While there is certainly nothing wrong with trying to cut back on your expenses through DIY renovations for your foreclosed home, you should also make sure that the lengths you’ve gone to achieve this won’t backfire on you. When renovating your newly bought foreclosed home on your own, it’s always best to remember this motto:
Do only what you can, do only what you love, and do it well!
Safety should always be your #1 priority.
Paint, wallpaper, nails – all of these may cost you a huge amount of money to replace if it’s wasted, but the important thing to keep in mind here is that all of them are indeed replaceable. Your health – your life – is not.
It’s okay if you wish to risk using materials that are not of Grade A quality as long as you are okay with the potential inconveniences and discomforts that normally accompany such a decision. Do so, however, only if it won’t be a risk to your safety.
To start with, be sure to gear up for safety when working on DIY renovations. Secondly, make sure that all your tools and equipment are indeed in working order and that you have studied or trained well to ensure that you know how to use them safely and properly.
Lastly, it’s fine if you wish to install used carpet tiles or cheap wallpaper, but it is definitely not okay if you use inferior wood, steel, and other materials for the foundation of your home.
Never start without a plan.
While this does not mean that you should always go by the rules, you should at least have a concrete and detailed plan to know where you are going and plan your next moves ahead of time. The best plans are also accompanied with timetables to ensure that you don’t waste too much time and money working on every stage of your DIY project.
When formulating your plan, be sure to keep the following tips in mind as well.
· Think of multitasking. If you need to break the walls of your foreclosed home open to install a new drywall, you should take advantage of this and use it to update the wiring in your home as well.
· Instead of buying tools and supplies on a per-need basis, make an estimate of how much of which supplies you need. This will allow you to enjoy discounted prices for bulk purchases.
Devise a budget.
Many things can go wrong when you leave the renovation project of your foreclosed home halfway done due to lack of money. As such, it’s better not to start something you cannot regularly work on or literally afford to finish.
Find out now how much the renovations are likely to cost. Determine next how you are going to obtain the funds for your home’s renovation. Lastly, start renovating only when you have more than enough money to meet all the likely and unlikely expenses.
Don’t take everything on.
DIY renovations do not mean you have to rely on yourself completely. It also means having to keep a practical head on your shoulders. If it would ultimately cost you less to hire a professional to perform a particular task then go for it!