With the property market pretty slow in Naples, home improvement is gaining popularity. If families can’t sell their homes, they are spending money on improving them, or making them fit changing circumstances. Home renovation can seem like an expensive undertaking, and it can be, but it doesn’t always have to be that way.

There are plenty of ways to renovate your home without breaking you or the bank.

Plan exactly what you want to do, and how you want it to look. Having a good idea of the end result will help you and any contractor immensely when it comes to doing the work. Anything from a computer model to a collage of magazine or brochure cutting that helps build a picture of what you want will help immensely in the long run.

Determine in advance what parts of the project you can handle on your own and ensure you have the skills, equipment and materials to see it through. It generally costs more to have a contractor fix botched work than to have them do it from scratch. Include basic preparation in this plan. You can remove tiles, cabinets, carpets, light fittings, wallpaper and the like. By doing these kind of prep jobs yourself you can save quite a bit of money on labor costs. It is simple things like doing the prep yourself that can make or break a project like this. The more money you can save here, the more you have to spend on what really matters, extra finishes or fittings to make the project something extra.

Search carefully for financing options. If you need to borrow money to do the work, shop around for it. There are many lenders out there now clamouring for customers, and there are good deals to be had if your credit score is good.

If you’re going to use a contractor, get at least three quotes from three different firms. Compare the quotes carefully, especially the items and materials that are or are not included. These can cost dearly if not considered properly.

When choosing your contractor, don’t just go on quotations. Ask for references and check them! Don’t read their portfolio and leave it at that. You must ensure that whomever you entrust your money and home to is going to do a good job and not make things painful for you. Also ensure that the contractor will take care of any permits necessary for the work. Consider using a contractor that will let you source your own materials and provide them to them. Not all will go with this, sometimes because they factor in a little extra profit in material costs, but also because they have discounts or assured quality from other suppliers. It isn’t always necessary and will vary from contractor to contractor, but it is something worth bearing in mind.

Whatever the scope of your home renovation, proper planning and careful consideration before doing anything else, and during the project is your biggest and best way of saving money on it.