With home improvement costs getting higher as the days go, it’s tough to make the decision to revamp your place of residence especially when you need to work within a budget. But not anymore. It’s definitely possible to remodel your home without having to unnecessarily empty your savings for it!
Here are a few pro tips from Homeshield on how you can fashion your home for that stand-out, good-as-new feel, and to increase your home’s curb appeal.

Tips Before Starting Your Home Improvement Project

1. Be Smart With Your Bidding

Bidding can be quite a tricky plan of action when it comes to construction. You’ll either end up with the best rate but with a reconstructed house that’s not at par with what you had originally planned. Or the job will be done satisfactorily but with an appalling skyscraper-high price tag that’s way over the top.
What you can do is to be smart about the “when” of bidding. According to Homeshield experts, the best time to bid for roofing construction and indoor renovating is during the cold and/ or rainy season. For overall designing and air conditioning fixes, winter, fall, and early spring is it. When it comes to heating, bid just when the summer season is about to end or right before fall begins. Finally, chimney repair rates are at their most economical in any season except autumn.

2. The Initial Design Sketch

This second tip is crucial. Before you give the construction project a go, have the architect/s present you with the initial design sketch. And unless you’re an architect by profession, have the pros do this job instead of you.
It’s one thing to have a “vision” of what you want this part or that part of your house to be. But fitting it into reality and being mindful of materials and material type, spacing etc. needs an architect’s mind. It may cost you a bit but it shouldn’t too heavy on the pocket. What’s more, you’ll be given options in case design changes need to be made to accommodate important factors such as safety, plumbing issues, and more.

3. Include Energy-Efficient Components

Not many homeowners think about this because they tend to focus on the aesthetic of their home’s design. Adding energy-efficient components will help you in more ways than making your house look pretty.
Besides coming up with a design plan for how you want your home to look, be sure to ask and scout around for items for insulation, efficient cooling and heating, air sealing, the list goes on. You’ll be surprised at how much you’ll be saving when you add the reduced costs up in the long run.

4. Gradual Upgrades

You don’t have to upgrade all of your home’s key features at once. If at-once isn’t practical for your current budget, that’s perfectly fine. What you can do is to start with key features first. Say, rough wiring for the future instalment of electrical appliances. Another is rough plumbing for a future bathroom renovation you have in mind. And perhaps a rough framing for windows in what might be a sitting area you want to add around the patio? It’ll be up to you.

5. Be Careful With Big Windows

There’s an allure to having gigantic windows in the living room. You’ve probably seen lifestyle videos of this and that celebrity homeowner with such windows in their homes. It’s got a touch of luxury to it. And everybody always talks about how it beautifully lets the sunlight in, and on every corner.
However, there’s a downside to this. Large windows and the addition of large skylights will go against your electric bill. This is a fact. No doubt, they bring in an aura that’s bright and lively due to the amount of light that can pass through them. Only, this is also exactly what should be avoided in terms of insulation.
You’re going to have to crank the air conditioning up during summers because of the excessive heat. At the same time, you’ll need to turn the heater on to its maximum as these windows won’t be able to keep the heat in and the cold out.
Although if you’re willing to splurge a bit on double-glazed windows, that’ll help loads. Still, skylights? Not the most energy-efficient choice.

6. Stick To The Foundation

Do not move your residence’s foundation or make alterations to it. There’s a reason why they’re called “foundation.” They’re literally the groundwork for the entire place. Which means that if you absolutely think it’s a need to change its blueprint even by a bit, you’ll be redoing most of your home’s construction as a result.
The same is true with plumbing. These two variables are not to be tampered with at all costs. Besides being too expensive because of the heavy excavation they warrant,  to do so and will also involve too much effort and time until they’re redone. Plus, the risk of them being damaged along the way is something you’ll have to think about as well.
Remember earlier, we mentioned rough plumbing? We recommend that only upgrades and water-efficient solutions will be put in place. A complete change in the plumbing set up is too much of an invitation for future problems such as leaks and water flow disruption. Constant maintenance will be another issue you’ll encounter. So again, leave the foundation and the plumbing as they are.

7. Canvass, Canvass, And Canvass

Not the medium on which a painter paints. “Canvass” the prices of the materials for the home improvement construction work. Even if your architects hand over a sheet of where to buy what, do your homework to find the most competitive rates. You can even go online and manage some scouting there.
Granted your architect/s will make the decisions about the building materials and the wiring, items like appliances and finish materials can be in your hands. You’ll be able to get creative and be picky with their design and make. Furthermore, these will provide you with a sense of being a part in your home improvement venture.