How Can You Save Money on Home Addition
Building an addition can pay off in the long run. At the same time building a home, addition can cost lots of money, especially if not carefully plan and it can easily break the budget in the process. Many ways in which can save money on the new home addition. This will help save money and keep the budget out from the red zone.
Shop Around
It is advisable to never settle on the first estimate. At least, get between three and five estimates before moving forward to get the deal with the contractor.
Demo Yourself
This is not the most expensive part of a renovation, but demolishing a room to make space for an addition can save money, especially if this is done independently by yourself. In executing this work, it is vital to remember not to cause additional repairs down the road. Look out for are load-bearing walls and electrical work, during the process of taking out a load-bearing wall can cause serious damage to the structure of your home while cutting through electrical work is a health hazard.
Finish Yourself
Along with handling the demo is another way saving a lot of money finishing a room addition based on a do-it-yourself project. This includes doing the painting, sanding, and general cleanup. It’s also a good idea to help with the cleanup as often as possible, as construction crews will usually charge a daily expense for taking out the trash.
Visit Recycling Centers
Saving a lot of money can also by using recycled building materials and fixtures. The local second-hand store is a great place to start. Keep in mind is that some contractors will not use salvaged materials because of insurance issues. Saving big on recycled materials from insulation bundles to prehung doors can be realized if some of the renovations are done by yourself.
Start in the Offseason
The timing of the room addition is a factor in the final costs. If starting the renovation in the summer or fall, the costs will be higher than after the holidays. Choose carefully contractors that are offering discounts at the start of the year. If the time it right, saving thousands on the entire project by skipping peak seasons is possible.
Use Stock Sizes
Minimizing waste can be done by situating the plans to coincide with stock sizes of plywood and lumber. This helps minimize wasted materials and custom fabrication. This tip is particularly significant when designing doorways.
Ditch the Foundation
If it doesn’t violate local codes, consider skipping out on the foundation and supporting the addition by other means. Building a new room by incorporating beams and posts is possible, just like you would when building a deck. This can save thousands of dollars because this way doesn’t have to pour concrete for the foundation. The only catch is that some local codes will not allow a new addition without a proper foundation. Thus before executing it, it is better to check with the local codes.
