Lessons We’ve Learned to Save on Home Improvements

We’ve been seeing our homes in a new light since the pandemic started.

We may not always be cooped up inside our four walls, but we continue to find projects to work on around the house. They can range from minor redecorating to major repairs that have been put on hold.

Here are our top eight stories on how to save money on home improvement projects.

8 Ways to Save Money on Home Improvements

1. Organize Your Home Without Overspending

Keeping your home tidy doesn’t require a trip to the Container Store to spend hundreds on various organizational tools.

Browse this list of cheap home organizing solutions for ideas on how to neaten up your pantry, linen closet, junk drawer and more. Some include upcycling items you already have at home.

2. Know Which Home Repairs You Need to Address Immediately

It may be financially convenient to put off certain repairs around the house, but ignoring some issues can cause major problems and increase the costs.

These eight home repairs are ones you shouldn’t ignore. Get on them ASAP to avoid extensive damage, safety hazards or health issues.

3. Keep Up With Routine Home Maintenance

One way to avoid expensive home repairs is to adhere to a schedule of regular maintenance projects. Letting little issues go untreated can lead to a much more serious — and more costly — problem to address later.

This article outlines four types of home maintenance priorities, including how frequently maintenance jobs should be done and an estimation of costs. Just putting aside $200 a month can help cover home expenses that come up.

4. Know When to Hire a Pro

Taking on home projects on your own doesn’t always save you money. If you take on something you can’t handle, you could wind up making a costly mistake that’s more expensive than hiring a professional from the start.

This article breaks down what types of home projects are safe to DIY and which you should leave to the experts.

5. Learn How to Hire the Best Contractor

Hiring a professional contractor for a home improvement project can be a significant financial investment. You want to know you’re hiring the right person for the job.

Here are six questions you should ask when hiring a home improvement contractor. Make sure everyone’s on the same page about the work before signing on the dotted line.

6. Remodel Your Bathroom on a Budget

Making your bathroom feel like a sanctuary is important — especially when you’re spending so much time at home. But bathroom remodels can be expensive.

These tips show you ways to improve your bathroom whether your budget is $100, $500, $750 or $1,000.

7. Spruce Up Your Outdoor Space for $100

Big landscaping projects can cost big bucks. But that doesn’t mean there aren’t ways to revamp your outdoor space for less.

This post shares six brilliant ideas for refreshing your yard or patio without spending over $100.

8. Spend Less at Restoration Hardware

Love the goods at Restoration Hardware but could do without the high prices?

This article shows six ways to save major bucks when shopping at this upscale home furnishing store. Never pay full price again.

Nicole Dow is a senior writer at The Penny Hoarder.

This was originally published on The Penny Hoarder, which helps millions of readers worldwide earn and save money by sharing unique job opportunities, personal stories, freebies and more. The Inc. 5000 ranked The Penny Hoarder as the fastest-growing private media company in the U.S. in 2017.