Whether you’re building a new house or updating your existing one, it’s important to keep costs under control whenever you’re doing residential construction. The lower you can keep the cost on your project, the more money you’ll have left over for other home improvements. Here are four ways to reduce your costs on residential construction jobs.
Get Competing Bids
At every stage of your project, be sure to get at least three bids from different contractors. If you simply have one contractor bid on a job, you may find yourself paying more than the project is worth without even realizing it. Getting competing estimates is a good way to get the best combination of price and quality possible.
If Possible, Pay Cash
While some residential construction jobs will require financing, it’s best to pay cash if you can. Paying the full sum for the project immediately will keep you from paying interest over time and adding to the total cost of the job. Working on a cash basis will also force you to constrain the project to fit your budget, which can keep you from letting it become too complex and costly. Once you begin financing a project, you’ll likely face a natural inclination to spend much more than you otherwise would have.
Buy Materials in Bulk
As with anything else, you’ll get a better price on construction materials when you buy in bulk. Working with a wholesale concrete supply company or wholesale lumber yard can help you get the best price on the raw materials for your project. If at all possible, avoid buying your materials in small batches since the total cost of the project will go up each time you do.
Be Willing to Change Your Plans
When you’re laying out your construction plan, there may have to be changes made to keep the price tag in check. From layout changes to avoid moving load-bearing walls to simply switching to more cost-effective materials, don’t be afraid to change your plans to stay within your budget. Even if you have to compromise a bit on your plan, you’ll prefer it to paying off a more expensive project over the next several years.
While residential construction is never cheap, these tips can at least help you keep the costs within reasonable bounds. If you put these simple ideas into practice for your next project, you’ll be able to save yourself a surprisingly large amount of money.