6 DIY Renovation Tips to Blitz Your Budget

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DIY Renovation budget

Renovating your home can be an exciting yet costly endeavour, and it’s no secret that the high expenses often deter many Aussies from taking the plunge. Whether you’re looking to boost your property’s value or create a space that better suits your lifestyle, smart DIY renovation tips can help you achieve your goals without breaking the bank.

The reality is, renovations in Australia can come with a hefty price tag. According to ServiceSeeking.com.au, the average cost of a kitchen renovation ranges between $5,000 and $30,000—or $56 per hour. If you’re wondering how much bathroom renovations cost, it’s between $7,000 and $12,000, or $65 per hour. Given that these are two of the most expensive areas to renovate, careful planning and budgeting are essential to making your project a success.

But don’t let the costs scare you off—renovating doesn’t have to mean overspending. By embracing the DIY approach, you can save significantly on labour and still achieve professional-looking results. While DIY may not suit every aspect of a renovation, it’s a practical and rewarding way to tackle many tasks, from design upgrades to smaller structural changes.

In this article, I’ll share six effective DIY renovation tips that will help you stick to your budget and give your home a fresh, stylish update. Whether you’re revamping an apartment or a house, these tips will guide you in cutting costs while achieving impressive results. Read on to start planning your dream renovation today!

1. Consider your budget and invest wisely

Not everyone has the budget to splurge on a renovation project. However, it is possible to complete a renovation, even on a tight budget. In fact, if you plan wisely, you can cut your renovation costs in half! To start off with, consider the overall amount of money you can afford to spend and then work backwards. This will give you a good idea of where to spend and where not to. Speak to your accountant to see if it’s possible to borrow the amount of money needed for your renovation.

I’ll give you an idea of how to invest wisely, depending on your budget. For instance, if your budget is only $5,000, you should focus primarily on repainting, going for an exterior facelift or opening up the doorways. Simple as it may sound, this is the best place to invest your money.

On the other hand, if your budget is $15,000, you can invest in new floors, renovate a small bathroom, replace your kitchen cabinets or add an outdoor patio. Those with a budget of $50,000 can renovate an entire kitchen, add an ensuite bathroom or convert a garage into a bedroom.

With $100,000 to spend, you can create an outdoor living area, add or extend a room and refurbish your bathroom or kitchen. And if you can afford to spend $300,000, you can renovate your entire house.

But I’m sure not many of you have $300,000 to spend on your renovation. If you did, you wouldn’t have landed on this page. I only mention this as a basic guideline to show you how to invest your money wisely.

If you’re looking to renovate an investment property, don’t miss our article, How to Pull off a Budget Investment Property Reno like a Pro. It’s packed with tips and tricks to help you save money while still achieving a quality DIY renovation.

2. Add some buffer to your budget

Here, at Ross’s Discount Home Centre, I advise customers to add a buffer to their DIY renovation budget. Remember – a renovation is a large-scale project, and you should always plan the unexpected. If you fail to add a buffer, chances are really high that you will exceed your budget.

Some examples of unexpected costs include additional electrical work, building delays and planning permits. While you may or may not encounter these additional costs, it is always wise to plan for them. You certainly don’t want to pay more than what you originally accounted for, do you?

As a rule of thumb, keep aside 10% of your total budget for contingencies. Some experts even recommend as much as 25%, but this only holds for those of you with older homes.

3. Never move your electricals or plumbing

One of the most common reasons people fail to stick to their DIY renovation project is because they tamper with plumbing and electricals. I know “DIY” encourages you to get in there and do things yourself. However, keep in mind that a) this should be left to professionals, and b) moving plumbing or electrical fixtures will surely blow your budget out of the water. Also, keep in mind that plumbers and electricians charge more than other tradespeople. As such, you want to keep their work to a minimum.

So, consider the location of your plumbing, your drainage and your electricals carefully. Do not relocate your sink, shower or toilet suites unless absolutely necessary. Doing so will mean removing old pipes and installing new ones. And you never know what surprises that can uncover.

The golden rule of any renovation, DIY or otherwise, is to ensure that very few surprises crop up. Therefore, forget about relocating your plumbing and electrical fixtures unless you really need to.

4. Break a sweat

Given that you are planning a DIY renovation, I’m sure you’re already prepared to take up a few tasks. However, it really does not make sense to handle tasks that require expert tradespeople. Unless you’ve handled large-scale DIY projects earlier, steer clear of large tasks which require professional assistance. There’s no point wasting days on such tasks when you can hire a professional and finish it in a couple of days.

One of the simplest renovation tasks you can consider to DIY is demolition work. Stripping off tiles and pulling up the flooring, dismantling old kitchen cabinets, patching and sanding walls, loading a skip bin, clearing and stacking bricks, and repainting are tasks that you can manage to DIY. Of course, you’ll be saving hundreds (if not thousands) by doing so.

5. Hire professionals for important tasks

Like I mentioned, there are certain important tasks related to a DIY renovation that are best left in the hands of professionals. Sure, you can save some money by doing everything on your own. But if you don’t do things right, you’ll definitely end up paying more in the long run. With a DIY project (as with anything else for that matter), you should always know your limitations.

Make sure you hire professionals for any structural work, electrical work, or plumbing unless you’ve worked in these trades yourself.

Also, a handy tip I give my customers is to obtain quotes from various tradies. This way, you’ll get the best deal. But beware—the lowest price isn’t always better. So, make sure to follow up on the quotes by researching their past work and taking recommendations from previous clients. You want to ensure that the money you spend on professionals is worth it.

6. Shop smartly

Probably the best way of saving money on your DIY renovation project is by shopping smartly. Indeed, if you’re prepared to put in the legwork, you’ll find products and supplies at much better prices.

Shopping smart is exactly what our customers do here at Ross’s Discount Home Centre. We keep in stock a huge selection of mid-range products, and you’ll find everything that you need for your renovation at our store. However, this does not mean that our products are inferior to high-end products that you’ll find elsewhere. On the contrary, the products we stock feature superior grades of quality and are backed by impressive warranties.

By choosing to buy your home renovation products from us, you’ll be making a smart investment. The products you’ll find at our store are designed to offer you many years of service. With us around, you simply needn’t look elsewhere for your home renovation products or supplies.

Explore our additional resources below to assist you in planning and maintaining your budget for your upcoming renovations:

Conclusion

Managing a DIY renovation on a budget can be challenging, but with these DIY renovation tips, you can keep costs under control. Start by determining a realistic budget and setting aside a buffer for any unexpected expenses. When planning your renovation, avoid relocating major elements like electrical and plumbing, as this can lead to costly changes. Consider which parts of the project you can handle yourself, and hire professionals for critical tasks to ensure quality and safety. Most importantly, shop wisely for your renovation supplies.

If you’re looking for budget-friendly renovation supplies and products, Ross’s Discount Home Centre has you covered. From tiles and bathroom fittings to kitchen products, appliances, doors, and windows, we stock everything you need to bring your renovation to life. Plus, our expert team is always available to provide DIY renovation tips and guidance on the best materials to suit your needs and budget.

Visit our showroom in Guildford or browse online to get started on your home renovation today. At Ross’s, you’ll find quality, value, and everything you need for a successful DIY renovation.