5 CLEVER WAYS TO CUT COSTS ON YOUR RENOVATION

Renovating your home can be life-changing for you and your family. But we’re not going to sugarcoat it - aside from buying your home, it might be the most expensive thing you do in a lifetime! The good news is that it doesn’t have to break the bank. With some savvy strategies up your sleeve, you can achieve your renovation dreams while staying within your budget.

Here are five effective ways to save money during your home renovation:

1) DETONATE VS RENOVATE

Is a renovation really right for you… and your budget? Did you know that building new can be cheaper than a renovation? Pulling a house apart during a reno can reveal nasty – and sometimes expensive – surprises, such as cracked foundations, old wiring, crumbling bricks walls and termite damage. And if you build with a volume builder (eg project/spec home), you’ll usually save even more per square metre.

2) LEAVE THE PLUMBING WHERE IT IS

So, you’ve decided to renovate your bathroom, kitchen or laundry. Exciting times! Did you know that not moving your plumbing can save you money?

Renovating these rooms will cost much less if you keep the main plumbing services where they are. Feel free to upgrade your toilet and shower by all means, but don’t move their location. If you feel you must move them, the smaller the move, the cheaper the price. So, before deciding to shift your toilet from one end of the room to the other, consult your plumber and then consult your budget.

3) SOURCE YOUR FIXTURES AND FITTINGS

Gone are the days when only builders and trades could access a huge range of tapware, tiles and appliances at great prices. With the expansion of online shopping, you can (and should) take on that responsibility yourself by finding the items you like and ordering them directly. This removes the markup your builder would have passed on to you, not to mention their charge for the time spent sourcing and buying them.

4) TEXTURED PAINT TO THE RESCUE

Love the look of render but not the price? Rendering bricks can cost time and money, so try a textured paint instead. It gives a perfectly imperfect finish that we just love and suits so many different styles of homes. We used it internally and externally to create beautiful textured surfaces.

5) PUTTING IN A POOL? FIBREGLASS FOR THE WIN!

Lana loves her fibreglass pool and it cost her considerably less than its concrete counterpart.

Fibreglass pools usually cost about 20% less than a concrete pool to build and install, and ongoing costs are lower due to these pools requiring less maintenance, fewer chemicals and energy. They’re also much faster to install.

If you enjoyed these quick SAVING tips, you’ll love OUR DREAM DISCOUNT CARD!

Our Dream Discount Card is your key to saving on all the fabulous finds for your home, from fireplaces to furnishings, helping your dream home come together while keeping your budget in check. But you have to be a Cardholder to unlock the benefits. Whether you're renovating, styling or just buying beautiful things for your home, this card is a must-have for the savvy shopper. Watch your dream home come to life, all while keeping your budget beautifully intact when you save every time you shop with our Dream Discount Card.