In 2018, Americans spent $6,649 on average in the past 12 months on home improvement projects.
That is a lot of money to spend on top of all the recurring expenses of owning a home.
But, you can save a lot of money on basic home repairs. Read on for 8 tips to learn how.
1. Do Home Repairs Yourself
One of the best ways that you can learn how to save cash at home is by doing basic home repairs yourself.
For most home repairs, the bulk of the cost comes from labor, not materials. So you could cut your repair bill in half by doing many home repairs yourself.
With the help of YouTube or other tutorials, there are many aspects of home improvement that you can confidently tackle on your own.
Check out this handy step-by-step guide to learn how to easily install vinyl floor tile yourself.
2. Repair Rather Than Replace
Similarly, whenever possible, repair rather than replace things around the house.
For example, if you have bent, clogged rain gutters, you could buy gutter guards instead of replacing the entire gutter. This will prevent the leaves and debris from weighing the gutters down at a fraction of the price of new gutters.
3. Shop Store Sales
In most cases, you know what home repairs you need to do ahead of time. One way to save money is by looking for sales.
Get in the habit of looking at home improvement store flyers. That way, when you see a discount on the materials you need, you can get them for less money.
Don’t forget to check big-box stores like Walmart as well as warehouse clubs like Sam’s Club.
Shopping around can save you a lot of dollars, especially if you need to buy in bulk.
4. Search for Manufacturer’s Rebates
You might be surprised to find that certain repair products and equipment sometimes have rebates from the manufacturer.
These rebates are incentives for consumers to choose specific products. Always check to see if there are any rebates before you buy. That’s one easy way to save money on home repairs.
5. Negotiate With Contractors
If there are jobs that you don’t have the skill to do yourself, you may be able to work out a deal with a contractor.
Contractors often have off-seasons during which they aren’t as busy. Contractors will be more willing to offer you a discount during times of the year when work is slow.
You could also work out a deal if you have multiple projects that you need a contractor to do. Remember, it doesn’t hurt to ask.
6. Use Recycled or Salvaged Materials
One of the best ways to save money is to repurpose materials for your home repairs.
These can either be free or much less money than brand new materials.
You can find a lot of materials at local stores that sell used home products such as doors, fixtures, vanities, mirrors, discount paint and tiles and more. Salvage yards and home rebuilding centers are treasure troves of materials.
Not only is it better for the environment, but it can also save you a lot of money. Often, these items are in excellent, practically new condition.
Home builders may sell off extra product when they complete a job or if they ordered too much stock. Or a homeowner may change his or her mind after purchasing products.
You can also look at sale sites such as Facebook Marketplace and Craigslist. You might find the perfect antique vanity or bookcase for less than half price of what you’d pay to buy it new.
Just remember to be careful about the source of your materials. You don’t want to buy anything with lead paint or from a home with asbestos.
Before you pick anything up, do some research to see the safety and health risks of that particular item.
Remember, using recycled, repurposed and salvaged materials means that you have to be creative. You may need to use raw materials in new ways. But that’s also the beauty of it.
You may find that you can create unique and custom pieces for your home for much less money this way.
7. Know When to Buy Brand New
At the same time, you also need to be wise about when it’s better to buy brand new.
Windows, for example, need to be energy efficient so you don’t waste money on heating and cooling your house. While you may be able to get single-pane, used windows for cheap, it may not be wise to.
Click Here to learn more about what to look for in good quality windows.
8. Find out If You Qualify for Tax Credits
Some home improvement projects qualify for a tax credit or deduction. Check the IRS website to see if any of your home repairs qualify.
You can also use an online calculator to see how much tax savings you can expect by performing a specific home repair or upgrade.
Energy efficient furnace, windows or low-flow toilets may all be items that save you money on your taxes. You might be surprised to see how much money you’ll save on this year’s taxes once that home repair project is complete.
Sometimes these tax credits more than pay for the cost of the project.
Bottom Line on How to Save Money on Home Repairs
As you can see, there are various ways you can save money on home repairs this year.
With some planning, a little research and some elbow grease you can do more home projects for less.
Are you thinking about renting out your home? Check out this guide on how to be lucrative landlords.