14 Smart Home Renovation Tips That Can Save You Thousands!

Simple home renovation tips that will help you and your wallet.

Read our home renovation tips before starting your next home project. Big or small, these simple tips could save you from going over budget.

1. Live in your space first.  

It’s common for DIYers to want to jump into things right away after moving in. However, Architecture Digest agrees that living in your space before committing to any big changes is one of the single best home renovation tips someone could follow.

Waiting on big renovations allows you to get to know the functionality of your space better. Learning the flow of a space, how you utilize storage vs. the storage you need, and even where the sun hits are just a few things you’ll want to pay attention to when planning a big project.

Hiring a contractor for your upcoming project? House Beautiful shared helpful questions you should be asking your contractors during an interview.

2. Budget realistically. 

Spending the least amount of money on a home renovation project is appealing to all homeowners, but being practical about your expenses is one of the most crucial home renovation tips.

AD recommends adding about 20% of your budget to your total costs so you have realistic expectations. Plus, you’ll be better prepared for unexpected things that are likely to arise during your project.

In the best-case scenario, you stay under your original budget and have plenty of money left over. Worst case, you have enough to cover your unexpected costs. Consider cutting back on your project or budget overall if you can’t afford to overestimate your total costs.

3. Demo yourself if you can.

If you’re able, doing the demo yourself can be a huge money saver. Tearing out old cabinets, flooring, or tile is one of the most labor-heavy (and expensive) parts of a renovation, and it doesn’t usually require specialized skills—just time, effort, and a little grit. By handling the demo on your own, you can shave hundreds (sometimes thousands) off labor costs and put that money toward finishes you actually see and love. Just be sure to know what’s safe to remove and what’s not before you start swinging.

“My husband and I have redone two of our bathrooms in the last 6 months, and the largest savings by far were doing all of the demo ourselves. It cost us less than $200 to have all of the old materials taken to the dump, and we paid a contractor $0 since my husband did all of the work. Our bathroom above had very old tile, which had to be jackhammered on all four walls. In addition to removing concrete and wire mesh behind every tile. It was extremely labor-intensive and messy, and took him a solid 3 days to complete. We were told it definitely would have cost us thousands of dollars to have it professionally demoed. Although it was difficult when we were in the midst of it, it was well worth the savings in the long run and it allowed us to splurge on nicer finishes.” – Sara

4. Refinish existing cabinetry. 

Kitchen and bathrooms are the most expensive rooms in your home to renovate, so using existing cabinetry could potentially save you thousands. In fact, new kitchen cabinets alone account for nearly 40% of a kitchen remodeling cost, according to This Old House.

Collin says, rather than gutting everything, give new life to the cabinets you already have with some paint and new hardware. In the end, you’ll be so surprised by what a difference that can make. Plus, you can save significantly more if you take the time to paint them yourself.

5. Buy hardware in bulk.

Hardware can add up quickly, regardless of whether you’re gutting an entire space or giving it a facelift. Collin, who has flipped a few properties, said her favorite way to save on hardware is to buy in bulk. Etsy and Amazon are two of the best places to get the most bang for your buck. Both retailers have plenty of high-end-looking options that won’t break the bank either.

As another option, Collin also shared how she loves scoring affordable lookalikes at stores like Home Depot and opting out of more expensive trends. The selection of hardware tends to be better online at big box stores like The Home Depot and Lowe’s.

Take this $47 Rejuvenation Trask Drawer Pull as an example. You can find similar pulls at Home Depot for just $10.99 each when you buy them in packs of 10. If you’re doing an entire kitchen, that cost alone could save you hundreds.

6. Shop discount tile & flooring. 

There are a plethora of affordable tile places if you find yourself obsessing over an expensive option. Another tip our CEO, Collin, shared is that buying directly from a tile shop isn’t typically going to be your most affordable option. Instead, check out places like Floor & Decor where you can score high-end-looking tiles for way less and save by picking up your order in person.

As another option, our Hip sidekick, Lina, also shared how she scored accent tiles on clearance at Lowe’s and went to several stores to score a super low price until they had what they needed. This frugal shopping tip allowed them to add a beautiful accent wall in their kids’ bathroom on a dime!

7. Renovate in phases. 

Rome wasn’t built in a day, so you shouldn’t expect any different for your home renovation either. By spacing out your projects, you’ll be able to wait for deals on materials and spend less upfront on labor costs if you’re budgeting for professional help. Of course, this won’t be ideal if you’re planning to flip a home as quickly as possible, but if you plan to live in your home for years to come, it’s a great option to consider.

Our Hip sidekick, Lina, shared how she did all the bathrooms in her home in phases by painting the cabinets one year, swapping out the counters with a new sink and hardware another year, and then redid their shower tile and hardware and the floor the year after. It was certainly worth the wait in the long run! 🤩

8. Hire reputable, insured contractors. 

If you’re planning to hire contractors for an upcoming project, make sure to do your due diligence to be sure they’re experienced enough for the job (and licensed, too). Oftentimes, contractors who cut corners and are available immediately don’t always do the best work, and you’ll inevitably pay for their expensive mistakes. Remember to ask for references and check their reviews too!

