When it comes to home remodels, especially old home renovations, busting the budget is everyone’s major concern, and there’s a good reason for it. Having a solid plan is a must, but old homes are sneaky and often hide secrets that will lead to unexpected costs. For that reason, it’s wise to factor in a 20% cushion as your back-up.
With a good strategy, a design in mind, well-selected materials and a time frame, you can renovate your old home and cut costs without cutting corners and compromising the end-result. Whether you’re tackling big things such as demolishing walls or you’re simply choosing a different wall paint and new sconces, it’s quite possible to re-vamp your old house on a limited budget and this is how.
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Table of Contents
Make a solid plan
A new build simply fails to deliver the charm old, historic homes have. As elated as you may feel once you’ve snatched such an old jewel off the market, it can get intimidating when thinking about where to start the renovation.
One way to go is the “house sandwich” approach to remodeling: you begin from the top – with the roof and make sure there are no leaks and then you go down to the foundation and ensure it’s as solid as it can get with no cracks or dangers of settling or sinking. Then, you can focus on the stuff in between, from the siding, windows, doors to the interior.
Inspect the electrics and plumbing
Inspecting the wiring and plumbing may not be the most exciting part of the renovation process, but it is necessary, particularly with older houses. It’s quite possible that they had no updates done recently so the wiring may be a fire hazard and not up to the present code and regulations.
The same goes for plumbing – it may not reveal any issues presently, but the original cast iron, galvanized steel and copper plumbing have a lifespan of up to 100 years. The best way to go is to find an experienced electrician and plumber to get this worry off your back – it may cost a bit more initially, but it will save you a lot in the long run.
Repaint the front door and add exterior accents
Regardless of the type of exterior the house has, updating the front door can revive the whole impression of a home and boost its curb appeal. Pick a color that works well with the existing exterior but also stands out so it puts a spotlight on your entrance.
Also, add a few interesting accents – change the house number, put out a few planters with colorful flowers and repaint your mailbox. Sometimes, it can be hard to get good ideas but don’t hesitate to use all available resources at your disposal to achieve your goals. For instance, YouTube is full of DIY tutorials and guidelines that can offer plenty of inspiration as well as a few nifty tricks.
Paint the walls
Repainting the walls is probably the easiest job to tackle in a renovation. The only thing is that you need to patient and take your time in order to get a high-quality result. Thus said, preparation is the key and it will significantly ease the painting process and give a better outcome.
Apply removable wallpaper
Repainted and refreshed walls can quickly improve your space, but mention the word “wallpaper”, most people cringe, especially if they’ve had bad experiences with attempting to put up wallpaper in the past.
The solution lies in removable wallpaper – it’s a quick, classy, stylish, and affordable way to update your space with minimal cost. Moreover, it’s such a swift and original way to add more color, pattern, and texture with almost no effort. And the best thing is, once you get bored of it, it just as easily replaced.
Refresh the kitchen
Shabby and outdated cabinets make for a dreary and dull kitchen. Rather than spending a fortune on new ones, repaint them and switch out the hardware for a dramatic touch. You can also consider replacing a door or two with glass so you can showcase your fancy china and serving pieces.
Another way to improve the look is to replace the backsplash. This is a surprisingly cost-efficient and easy DIY project that can be done without the use of complicated tools, especially if you opt for peel-and-stick tiles.
Rejuvenate the bathroom
If your budget doesn’t allow a big bathroom renovation, you can still breathe in new life into your bathroom with smaller upgrades. Think about replacing old cabinet pulls, the shower door, adding new fixtures, a stylish new mirror over the sink, new lighting, and some handsome storage shelves.
Fixing up an old home doesn’t have to be difficult or costly. The key is advanced preparation, working out a solid plan, setting up your budget, and consider some of the suggestions presented here when it comes time to undertake your very own renovation project.
