Owning a home is a massive commitment and one that requires a lot of effort, time, perseverance and, of course, money.
Most experts recommend that homeowners spend at least 1% of their home’s value every year on home maintenance and upkeep.
That can be a significant amount of money, particularly if you have a large property. With prices rising rapidly, you might also find that your money doesn’t go as far as you might think.
When it comes to home maintenance, buying cheap often means buying twice. Still, there are ways you can cut down on your costs and still live in a comfortable and safe home.
Here are some simple ways you can ensure that you pay the best possible price for your next home improvement or renovation project.
Do Your Research
When it comes to home improvements and maintenance, every expert will have a different opinion. This opinion will often depend on what services or products they’re trying to sell you. So, you can’t guarantee that you’ll get impartial advice when you ask others for their opinions. As such, you need to make sure that you conduct your own research and understand what you actually need to do to improve the condition of your home.
Find Out If You’re Eligible For Funding
In some cases, you might be eligible for grants that could help you get home improvement solutions for free or cheaper than the standard market price. For example, if you want to insulate your property, then you could be eligible for home insulation grants. Free Insulation Scheme has a list of the schemes on offer and can help you to understand whether you’re eligible, so you can start insulating your home as soon as possible. Check out freeinsulationscheme.org.uk/ to see if you’re eligible and start applying.
Learn When To DIY And When To Call In The Professionals
Some small and simple projects can be done yourself, which can save you a lot of money. For example, you could paint walls yourself or fill in small gaps in bathrooms using expanding builder’s foam. However, larger jobs that involve electricity, plumbing, gas or the physical structure of your property should be left to the professionals. These jobs can cause serious, lasting damage to your home if they’re done wrong, so it’s worth hiring an expert to sort them out. If you’re in doubt, don’t do the project yourself, as you could end up hurting yourself and causing damage to your home that costs even more to repair than it would have been to get the job done by an expert in the first place.
Be Prepared To Haggle
Haggling might seem cheeky, but it can actually be an ideal way to lower your costs and get the best possible value for your home improvement project. Learn how to negotiate with builders and what questions to ask so you can get the right price. You could also consider asking if the company you’re working with will offer you a reduction if you agree to put up marketing materials outside your home. In some cases, this can take a significant amount of money off your final bill, so always check if this is an option and what the terms are before you commit to a final price for your project.
Maintaining and improving your home is important, but it is also costly. Everyone’s finances are stretched in today’s financial climate, but by using these tips, you can keep your home in the best possible condition for the right price.
