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Adventures in Remodeling, Part 2

© L.C. Dumke

So you've found a contractor that you like and you're ready to get to work. At this point, you have a detailed estimate that your contractor created from the information you gave him or her. It should include everything you want completed during the remodeling process, and it should be as detailed as possible.

You may be wondering, "Okay, so how do I save money? How do I stretch my budget and get everything done the way I want it?" Well, you should probably know this: it's not easy to save money when you're getting a professional remodeling job done. I'd say many more people have their remodeling projects come out "over" budget than "under" budget. So you should start by sitting down with your contractor and the estimate, and going line by line examining costs and discussing the following:

Are there any materials that can be substituted without sacrificing the quality of the project? For instance, if you want the look of custom wainscoting, consider if you might be just as happy using a pre-made material, such as beaded board paneling.

In my own kitchen-remodeling project, I was sure that I wanted a certain type of high-end countertop and that nothing else would please me. Then my builder suggested another surface and showed me a sample. I loved it just as much, and it was far less expensive than my original choice. The result: I saved about $3,000 by being open to the suggestions of my contractor. So be sure to ask your contractor if he has other suggestions that look similar to what you want, but may cost less.

I had a similar experience with flooring. I wanted the look of hardwood flooring, but I was worried about two things: wear and tear (in a house with kids and pets, I had battled lots of scratches and nicks on my previous wood floor) and care. So I began to investigate the new, wood-look laminates, and I was very impressed. When I heard about the easy care and much lower price (compared to hardwood flooring), I was sold on it. Now, amazingly, everyone who comes to my home comments on my beautiful wood floors. (They can't tell the difference.)

What can I do myself? Review your project estimate, consider your own skills and time commitments, and determine if there's any project (or any part of a project) that you have the skills and time to accomplish on your own. For instance, when I reviewed my own estimate, I noticed the painting estimate was a good chunk of it. Although I didn't want to mess with exterior painting myself, I really don't mind some interior painting. Actually, I kind of enjoy it, but I just didn't feel I had the time to do it all. So I decided to do some of the interior painting myself, and let the contractor take care of the exterior and difficult interior portions, such as a two-story foyer. The result was an estimate reduction of several hundred dollars.

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