How to save money on home renovations (even if you’re not handy)

I’m living proof that you don’t necessarily need handyman skills to save money on a home renovation. Here are some strategies anyone can use, with recommendations from general contractor Vince Spitale of Kitchen and Bath Guys in Toronto. 

Ask your contractor which tasks you can take on to cut costs

If you’re willing to take on some logistical work or even general labour, your contractor can give you a to-do list that will help save money. Spitale says some clients are comfortable doing their own demolition—taking down old cabinets, for example—which saves his crew time and reduces costs. There are other simple tasks you can take on too, like prepping a work site by laying down drop sheets to protect floors. “Remember, if you are not doing this, someone else is—and that translates into dollars.”

Even if you lack skills, there may still be jobs your family can handle themselves with clear instruction from a professional. Ask your contractor what you can take on yourself and what the savings will be; you may be pleasantly surprised. “On one occasion, we had to remove hardwood floors on the entire main floor of a house,” Spitale says, noting that pulling up boards, nails and staples can take hours. He suggested that the client spend a day tackling this job to cut costs. “He got a good set of knee pads and pliers and his two teenage sons, and they got to work!” 

Keep lines of communication open with your contractor—especially about your budget

Communication is a huge part of staying on budget, so make sure you hire a contractor who is reliable, communicative and budget-conscious. Besides interviewing them beforehand, look at customer feedback on HomeStars or Google reviews to determine if they’re reputable. “You want to make sure your contractor has a good understanding of where you need to be with spending,” Spitale says. “They should be able to anticipate any potential issues that could push the project over budget and, more importantly, explain them to you before the job starts.” 

Once you find a good communicator, talk over your plan together. According to Spitale, overlooking necessary steps, materials and timing is what often causes renovation projects to go over budget. To avoid creeping renovation costs, make sure you understand what’s required from you at every stage of your project. Have your contractor provide you with a list of materials needed in each stage of the renovation, allowing you to get one step ahead. When materials are on-site and ready to go, it keeps the renovation moving along quickly and prevents costly delays. “If you are able to facilitate a lot of the legwork involved in a project, this can present significant savings,” Spitale says. 

Be realistic with your budget, saving where you can but investing where it counts

Home owners should be realistic about what “on budget” really means to them. According to Spitale, if you’re within 10% of your original target, you’re in decent shape. Essentially, if you planned to spend $10,000 and your project comes in at $9,000 or $11,000, consider yourself on track.

Just like any other product, home renovation supplies are available at a wide variety of price points. When choosing materials like kitchen cabinets, tile, lighting or flooring, consider buying well-reviewed products from big-box stores instead of opting for more expensive custom or brand-name options. You don’t want to buy low-quality materials, but there are many well-made generic products that allow you to achieve a high-end look and durability for less. The same line of thinking applies to things like kitchen cabinetry, as you can cut the cost nearly in half if you opt for prefab over custom. As always, talk to your contractor, as they may be able to recommend specific products that meet your needs while allowing you to save money.

And remember that there’s always the opportunity to tweak your space down the road. You may want a high-end chef’s range, but if it’s out of budget, consider a more affordable option and remember that you can always upgrade it later. 

One place you should never compromise is behind the walls of your home. Always invest in high-quality electrical and plumbing materials, for example. “These will be more expensive to repair [later on] in the event of failure, as getting to them isn’t easy in most cases,” says Spitale. If you have to tear open a wall or floor to replace something you initially saved money on, those savings will likely be cancelled out by repair costs.

So, yes, it is possible to get a high-quality, beautiful renovation without breaking the bank. All you need is the right contractor, some foresight and a little elbow grease. 

Can I hold my contractor to a set price or timeline by legal contract?

A flat rate isn’t typical for a home renovation, but having a legal contract in place is definitely a best practice—and it benefits home owners and contractors alike, Spitale says. Any deviations or changes to the scope of work will affect the cost of a project, and with older homes in particular, you may come across surprises from previous renovations or issues hidden behind the walls. “We have a set document of terms and conditions that lays out how changes, delays, material cost increases and so on can impact the cost of the project.”

If you’re concerned about your timeline, you may wonder if it’s possible to incorporate completion dates into that contract. Generally speaking, this isn’t an option, Spitale says. “The reason it’s a ‘proposed’ schedule and not a firm one is because sometimes unforeseen circumstances arise and cause delays,” he explains. “Contractors rely on many trades, and occasionally, no matter how well scheduled, life happens—a flat tire, a babysitting issue, et cetera.” 

But that doesn’t necessarily mean that your contractor is going to take their time—Spitale says it’s actually in every contractor’s best interest to be on time. “Time is money. The longer they are at your job, the less money they’re making.” 

So what about a financial incentive to finish the job on time? It’s not common, and it’s probably not ideal for the home owner, since it means adding the cost of that on-time “bonus” to your reno. “I’ve never seen this practised,” Spitale says. 

Instead of trying to rewrite contracts around dates and exact costs, work with your contractor to stay on task and meet those deadlines. “If [home owners] are looking to finish in a timely manner, I tell them to have all of their materials on site,” says Spitale. “Making decisions before the project starts is key. When we sign a contract with a client, I make sure all decisions are made, and all material is either on site or will be by project start date.”

The bottom line: be well prepared and communicate regularly with your contractor, and you’ll probably save time and money in the end.

Read more about home renovations:

• How much does a backup power supply cost?
• Are home renovations tax-deductible in Canada?
• Real estate terms you should know
• How the 2024 federal budget will affect Canadians’ finances

About Erin Pepler

Erin Pepler is a freelance writer based in the Toronto area. A frequent contributor to MoneySense, she is also the author of Send Me Into The Woods Alone: Essays on Motherhood.