“It’s tempting when someone says they can start work right away and their bid comes in cheap, but just don’t hire unlicensed contractors. We know better (I mean, my husband is in construction 😂) but we somehow managed to get people years ago who installed expensive hardwood floors wrong and it can’t be fixed due to the extensive splitting EVERYWHERE. They are no longer a company and insurance doesn’t care, so in short, we learned a very hard and expensive lesson ($10,000 to be exact 😭).” – Lina

9. Get full project bids. 

One of the quickest ways homeowners end up spending far more than they planned is by paying contractors by the hour instead of getting a full project bid upfront. Hourly rates might seem fair at first, but small delays, unnecessary work, or simple miscalculations can snowball, leaving your budget blown and your wallet hurting.

By insisting on a complete project bid, you lock in costs, avoid surprise expenses, and protect yourself from being taken advantage of. In renovations, every hour and every dollar counts, so this simple step can save you a lot of financial headache.

“This was the hardest lesson my husband and I had to learn during our full bathroom renovation. We thought, since we met the contractor through friends, that we were safe from being taken advantage of, and since it was understood that my husband would be helping with the work, when he could, we didn’t think it would take as much time to complete, so we agreed to pay two people hourly. We very quickly realized that the second person was not doing very much work at all, so it felt like half of our money was being spent on nothing. They also took advantage of their lunch breaks, making them 3-4x longer than the standard. Thankfully, I was able to thoroughly document that and paid them for the actual time that they “worked”, but they ended up quitting before finishing the job, which left us in a hard spot. Overall, we probably spent twice as much on labor as we originally planned while still doing a good amount of it ourselves.” – Sara

10. Avoid mid-project changes. 

This is especially important if you’re hiring a licensed contractor to do your home renovation project. However, any changes you make after plans have been solidified can get costly, even if you’re planning to do the work yourself.

Simple things like moving an outlet, shifting a chandelier, changing paint colors, and so on may not seem like a big deal when looking at the big picture, but the cost to change them can add up quickly. Of course, you want to be happy with the final outcome, but it’s important to be mindful of your budget and timelines too. Remember, time is money!

11. Save on finishing touches.

Just because your space is new doesn’t mean everything inside of it has to be too. It’s important to have a budget for finishing your space once your project is done, too. While it’s easy to get carried away with a new space, buying all new things, you can get the same look for less when frugality is at the forefront.

Consider thrift shopping, saving at local auctions, checking Facebook Marketplace for great finds, or opting for a much less expensive furniture piece that looks like an expensive one. Open box items at stores like Overstock or Wayfair are also a great way to save.

12. Keep a measurements list. 

Writing down measurements for items you still need to source for a project could help save you money if you spot an unexpected deal or clearance item while you’re out and about. Whether it’s a new bathroom vanity or a set of Roman shades, you’ll want to ensure you’re buying a size that will fit your space perfectly. Better yet, by having your list handy, you’ll be ready to jump on the opportunity at a moment’s notice.

“When we first moved into our home we needed all new window coverings. My goal was to spend as little as possible so I took my time waiting for deals and kept a list of all the window sizes by room in my purse. I happened to be at Bed Bath and Beyond during a closeout sale and spotted roman shades for my boys’ room! I paid about $30 per window which saved me hundreds!” – Sara

13. Check local permits and codes.

Before you swing that hammer or start demo-ing your dream space, check your local permits and building codes, seriously. Skipping this step might save a few bucks now, but getting hit with fines or having to redo work because it’s not up to code will cost way more (and majorly kill your renovation vibe). Think of it as insurance for your wallet and your sanity. Do the homework upfront so your project stays smooth, legal, and stress-free.

“Turns out you cannot have a fence over 6 feet high without a permit in our neighborhood. Unfortunately, after spending an entire weekend getting our new fence up, someone reported that one end of our fence was slightly higher than 6 feet. We didn’t end up getting fined, but we did have to take down the entire fence and redo it, so it was the proper height, which definitely ended us ended up costing us time and money.” – Sara 

14. Document everything.

Keep a running record of everything: photos, notes, receipts, etc. Basically, like a renovation diary. If a contractor cuts corners, misses deadlines, or tries to sneak in extra charges, you’ll have the proof you need to call it out. Documenting your project isn’t just busywork; it’s your ultimate backup plan to protect your wallet and make sure your dream space actually turns out like, well… your dream. ⭐️

“I work from home, so thankfully, it was easy for me to document the hours worked by two contractors we hired for our bathroom. Instead of 30-minute lunches that they were claiming to take, they were taking 1.5 to 2-hour lunches. By the end of the project, that would have cost us hundreds of dollars since we are paying them by the hour, but instead, I shared all of the documentation I had been keeping, and their boss had me only pay for the hours they actually worked. Had I not done this, we would have spent far more money and nothing to show for it.” – Sara

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