It’s no secret that renovations are expensive. Financially speaking, they fall into one of two categories: either planned and budgeted for or unexpected and urgent, sparked by some unforeseen event. Regardless of which category they are in, finding ways to save money on a renovation can be a huge benefit for homeowners since so many small transactions throughout the process can add up quickly.
My kitchen renovation fell into category two, meaning it was not a project I had been actively planning and saving for. I was thrust into it unexpectedly, following a hidden leak, and I frequently referred to it as a “forced renovation.” Aside from the challenge of having to piece together a rushed mood board and design, I had to fund the project on a limited budget to avoid taking out a loan. Additionally, the modest payment from my homeowner’s insurance would not cover the cost of replacing everything that needed to be done as part of a renovation.
Thankfully, I found creative ways to save money on a kitchen renovation throughout my project. While some of the tips I am sharing may not work for everyone, I think most will be really helpful for homeowners looking to save a few dollars here and there while creating their dream space.
8 Ways to Save Money on a Kitchen Renovation
(1) Do the demolition yourself. When going through a kitchen renovation, it’s not uncommon for homeowners to outsource the demolition of cabinets, flooring, backsplash, and other items to a professional. In some cases, it may not be realistic to do all the demo yourself, but if you can demo what you are able to manage on your own, it will save you the fee of hiring a contractor or handyman to demo those items for you. Bigger items like countertops may require a professional, but I found removing the cabinets and pulling up the existing floor to be very doable with a little help from family or friends. Some flooring, like tile or hardwood, may be more challenging; thankfully, I had a laminate floor in my kitchen that I was able to pull up and break down easily, which allowed me to dispose of it myself. Even if you are physically unable to dispose of the items in your kitchen, demoing it yourself and paying someone to haul it away will still save you the cost of hiring someone for a full demo and disposal. However, you may not have to pay someone to dispose of your demoed items, which leads me to my next money-saving tip.
(2) Sell old items on Facebook Marketplace rather than paying for disposal. When I removed all of my cabinets from the walls in my kitchen, I knew I would have to get them out of my house before the new cabinets could be installed. I considered paying someone to pick them up and haul them away, but noticed the majority of the cabinets that were not damaged from the leak were still in great condition. I decided to list them for sale on Facebook Marketplace at a very low cost; I could have probably sold them for a much higher price, but my primary goal was to avoid paying a fee for removal. I listed them for sale under the condition the buyer would have to pick them up from my house. Within minutes, my inbox was flooded with interested buyers, which gave me the advantage of being selective with whom I sold them to. I chose to sell them to someone who could pick them up and load them on their own, and had a vehicle capable of transporting a large load of cabinets. Even better, the buyer was interested in part of my kitchen countertop as well. So, I was able to get rid of a large load of cabinets and a big section of countertop, while making some extra cash I could use to cover other expenses. This worked much better for me than paying someone to dispose of them. If you go this route, I recommend checking the buyer’s Facebook profile and doing your best to select a buyer that you feel is trustworthy enough to come to your home.
(3) Schedule plumbers and electricians in as few visits as possible. As part of my kitchen renovation, I hired an electrician to install recessed lighting, electrical boxes for sconces, and relocate wiring for under cabinet lights. I also hired a plumber to cap off some plumbing so appliances could be moved and cabinets could be installed. Finally, I hired a drywall repair professional to mud the wall and touch up the ceiling from the electrical work. I learned that these companies will charge a “house visit” fee every time they have to visit. While I knew some parts of the project would require more than one visit, like disconnecting and reconnecting plumbing, a little advance planning on my part could have saved me a few unnecessary trips. Even for the most minor service call, the plumber charged a “house visit” fee of over $200 per trip.
(4) If possible, don’t hire a contractor. This tip may be controversial, and much like my tip to self-demo, it may be unavoidable, depending on the scale of your renovation and how much you are capable of managing on your own. At the start of my renovation, I spoke with a contractor I was considering hiring to manage the project. After a few conversations and hearing how he planned to approach the job, I decided to forgo the “middle man,” and avoid the contractor fees. The overhead charges you will pay a contractor can quickly eat up a large portion of a renovation budget, forcing you to compromise on your designs, downgrade finishes or scale back your project altogether to afford the contractor. Additionally, the contractor I met had a small network of companies he used for his projects, which meant I would be limited to the options available through his network. I would not have the freedom to shop at places outside of those companies, because of a referral system they used to send each other sales leads.
A relatively simple renovation can be manageable without a contractor, if you are willing to put in the time and effort researching reputable service providers, scheduling the work, and making design decisions. It is also helpful if you have some basic knowledge or experience from past renovations you may have done. Thankfully, my dad is very knowledgeable in this space and also very skilled at home projects, so he was able to advise me on the order in which tasks needed to be completed and what to consider regarding the blueprint. He also took measurements, made drawings, and did some of the construction work himself. This was a huge benefit for me; if you have a family member or friend who has some experience working with contractors, I highly recommend you seek advice from them!
