I'm going to build a home and need to cut the budget. What are the best ways to do that?

Answer 1

We are building and I've had good luck with getting the DEMOS from a display and they will usually sell to you super cheap as long as you can wait till display comes down -we got great cabinets and a couch and a sink for nearly nothing this way -patience was the key. Also got a great fridge from dent dept at Sears, I gave them my phone # and they called me as soon as a really nice model arrived with a small dent at the bottom. And Salvage, Salvage, Salvage! Estate sales are great too -I found the ones in the county better than the city as far as big stuff goes (paneling, tools) Good luck ~

Answer 2

We are building a home, and BOY it is hard to budget! The cost of building supplies seem to go up each week. We have bought some used items, from the newspaper and we are fortunate to have a builders exchange here. Perhaps you might too. It is where you can exchange any left over building materiel for something you need. Works out well for all.
We have learned probably the most important is to get a signed contract from you workers. Having a price down in writing, hold them to it!
If you are paying someone by the hour to do some work...STAY with them, record all their time, arrival...lunch...end of the day. Although I would like to think most people are honest, there are alot out there which are not.
Shop around...shop around...shop around!
Do what ever you can yourself...painting. drywall, taping whatever. The more you can do the more $ you save.
God Bless
Grandma

Answer 3

Here where I live in VA there is a Habitat For Humanity store that sells new and use building materials. Doors, windows, floor covering, lighting fixtures and cabinets, etc. and they are new. They also have a sale once a year to get rid of excess stock. Ask them about their return policy.... Also try doing the interior & exterior painting yourself that saves a lot of money. In the classifieds there are advertisements sometimes for new tubs and sinks as well as exterior doors. Make sure you have the perfect measurements for what ever you buy and that will save a lot of frustration. All the men in my house are commercial and residential builders and the one thing they say that drives the cost up on homes is the changes that the owners make during the process of building. People think it is only a little change, but a little change changes the inititial building plans. So make sure you know exactly what you want and go for it. One very important closing piece of advice ask around to people that have recently had homes built for references on contractors there are a lot of good ones but there are a lot of very bad ones. Good Luck!!!

Answer 4

I have had great success from doing a little price shopping. For example, glass tile is very expensive locally, like 20 bucks a square foot. But I found the same tile on-line for 7 bucks a square foot, source eBay. Brushed nickle waterfall bathroom faucet, locally 600 bucks, eBay 250. Home depot and Lowe's have great prices on there in-stock kitchen cabinets. You will have to design the kitchen around their standard sizes, we saved thousand on the kitchen. The best paint for the money is Kilz, you can buy that at Walmart, its really a one coat paint, especially with light colors. Lighting Lowe's or home depot has a good selection at great prices. Building materials, home depot has slightly lower prices then Lowe's. Price shop for the contractor too, if you haven't already found one, he must be willing to work with you to stay on budget. Make it VERY clear from the beginning you have to stay on budget and keep reminding him of that. Good Luck!

Answer 5

Do it yourself as much as possible. Home Depot and Lowe's offer free workshops to teach you how to do things. Also try buying the stuff wholesale. The highest retail mark up areas are kitchen, bath and flooring supplies. You can paint the house yourself and save money on what they will charge you for paint and labor. You can also sub -contract out the flooring if you are not talented in that area. Home Depot has possibly the lowest prices in carpet and are really good. I found that Lowe's is cheaper for appliances and most bathroom fixtures. If you want to do hardwood floors then try LumberLiquidators.com. They are very reasonable on their hardwood floors.

Answer 6

One of the best ways to save money in home buildings is by cutting the cost of materials.

For example, instead of making the walls out of brick, or wood, you could use cardboard. Instead of nails, use staples. Instead of metal pipes for your plumbing, try a garden hose.

With the money you'll save, you'll be able to afford the things that are truly important in life to you, and that's what really matters, after all.

Answer 7

The two places that are easiest to fluctuate in a budget are eating out and gas. Now I know that you can't quit driving but just limit the places you go and how many times you go out. And as always don't use the credit card, (if theres one at all) unless it is a REAL emergency.

Answer 8

Get plenty of estimates and do as much work as possible. If you are hiring out do not change you mind last minutes changes can be very costly. Don't finish off the basement right away. Go shoppping and look for items on discount.

Answer 9

Be your own general contractor, meaning hire contractors yourself, and purchase items yourself.

Do what you can yourself

Hire mexicans

Answer 10

be your own general contractor, it will be alot of work but you will save money