Thursday, 10 November 2011

How To Save Money When Remodeling A Fixer Upper Home

By Ron Darby


If you're in the market to buy a fixer upper property, be prepared to invest a lot of money and time getting it ready to sell. Taking the time to plan a project and employing money saving techniques will save you from wasting excessive time and money. This article will discuss how you can save time and money when you attempt repairs on your own or decide to hire an experienced contractor:

1) Remodel It By Yourself - If you decide to take on the challenge of renovating your fixer property by yourself, you'll need to rent or invest money acquiring some tools to complete it. While you may be able to buy smaller tools at the local hardware store, there will be larger tools that are expensive. One option to consider is renting these tools from your local rental yard. You can also see if your neighbor or friends have tools you can borrow. Purchasing second hand tools is another good alternative to acquire the expensive tools you need. If your state offers a tool-lending library, you may want to check out this option.

When you're ready to embark on a renovation, it would be advantageous to seek the advice of knowledgeable online do-it-yourself sites to resolve any concerns you may have and forewarn you about possible issues that may occur. You'll find most sites evaluate how complex a task can be and may help you determine whether some repairs are more appropriately left to an experienced contractor.

2) Hiring Professionals - Regardless of your experience, there will be projects that require the expertise of a professional. Large or complicated projects are better left to the supervision of an experienced general contractor. You can subcontract out the smaller more manageable projects.

One of the best methods to find a good contractor is to ask your friends and family for references. The Associated General Contractors of America has a web site that lists general contractors. Be sure to thoroughly investigate all potential contractors and be sure they have the experience needed to perform the services you need. Also be sure you have a written agreement stipulating what services will be performed and what the total price is.

If you want to know whether your planned project will yield a good return on investment, check out well known online do-it-yourself resources. You can usually find posts relating to your project in the blog or message board section.

While you may want to renovate everything simultaneously, your budget will dictate what tasks you can tackle first, especially if you've just purchased your first home. If you're still new to do-it-yourself projects, take advantage of the time to slowly build your experience. Also, if you have kids with allergy problems or a low immune system, you'll have to limit the amount of dust and exposure to building materials.




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