Thrifty Home Plan: Where to Spend During Your Home’s Construction

Constructing a new home is a major investment. Understanding where to spend money, and where it’s preferable to save a few dollars helps you make well informed decisions that you’ll be happy with for years to come.

Don’t Skimp on the Basics

It’s a lot more fun to pick out kitchen countertops or appliances than it is to look at roofing shingles. However, you should be able to take these basic home systems for granted. Routine maintenance adds up quickly and you’ll spend more upfront on high-end roofing materials or windows, but they’ll also last a lot longer while requiring minimal maintenance. Places like Lifetime Exteriors offer some of the best materials for these outdoor essentials.

Use it Where it Counts

Once you’ve taken care of the basic home systems, think about where else you want to spend your money. While it’s nice to install ample high end features in a new home, most people are working within a limited budget. Concentrate on the areas of the home where you spend the most time. For example, it makes sense to install granite countertops in the kitchen and master bathroom, but not the laundry room.

Source Materials Yourself

There are quite a few home fixtures you’ll find less expensive options for when you source them yourself instead of through your home contractor, such as cabinets and hardware. Most contractors are happy to work with clients who are interested in sourcing their own materials. Discuss the topic prior to construction so you’re on the same page.

Get Multiple Estimates

Talking to several contractors gives you a good idea of the current price range in your area. When you have several estimates, you’ll avoid overpaying. Be open about the fact that you’re talking to more than one contractor. Sometimes a contractor will offer to reduce material costs or even price match to stay competitive.

Hire a Professional as Needed

It’s easy to believe that you’ll always save money by doing the job yourself. Be realistic about your skill sets though, and tackle new home construction projects that are within your means. Most likely you will be able to take on a few tasks yourself, such as painting. Hire the remainder of the work out so it gets done the right way the first time around.

A reputable exterior contractor will assist you in putting together a realistic budget for your new home construction project. During the process, be honest about where you’d like to spend the most money to create the home of your dreams.