5 ways to make renovating more affordable
From hiring tradespeople to furnishing your new space, costs quickly add up. Here's how to keep them under control.
Sponsored by humm. Buy now pay later at over 20,000 stores and take the sting out of home renovations. Shop online or in-store with monthly fees of just $8 and no interest, ever. Learn more.
So, you're sick of your current space and want to update, elevate or completely overhaul it? Well, whatever you want to do, you probably already know one thing, it's going to be expensive.
There are ways to keep costs in check though. So, if you're about to embark on a new home project, big or small, take a look at our tips for making it more affordable.
Create a budget
The first step to avoiding a financial blowout is to create a realistic budget. Without a guide in place it's easy to run wild, so do your research and figure out how much you want to spend (as well as how much you can actually afford).
For professional work, make sure to get quotes from tradies and build that into your budget. You can also chat to them about any budget goals you have, so they can give you a clear picture of what's actually possible.
For bigger projects, build some wiggle room into your budget. Inevitably, you'll either see something you hadn't thought of, or a hiccup along the way will hit costs and you'll be thankful for the cushion.
Reuse and reclaim
For a sustainable and financially savvy tip, check to see if you can find pre-loved items for your home. Consider auctions, op shops, eBay and Facebook Marketplace. Often, you can find nearly-new items for a fraction of the price.
Reclaimed hardware, timber, and fixtures and fittings can also drastically cut your expenses without impacting quality. Depending on your aesthetic, it might even be easier to find what you're looking for!
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Read more…DIY or outsource
Obviously, some jobs will have to be left to the experts. But, you'd be surprised at how many redecoration tasks can be done by a savvy DIYer, as opposed to a qualified tradie.
If you're confident in your abilities, knuckle down and save yourself some big money. If you've accepted that your skills lie elsewhere, consider outsourcing to handyperson services which may be less expensive than a builder.
You can also browse platforms like Airtasker or TaskRabbit to find experienced people who can do everything from assembling furniture through to installing kitchens.
Buy now pay later
Of course, some costs are going to be simply unavoidable, but you can make them more manageable by breaking them up into smaller repayments over a longer period of time. In other words, buying now and paying later.
Buy now pay later has boomed in Australia in recent years as shoppers take advantage of interest-free finance which allows them to avoid a huge up-front expense.
humm is among the buy now pay later services popular with Australians and is accepted by thousands of homewares brands, hardware stores and appliance manufacturers.
The platform lets shoppers spend up to $30,000 with partner stores, then spread that cost over as many as 60 months. There is no interest charged, but there are monthly account keeping fees of $8 and establishment fees of up to $90 for those bigger-ticket items.
So, if you spend $20,000 on a new deck and outdoor entertainment area, you could spread that cost over 5 years to have repayments of less than $79 a week, including the monthly fee.
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Read more…Compare
Finally, compare everything. If you're doing it yourself, compare timber costs, paint prices and furniture stores. Check online as well as in-store.
If you're getting the experts in, compare their quotes, their reviews and even examples of their previous work if possible. Bear in mind, the cheapest quote might not end up being the most affordable if they deliver poor quality work or an inaccurate estimate.
If you're getting finance, compare fees, features and benefits. Do the maths to see just how much the loan or service will cost you and factor it into your budget.
Compare interest-free finance from humm
Compare other Buy Now Pay Later providers here
