what you want--ahead of time. Change orders cost time and a lot of money. By making changes while you're in the planning stages, you'll spend far less to make a change, and can then think about whether it is the right move after all, before you build.

Finally, test things out ahead of time. A quart of the most expensive paint you can buy won't cost that much. If you're having trouble deciding on colors, buy a few quarts and paint color squares on a wall.

Doing it ahead of time--by yourself--makes sense and saves you money in the long run.

Ilyce Glink is the bestselling author of 100 Questions Every First Time Home Buyer Should Ask, and is the Managing Editor of Right at Home Daily.

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