Buying a house is the biggest investment most of us make, but sometimes, despite the high mortgage, the property will require a further substantial chunk of money to bring it up to standard. Depending on the price you initially paid for the property and how much money (if any) you have left over, you may need to think carefully about budgeting. 

Like any big project, renovating a house can quickly see costs spiral out of control. This means you’re likely looking at ways to save money, even if you have a relatively large budget to work with initially. If you’re unsure where to start with budgeting a home refurbishment, we’re here to help. 

We’ve put together four handy tips that you can use to preserve your budget and make the project less harsh on your finances. 

1. Salvage What You Can 

The first tip is to salvage what you can. Depending on the nature of your refurbishment, this can relate to anything. For example, if the bathroom of your property is in relatively good condition, you won’t necessarily need to replace it all. You might install a new showerhead and lighting, but you can save money by painting the existing tiles and adding decals rather than buying brand new ones. 

If you’re refurbishing the kitchen and like the current layout, you could keep the shell of the cabinets and simply replace the cupboard doors and worktops. Likewise, you can give your sink a new look simply by replacing the taps. 

These are all examples of salvaging what you have which will go a long way to saving you money, as well as making your refurbishment eco-friendlier. 

2. Wait for Sales Before Making Big Purchases 

If you need to make a big purchase as part of your renovation, such as a bath or kitchen appliances, then it’s a good idea to wait a little while before committing to buying. Oftentimes, suppliers will hold sales that see items half in price, meaning you can more often than not find a bargain simply by being patient. 

3. Do Things Yourself 

One of the biggest costs associated with house refurbishments is labor costs. There will inevitably be tasks that require a professional to step in, such as plastering or electrical re-wiring, but you’d be surprised at the number of jobs you can do yourself. The beauty of the internet is that there are video tutorials of almost anything, including costly jobs like tiling and laying carpets. 

By undertaking as much of the work as you can yourself, you’ll soon see just how much money you’re able to save. This is a great option if you’re on a strict budget and don’t mind getting stuck in.

4. Save Up Cash Where Possible 

Our final money saving tip for doing a house refurb is to pay in cash where you can. This means saving up money into a bank account and avoiding using credit or loans where possible. Every time you take out a loan or use a credit card, you’re liable to pay back the initial amount you borrowed as well as interest. The amount of interest you pay will depend on the finance agreement you’ve entered into, but it does mean that what you end up paying is more than it would be if you were to pay in cash. 

Paying using cash means that it might take you a bit longer to save up, but if money is tight and you have the luxury of time, it’s a good idea. If you’re renovating a house to sell it on, borrowing money won’t be an issue because you should stand to make a profit anyway, but otherwise, try and stick to cash. 

We hope you find these tips useful and that your home refurb goes to plan. If you’ve recently undertaken a refurbishment project, what are some tips you implemented to save money?

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Changing circumstances can mean that our living requirements can shift, whether it’s due to an expanding family or otherwise. Sometimes, it’s not quite enough to just add an extra room to your home and you’re in need of a whole new floor. Although your first thought might be that you need a new house, sometimes parting with the place you call home is absolutely heart-breaking. Therefore, you may consider adding a new storey to your existing home.

There’s no denying that this is a large-scale operation, so for maximum security and optimal results, you will require a professional trained team on hand. Professionals that work with scaffolding require IPAF training, which equips them with the skills that they need to work at a height in a safe capacity. Therefore, if you lack training such as this, you should always refrain from working at a height as this could result in serious injury and lead to a poor-quality project.  

Evaluating the Foundations

Not all structures will be suited to adding another storey, which is why you must evaluate the floor plans ahead or commencing your project. If you can get your hands on the floor plans for your home, you’ll be able to learn what type of foundations are in place. This information includes their depth and whether certain internal walls have foundations. On top of this, you’ll be able to find out more about your drainage system. This information will provide your design team with the means of crafting a plan.

Not everyone can simply attain their floor plans, in this case you would search for your local building records. However, if you’re unsuccessful in doing so, you’ll need to get in touch with a structural engineer to assess your ground conditions for you. In order to do so, they may need to dig some holes to determine the type and depth of the foundations that you have in place. 

On top of digging holes, the engineer may need to take a soil sample to send for testing. Otherwise, a geotechnical consultant might need to liaise with your structural engineer. Ultimately, there are many methods of attaining the information that you need, but the results will effectively determine the remainder of your project. 

Selecting a Frame

A timber frame is the best solution in terms of adding an extension to your home since it’s need for blockwork is minimal. Therefore, you won’t be required to reinforce your existing foundations due to the lightweight properties of timber frames. Underpinning and strengthening foundations is a lengthy and costly procedure, so it’s wise to steer away from this if doable. On average, a timber-framed upwards extension will cost around £1,800/m².

Before going ahead with a timber-framed solution, you’ll need to get your planning status approved. Typically, a prefabricated timber frame is more efficient than a stick-built alternative. You should get going with your construction as quickly as you can and select one contractor so that your project is at the forefront of their mind. 

Other Things to Contemplate 

In order to avoid the disturbance of creatures in your roof, a bat survey should be executed.

Within the builders’ contract, you should name your timber frame supplier so that you’re able to manage your expenses. This also alleviates some of the responsibility from you as your builder will be liable for some of the paperwork. 

Your scaffolding company will need to be regularly notified about the status of your project to maintain safety measures.

Furthermore, you might sell materials from your existing structure to assist you financially.

Lastly, you should consider an “easi-joist” system as these are simpler than standard joists. 

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