Renovating a part of your house is an exciting way to enjoy a new design, improve the functionality of your living space, and possibly even increase your home value. But this project can generate a lot of waste and be highly inefficient. If you want to protect the environment, save money, and make the most of your current home, it’s important to plan the project with efficiency in mind.
Environmental Efficiency
These measures can help you ensure you maximize energy efficiency during your renovation:
- Rent a dumpster. First, you’ll want to rent a dumpster, especially if you’re going to be demolishing entire rooms of your home. Oftentimes, renovation projects produce hundreds of pounds of waste; you’ll be getting rid of old countertops, old cabinets, and items you no longer need. It’s both convenient and clean to keep a dumpster on hand so you can dispose of everything all at once.
- Recycle what you can. In some cases, you may be able to resell or recycle the things you’re getting rid of. For example, you can sell your old refrigerator or strip it for components and reuse them. This is much better for the environment than simply disposing of it at a landfill.
- Invest in energy efficient appliances. If you’re renovating a kitchen, bathroom, laundry room, or something similar, you’ll have the opportunity to buy new appliances. If this is the case, try to buy energy efficient appliances. Modern appliances are often designed with efficiency elements in mind; they may use less electricity, less water, or less gas – and last longer as well.
- Beware of hazardous waste. Do understand that not everything can be simply thrown away. Certain types of hazardous waste, including paint and certain building materials, can’t be thrown into a dumpster and must be handled properly to protect the environment.
Time Efficiency
Your time is valuable. Handling the renovation in a shorter amount of time can help you achieve your other goals andwaste less time on the project:
- Plan in detail. You’re probably doing this already, but plan the project in detail. Make sure you do your research and understand the phases of the project, the things that could go wrong, and the sacrifices you’ll have to make along the way. The better you know this process, the more meticulously you can plan, and the fewer unpleasant surprises you’ll face when doing the renovating.
- Do everything at once. If you have a small budget or if you’re just not ready for a big commitment, you might think about doing piecemeal recommendations. However, it’s often more efficient to do everything at once. For example, if you’re planning on renovating the bathroom, you should give it a complete makeover rather than tackling the project one phase at a time.
- Hire a professional. While you can certainly save some money by doing the project yourself, if you’re inexperienced, your cost savings will likely be eclipsed by the amount of time you have to spend on the project. In most cases, you’re better off hiring a dedicated renovation professional to do the work.
- Have a backup plan. Finally, understand that some things are bound to go wrong. Be ready with a backup plan in case your primary plan falls through.
Money Efficiency
You’ll also need to think about the most efficient ways to spend your money. Renovations can often cost tens of thousands of dollars, so you’ll want to make sure to stretch every dollar as far as you can.
- Create a strict budget. Don’t optimize for your dream renovation and commit to spending whatever it costs. Instead, start with a strict budget and plan your renovation based on that budget. You’ll be much more selective this way.
- Pick the right materials. Your choice of building materials will have a major impact on the cost of renovation. Oftentimes, you can save money without sacrificing much just by changing your core materials.
- Do some of the work yourself. While it’s best to hire a professional team to tackle the majority of the renovation, there’s at least some work you can do on your own. For example, you might feel comfortable adding a fresh coat of paint on your own to save a few hundred dollars.
- Ask for potential discounts and sales. Don’t be shy about asking for sales and discounts. Some contractors are willing to offer a steep discount if you pay in cash, or they might have upcoming seasonal specials that greatly reduce their costs.
It takes a bit of effort to proactively plan an efficient household renovation, but the benefits will continue unfolding for years to come. You’ll keep the environment safer, you’ll save time, and you’ll save money – all while increasing the value of your home.