Did you just buy your first property? Are you currently planning for the renovation?
Whether you’re going for an upscale design or something more simple, budgeting is always the first thing you need to do.
At HOMA2u, we’ve seen homeowners waste tens of thousands of Ringgit just because of poor budget planning.
While a typical home renovation cost in Malaysia may easily cost between RM60,000 to RM150,000, it doesn’t necessarily mean you need to spend that much.
In this article, we’ll share 6 home renovation hacks that can help you to save over RM10,000.
Let’s dive in.
How to plan for your home renovation budget?
Before you begin ordering home accessories or signing contracts with designers, what’s more, important is to have a sound budget.
Here’s the first saving tip for you – draft up a budget first! Having a budget on hand and sticking to it will allow you to be mindful about your spending (so you won’t splurge on unnecessary stuff)
No idea where or how to start planning the budget? Follow HOMA2u’s home renovation checklist here:
- Identify your home’s must-have. What are the one or two things you must have in your home space?
- Map out your home design around your must-haves.
- Reinforce your design draft with inspiration (think Pinterest, renovation magazines, or Facebook groups in Malaysia)
- Now start drafting your budget based on what you already have.
- Time to ask for a quote. Engage with interior designers or contractors to get quotes and compare it against your budget. Always remember to ask more than 3. More is always better.
If you follow the steps we shared above, by then, you’ll definitely have a better idea about the budget range.
6 home renovation hacks you can follow to save money
Now that you have a solid budget range and you know what you really want, let’s get into some tips and tricks for your home renovation.
1 – Do-It-Yourself (DIY), if possible
Are you a hands-on person? Do you love the satisfaction of getting things done by yourself?
If you have the skills and experience with handling tools, why not take up some of the renovation works yourself?
Whether it’s installing a heavy mirror or laying down cement on the floor, these can definitely help save a lot.
Image Source: Tile Shower DIY
Not sure how to properly grout between the tiles, simply find your answers on Youtube! There are tons of free resources and guide over there.
The only downside is time.
If you don’t have the extra time or are unsure about the quality of the work, then it’ll be best to leave it to the professionals. However, if you’re confident then, by all means, go ahead.
2 – Source your own materials
A lot of the time if you work with an interior designer (ID), he or she will already have a pool of internal contractors that the designer usually works with.
What this means for you is that it’s easier and faster for the ID to source raw materials. Sometimes you’ll also get a better deal out of this because they might have an agreement to work long-term.
However, some homeowners may prefer to source the materials on their own because it’s cheaper for them. They cut out the middleman!
A great example would be buying leftover branded tiles from HOMA2u.
These tiles are leftover by big construction companies because they overordered the tiles.
HOMA2u is able to buy the tiles straight from the construction site and at a cheaper rate. Then we’ll resell them at an affordable price – which in turn result in more savings for an everyday homeowner like you!
So, if you did your calculations and after comparing quotes, buying materials make more sense to you financially, then buy your own materials.
Need more guides on choosing your own tiles? Maybe you’ll find these resources useful too:
3. Plan your electrical points properly
Now to the more technical part – planning for the electrical points of your new home.
A typical home design in Malaysia must consist of electrical appliances such as a coffee machine, water dispenser, air purifier, PS5, internet modem, phone chargers, and more!
Having a proper power points plan will help avoid unnecessary rewiring works in the future. What you can do here is to communicate properly with your electrician or contractors about the requirements of your home.
Make sure the wiring and electrical plans align with your home needs.
Image Source: 11 Magnolia Lane
One of the most common questions we’d received from homeowners: when should I consider a rewiring makeover?
Only do it if you’re buying a sub sale property as the existing wiring might be old already. And you wouldn’t want to risk your house catching a fire because of damaged wire. A complete rewiring work will definitely help save more in the long run.
Protip: To save more, consider having the power points, devices, and/or lights installed on the same circuit. This is so you shut them off easily when not in use and will at least reduce the hassle of tearing out built-ins or replacing hidden and aging wires.
4. Only consider new furniture that you need
While it is exciting to pick new furniture for your new home, this is also exactly the part where your budget could go out of control.
Do you know furniture usually cost 50% to 70% of the total renovation cost per living space (e.g a kitchen space, bathroom space, etc)?
Always ask yourself: Do I need this piece of furniture in my new home?
If the answer is no, then it’s better for you to put your money elsewhere. And if you really need to buy a new one, maybe you could consider buying second-hand furniture as well.
5. Apply natural ventilation to your home.
Image Source: Home World Design
Here’s a good design tip for you: plan your home layout to allow for more natural lighting and ventilation.
This will in turn help you cut down on air conditioning costs!
What’s more? Having a good ventilation system in your home can help reduce moisture, prevent molding on the tiles or furniture, remove odor and airborne particles in the space, and more.
The cost savings that come from these are endless. And what other way to design your home ventilation nonother than using ventilation blocks!
Here are some selections below RM3.50 at HOMA2u:
- Ventilation Block HM11.160 – RM3.50 per unit.
6. Use energy-saving electrical appliances
You must have seen this label before, 4- or 5-star electrical appliances.
Image Source: ST Gov MY
Electrical appliances having such labels on them meant more energy-saving, as compared to those without the label.
What this means for you is that you can save on your electricity bills. While the upfront costs of buying them may be higher, in the long run, you can save more with energy-efficient appliances.
Energy-saving appliances you can consider include air-conditioners, air purifiers, ceiling fans, stand fans, refrigerators, water heaters, and more.
Do not rush and always compare quotations.
That’s all for our renovation hacks to help you save on your home renovation!
One last tip for you – do not rush and always compare your options.
As shared in one of the points above, try to get at least 3 quotations before you make any major decisions or hire anyone to work on your home renovation projects.
Do you find the tips we shared useful? What are the other renovation hacks you’ve tried before? Share with us in the comment section below!
