Remodeling your home is an investment that you will likely get back when you sell your home. Unfortunately, that doesn’t mean you have an unlimited budget. Before you start a home remodeling project in Houston, you need to know how much money you can spend.
Estimate Costs
Before you begin planning your dream remodeling job, get a ballpark estimate of how much it will cost you. You can visit home improvement stores to get an idea of the cost of big materials. You can also look online for approximate prices of different types of home remodeling projects.
Your Budget
Next, determine how much money you have to spend on the project. This depends on your savings or how much of a loan you can get. You should also take into consideration the monthly payments if you are getting a loan for your home remodeling in Houston.
Most homeowners get a home equity line of credit. This is a secured loan based on the equity in your home, and you can use the interest you pay as a tax deduction. You will get a checkbook to write checks as needed, instead of a large sum of money.
Get Quotes
Once you know about the project costs and how much money you have to spend, you can get a quote from a contractor. If your budget and the project don’t match, talk to the contractor. You may be able to use some existing structures or appliances to save money. You can also look for less expensive fixtures and hardware to save money without sacrificing quality.
Get bids from a few contractors. Ask each one to itemize the bid, so you know exactly where the money is going. Before choosing a contractor, check references and ask to see pictures of their previous work.
Once you get the final bid, add about 20 percent for extra expenses. The contractor may find structural problems or run into other problems that will increase the cost of the project.
If the contractor you choose is over your budget, ask if there is a way to reduce the cost without sacrificing quality. They may have other ideas on how to save money, or you can do some of the work yourself.
