Renovations to your home or office are a great way to add value to those assets, but can be costly and time consuming. The best way to undertake any home improvement project is not unlike the best approach to managing your money - having an action plan and a spending plan to guide your progress will put you on the path to success.
Since the counselors at CCC are not home-improvement experts (with the exception of our Executive Director, Chad), please check out
this website to find tips on managing a home improvement project.
Developing the spending plan is just as important and may be more difficult, as you'll need to think about all the pieces of the project and determine what they might cost. If you're not a "Homer" (a Home Depot weekend-warrior, that is), then you'll need to create a list of the labor you'll need to hire out, and a list of the materials you might need, which could include fixtures, parts, paint, equipment or how-to manuals. If you plan to do the labor yourself, you'll save big money in this category as this is typically 50% of the cost of any project. Some areas like electrical or plumbing will be more expensive labor-wise, since you are paying for the expertise of the electrician or plumber. You can save even more money off your bottom line if you can find inexpensive materials. Check out these great money-saving options:
Bud's Warehouse -
Bud's Warehouse is a local non-profit that accepts donations of materials and sells them at cut-rate prices. They have an ever changing inventory, so it's not a great option if you have your heart set on a granite kitchen countertop that will exactly match your grandmother's china, but it is a fantastic place to find the unique pieces that will make your home stand out. Bud's
tweets about new items, so you can view some things online before you make the trip to their warehouse.
Habitat ReStores - Habitat for Humanity of Metro Denver also accepts donated materials and re-sells items at discounted prices. They have several locations in the Metro area. Click
here for more information.
Yellow tags - Don't forget the clearance end-cap displays at home improvement stores. Look for the yellow tags for maximum savings! This is a good option if you find the perfect faucet but haven't started your bathroom remodel yet and aren't on a deadline, as this allows you time to squirrel away those pieces until your renovation project begins.
Craigslist - A great option to find cut-rate appliances, furniture, tools, equipment, paint – the list goes on and on. Items range from the gently used to abused so be choosy. Don't forget to check out the
Free section too!