(5) Take advantage of sales and promotions. The timing of your renovation may not coincide with a sale or promotion, but companies usually run them throughout the year alongside a holiday or a particular season. Depending on the item you purchase, you still may be able to take advantage of the sale and postpone the item’s arrival until you need it. For example, I purchased an oven range and dishwasher during Home Depot’s annual Memorial Day sale, even though I knew I would not need those large appliances until at least June or July. In my experience, Home Depot has incredible customer service in their appliance department, and they allowed me to purchase the items to be held at their warehouse until I was ready for delivery. This saved me several hundred dollars as opposed to holding off until I needed them and having to purchase them at full price. They were easy to work with when I had to call and postpone delivery a few times due to delays with the renovation.
You may also be able to save quite a bit on cabinets, if you decide to purchase those through a large retailer. I had my cabinets custom built by a local cabinet maker, but prior to making that decision, I researched other options and found that Lowe’s offers discounts on cabinets during their spring sale. When I met with their in-house designer, they were offering a promotion of 30-40% off the retail price if you spent over a certain amount. A 30-40% discount could save you thousands of dollars. If you can plan ahead and time your renovation around certain promotions, you could save a significant amount of money.
(6) Get price estimates from several sources before agreeing to a product or service. This might seem like a lot of work, but companies often price the same products or services very differently. Collecting multiple price estimates on the front end will allow you to make the best decision for your renovation and budget. Sometimes price is the deciding factor, but not always. A cheaper price could mean poor service or low quality results. I would recommend comparing prices and reading online reviews before making a decision. I find there’s usually a middle-of-the-road option between the most expensive quote and the cheapest, and usually that midpoint option is the best.
I received quotes from three different stone companies when I was researching countertops, and I got estimates from two local flooring companies, before making a decision. I have also found that services like plumbing can range drastically in cost; the large franchises are usually extremely overpriced, in my opinion. Ultimately, you may choose to go with a higher-priced option, but collecting estimates before signing a contract for work will at least equip you with the information you need to make an informed decision. By shopping around, I saved a couple thousand on both my flooring and countertops.
(7) Shop secondhand to add unique touches and character to your space. I love adding a conversation piece to a room to give it some character. Whether the piece is an antique table, hand-painted tile, or a vintage light fixture, having something unique and unexpected in a space will make it stand out against modern-day, mass-produced home furnishings. Even something as simple as framing a hand-written recipe can add visual interest to a space. My personal design tip is to have one antique, vintage, or handmade item in every room.
When I decided to forgo upper cabinets on one side of my kitchen in favor of a coffee bar, I knew I needed something of interest to elevate an otherwise bare wall. Almost immediately, I concluded wall sconces would be the perfect way to do that. Because lighting can be expensive, I searched sites like Amazon, Wayfair, and Lamps Plus in an attempt to stay within the budget. I quickly became bored scrolling past hundreds of product listings that all looked so similar and shared a similar cheap finish. Not sold on any of them, I turned to Facebook Marketplace and eBay to search for something more unique, and better quality. After some careful searching, I landed on a pair of mid-century Hollywood regency vintage sconces. I negotiated the price to a lower amount than the prices of most of the new sconces at the aforementioned online retailers. Plus, the vintage sconces were much better quality than the other options I was considering. When they arrived, I took them to a local lighting shop to have them inspected for safety, and I ordered some chandelier shades to cover the bulbs. Secondhand shopping is a great tip for saving money during a renovation.
(8) DIY the parts of your renovation you can do on your own. This tip is probably obvious coming from me, but there will certainly be parts of your project you can do on your own. This will save you at least a few hundred dollars that you would otherwise have to spend if you hired someone to do the work. Even small jobs can be worth the savings. I always suggest painting your walls and trim yourself, unless you have extremely high ceilings or tall stairwells that require scaffolding to reach to top of the wall. In my opinion, painters are often overpriced, and painting is one of the easiest jobs homeowners can DIY. You might also consider repairing any holes in the drywall yourself; with some drywall mud and a putty knife, you can patch damage from cabinet removal or electrical work. If you want to DIY some of the finishing touches, tiling a backsplash can help you avoid paying for the cost of labor. Tiling can also be a great beginner DIY project and a fantastic way to save money on a kitchen renovation.
I hope this list has been helpful as you plan your next kitchen renovation project. There are so many small transactions that occur during a renovation, which can quickly add up to a meaningful amount. Whether you prefer to fund your renovation without borrowing money or you just want to be mindful of how your funds are being used, cutting back a little here and there can help you spend less or apply those funds to the areas where you want to splurge. Happy saving!
