5 Tips on Where to Save, When to Splurge on Your Home Renovation

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Where to Save and When to Splurge

Home Renovations can transform homes from drab to fab. However, not many of us have unlimited funds so we need to make decisions on where to spend to make sure we are getting ‘best bang for our buck’.

Suzanne went further, acknowledging ‘not money of us can afford to spend from an unlimited amount of money, so knowing where to be savvy with where you decide to spend up, and where you can save comes down to making smart choices. By making smart decisions about selections and fittings, you can save a heap of money, while still getting a great home renovation. Suzanne has put together her top five tips on where to save and when to splurge on your home renovation.


Home renovation by Amerex Renovations and Additions featuring a stunning kitchen makeover.

Tip 1 | SPLURGE | Stone Benchtop in the Kitchen

By far and away, a stone benchtop is an absolute must. If you can only afford to spend up on one splurge item then this is it. I would say that almost 100% of our clients are choosing natural stone benchtops in their home renovation and extension projects nowadays. They have simply set the benchmark for quality homes.

Why are they so popular? They look good, feel nice to touch and with durability and longevity on their side, they will continue to provide style and class to your home for years to come.

They are easy to look after and if and when the time comes to sell your home, a great kitchen is one of the big ticket items that many home buyers are looking for. It stands to reason then that a stone benchtop will contribute to the value of your home both now and into the future.

Tip 2 | SPLURGE | Quality Fixtures in Kitchens

Kitchens are the hub of the home and scrimping on costs on this room is something that you will regret later on. If your kitchen does not stand the test of time due to poor quality finishes and fixtures, it may limit the resale value of your home.

Your kitchen is used every day and needs good quality fixtures, appliances and finishes to withstand the treatment it will get. Spend here and thank yourself later.

Quality choices mean that you won’t be stuck with replacing tap ware or repairing your cheap appliances in just a couple of short years. This could you more over time than if you had chosen better quality in the first place!

Tip 3 | SPLURGE AND SAVE | Home Security: Spend now and Save Later

If you don’t have home security, get it. If you are about to undertake a home renovation, there is a good chance you will need to perform electrical work too.

This provides you with the perfect opportunity to build in security at the same time as other electrical work. Doing it at the same time will be less expensive that fitting at a later time.

Not only that, but an effective security system will save you money in the long-term while providing you and your family with great peace of mind. You cannot put a price on keeping your family, possessions and home safe. So while this will initially cost money to set up and install, it will save you in so many ways. Including savings on insurance claims for theft and damage (which often leave you out of pocket), and also help prevent a break-in to your home, saving you from the stress, inconvenience and emotional trauma that this can cause.

Tip 4 | SAVE | Bathroom Tiles Do Not need to Bust the Budget

Bathroom tiles can look great without being expensive. Seek out the assistance of a local tiling company or interior designer who can help you to design and select tile patterns and colours to match your style, without costing you a fortune.

There are often sales where you may be able to get premium quality tiles at a discounted rate. Tiles are often reduced to clear the last remaining stock, so a word of caution, make sure there is enough stock to meet your needs, while also allowing for wastage. If you get close to the end of your renovation and do not have enough tiles and need to order more, chances are they may come from a different batch, so you may find that the colour or texture may vary and therefore not match your existing tiles.

Tip 5 | SAVE | Choose Appliances with High Energy Ratings

By choosing appliances such as dishwashers, washing machines, dryers, refrigerators and freezers with a high energy rating you can save on future electricity bills. You will need to balance out the purchase cost with the long-term savings to make sure that you end up in front.

Ideally you will find a find an affordable appliance that also has a high energy rating so that you are winning on both fronts. With energy bills seemingly on the rise everywhere, this is a smart idea to save you money on an ongoing basis. Choose wisely now and thank yourself over and over in the years to come when those bills roll in.

In Summary

Smart choices and a blend of both splurge and save items for your home renovation can really deliver great ‘bang for you buck’ in your home renovation.

Think beyond the immediate cost of an item and factor in the long term benefits and rewards too. Sometimes spending more for an item initially will deliver cost savings in the future!

We talk to Suzanne Burke, the General Manager at award-winning renovation company Amerex Renovations and Additions who said ‘Doing an entire renovation on the cheap is not recommended and can look terrible and even devalue your home instead of adding value’.

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Using Marble In Your Home Design

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Using Marble In Your Home Design

Image Source: https://pixabay.com/photo-3689922/

This article was written by Culpan & Company.

Building the custom home of your dreams is an exciting but extremely involved process. There are a wide variety of things to consider and hundreds of choices to be made. That’s why your input is so valuable to the custom home builder you’re working with. Once you settle on an overall design, you’ll need to start thinking about the smaller details like what kinds of materials you want used for impactful features. That’s why it’s important to consider the many key benefits of incorporating marble into your custom home design.

Using Marble As a Building Material

While it may not be the first material that comes to mind when building a custom home, marble has been historically used as one of the most beautiful and lasting materials in the world. In fact, it has been used to create numerous well-known statues, buildings, and more. If you’re searching for ways to leave a lasting mark on family and friends while increasing the value of your home, it’s important to consider adding a number of marble features in your custom home design.

Durability & Longevity

First and foremost, marble is a popular choice due to its durability in a wide variety of conditions. In fact, many historical structures worldwide have lasted hundreds of years and still stand today in pristine condition. This makes it the ideal material for various home construction aspects, especially indoor features. Even more, when you don’t have to worry about the elements, you can feel good knowing your features will last a long time while looking as beautiful as the day they were installed.

Unique Look & Feel

As one of the most recognizable materials in the world, marble comes in a variety of shades and colours. Even basic white, marble will catch the eye of your visitors instantly. That’s because it glistens under any light while creating a smooth surface, making it the ideal material for your bathroom, kitchen, and other areas of your home. It also comes in a variety of shades and colours, providing you with more flexibility in terms of overall design.

Crafted Home Features

Typically, marble is sourced from large quarries in large slabs that can be crafted into distinct designs by specialty craftsman. Because of its versatility, it can be displayed in a wide variety of ways around your home. These include:

Fireplaces

As a durable material in extreme temperatures, marble can be crafted into an elegant fireplace surround. With the ability to engrave custom designs, marble is the perfect choice for those who want to include intricate, unique features into their home design.

Countertops

Due to its exceptional heat resistance, marble countertops are a favourite among those who love to cook. Stunningly beautiful it’s also resistant to scratches, breaking, and cracks making it a great choice over other countertop materials.

Columns

When it comes to historical structures, marble columns are found in some of the most famous and recognizable buildings in the world. As a reliable building material, marble columns create a luxurious and classic atmosphere inside your custom home.

Stairs

If you really want to wow your visitors, adding a marble staircase can leave a lasting, powerful impression. Even better, you won’t have to worry about any wear and tear that’s common with wood-based stairs or pesky creaking in changing weather conditions.

Elevate Your Custom Home’s Decor

Given its ability to come in a wide variety of shades and gradients, marble is the ideal home building material. If you want to elevate the decor of your custom home, it’s important to have your custom home builder reach out to a leading provider of quality marble products with your personalized design and ideas in mind.

 

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