Spoiler alert: you can renovate your home even on a budget.

What?! Are we out of our minds? Maybe, but definitely not on this point. Yes, you can renovate your home, even in South Florida, while on a budget. 

It is entirely feasible to upgrade a space and achieve the style you have in mind without breaking the bank. It just involves a little more planning on your part, but your wallet will certainly thank you for the extra effort you put in.

Tips on How You Can Renovate Your Home on a Budget

• Start By Building a Cushion: We’re not going to sugarcoat it: most design projects end up costing more than originally anticipated. Unforeseen expenses are an inevitability with renovations, so it’s highly recommended to set aside an extra 10 – 15% on top of your initial budget as a cushion or safety net. So, if you’re already thinking about how much you’d be comfortable spending, add another 10 – 15% on top of that. Or reduce your amount by 10-15% to stay within your budget. 

• Hire an Experienced Team Early On: This may seem silly to mention, but it deserves repeating.An experienced and transparent team can be the difference between you staying on budget and going painfully over budget – sometimes with a home you are not too keen about. By recruiting an experienced architect early on, they can tell you the costs of different materials and finishes during the design phase and can work with you to make selections that will honor your budget. 

Your architect can tell you whether it makes financial sense to splurge on a certain design element, or if you can snag something that looks just as beautiful for a considerably lower cost. If you want to be as aware as possible about unforeseen expenses, your architect can conduct a walk-through of your space and identify any potential warning signs that could complicate the project. 

• Create a Plan and Stick to It: Another reason it’s so vital to get your architect involved early on is because it gives you more time to create a plan you are 100% comfortable with. If you intend to stick to a budget, you have to stick to your plan. When people go over budget during renovations, it’s usually because they suddenly decide to deviate from their original plan, even though their budget is based on that design. 

So, take your time, work with your architect, and create a structured plan in advance.  

• Don’t Take the Lowest Bid: Here we go repeating ourselves. But know, when we repeat it’s because it’s important stuff. Experienced architects, contractors, and interior designers have worked with all sorts of budgets. Hiring the lowest team with the lowest bid doesn’t always work out financially when all the dollars, cents, and stress add up in the end. In fact, the lowest bids all too often result in the highest end-lines. 

Work with experienced and transparent professionals with proven track records and honest reputations.

Are you concerned about the cost of the design project you have in mind? If so, give us a call. Our team at  Debowsky Design Group is always here and ready to be as transparent and  informative as possible when it comes to renovation costs and timelines. When you’re ready to start putting together a real design, we can help with that too. Sticking to a budget is much easier when you take the time to create a realistic one. 

Give us a call and let’s figure out a reasonable budget for your project!