Everyone says a renovation will cost more than you expect and take longer to complete. And that's completely true in most cases. But you can hold down the costs -- by making tough choices ahead of time.
First, plan ahead - way ahead. If you have a year or more to plan your renovation, you can shop for discounted materials, and pick up bargains like tile that's being closed out or a sink that's on sale.
You can also decide what you want - ahead of time. Change orders cost time and a lot of money. By making changes while you're in the planning stages, you'll spend far less to make a change, and can then think about whether it is the right move after all, before you build.
Finally, test things out ahead of time. A quart of the most expensive paint you can buy won't cost that much. If you're having trouble deciding on colors, buy a few quarts and paint color squares on a wall.
Doing it ahead of time - by yourself - makes sense and saves you money in the long run.
