Whether you only have your bathroom renovated or the entire ground floor, a remodeling quickly costs a lot. Many people therefore think that remodeling is expensive by definition. Yet there are a number of things to do that will save you on your remodeling. How do you do this? View the ultimate saving tip list below.
1. Start with good planning
Good preparation is important for remodeling. This way you know what needs to be done and you avoid unforeseen costs. Include the following in your planning:
Description of the activities
- Materials to be used
- Time frame per project
- Total timeframe
- Budget per project
By putting your planning in a clear schedule, you make it easier for yourself. Ask specialists how long they will be working on their part of the remodeling so that you can easily fill in your schedule. In addition, ask them directly where they see opportunities to save in your plan, after all, they have been in the business for years. Here you will find a useful example of good remodeling planning.
2. Compare multiple offers
Before you start working with specialists, it is wise to request various quotations. Because there is a lot of competition on the market, prices for the same project vary completely, this can even be as high as 40%. In short, comparing pays off and the easiest way to do this is to compare multiple quotes. When comparing the quotes, please note this way you choose the specialist with the most attractive offer for you.
3. Find out about the average prices beforehand for a better negotiating position
In order to be able to assess the quotations properly, it is wise to get a good picture of the prices. Search the internet for articles about your project and look at average prices. View price guides for each project here . There are also many tools online with which you can calculate an indication of the costs of your project. This way you have a target price in mind and you know what to expect. If you know a little about the prices on the market, then you are stronger in negotiations, because there is always negotiable about the price.
4. Check subsidies
Are you going to make your home more sustainable? Then you are probably eligible for subsidies. The Dutch government is very busy making our country more sustainable and money has been made available for subsidies. These are sometimes national, but sometimes also differ per municipality. Via the Energy Subsidy Guide you can easily and quickly check for which subsidies you are eligible and the amount. For example, making your home more sustainable is a lot more attractive and cheaper. With a sustainable house you also increase the sales value of your house.
5. Take advantage of the reduced VAT rate from 21% to 9%
Did you know that the government has a reduced VAT rate for certain remodeling work? As a result, you do not pay 21% VAT, but only 9%. This saves a lot of money and is a good way to keep costs down. The reduced VAT rate applies to the following activities:
- Paint
- Stucco
- Isolate
- Wallpapering
Make sure that you meet the requirements of the reduced VAT rate. For example, the reduced rate for painting only applies to houses older than 2 years. View all conditions on the website of the Tax Authorities .
6. Be smart with materials
The materials used in your remodeling largely determine the total costs. By reusing materials, you save a lot on material costs. Often materials can be patched with a little attention and therefore still good to use. Consider, for example, tiles, planks, beams and doors. Please note that the materials will last for quite a few years. If you have to replace them again in a number of years, it will only be more expensive to reuse materials.
Materials cannot always be reused and sometimes new materials are therefore necessary. It is then advisable to purchase materials through a contractor. The contractor receives discounts on materials that you as a consumer do not receive. Ask your contractor if this is possible and an indication of the discount.
7. Help
An easy way to save on the costs of your remodeling is of course to do some of it yourself. For example, think of:
- preparing the remodeling by, for example, doing (partly) the demolition work yourself;
- to dispose of debris yourself;
- by making preparations so that the professional only comes for the actual work.
Make sure that there are good agreements with the specialist, so that no misunderstandings arise. Make a list of the activities that you carry out yourself and enclose this when requesting the quotation.
8. Take sustainable measures into account
Many people do not really have an image of the word ‘sustainable’, only the image that it is expensive. But is this image justified? No. All sustainable decisions you make ultimately reduce your energy bill. For this you first have to invest a little, but you will earn this amount back within a few years. After that, all you save is pure profit. By making your home more sustainable, you improve the energy label of your home and, as you read earlier, you increase the sales value of your home.
How do you make your home more sustainable? View a number of examples below:
- HR ++ glass
- Insulation
- HR ++ boiler
- Solar water heater
- Solar panels
- solar panels roof
9. Ask your neighbors if they are also interested in the project
Chances are that the neighbors have a house from the same year and may be ready for the remodeling you are working on. Professionals often work with a quantity discount if they can do multiple projects at one location, this is also more convenient for them. Therefore, ask neighbors if they are also interested in the project. This way you both enjoy an attractive discount.
10. Pay for the remodeling from your mortgage
Consider financing the remodeling from your mortgage. As a result, the remodeling costs are tax deductible and this can be attractive for your situation.
11. Choose a specialist in the area
If you go for a specialist in your region, chances are that you will not have to pay any call-out costs. If the specialist comes further from the country, then these are additional costs that are added. The amount differs per specialist but is on average around € 0.25 per kilometer. Another advantage is that the specialist from the region has a reputation to uphold.
12. Check if you need a building permit
Check whether your remodeling complies with the regulations. For some remodelings, a building permit is required, which you must request in advance. If you don’t do this, it can cost you a lot of money. Apply for the permit on time, this takes on average between 5 and 13 weeks. Check the website of the Environment Desk to see if you need a permit.
For every remodeling there are exceptions so that you do not need a permit, always take this into account to adjust your design slightly to save costs. The national government has produced a brochure about permit-free construction and remodeling.
13. Take the season into account
In the seasons when there is less demand for a particular project, the prices are always a lot lower. After all, the specialist wants to be at work all year round. Consider, for example, replacing your boiler in the summer and having your paintwork done by a winter painter in the winter .
14. Go for prefab instead of customization
As you can imagine, customizing is slightly more expensive than a prefab product that is assembled by machines in large numbers in the factory. This is also the case with your remodeling. For example, go for a prefab dormer instead of a custom-made one. This saves you considerable money and the quality is often the same.
15. Put all agreements in black on white
Avoid unexpected surprises by having all the agreements you make in writing. This way you and the specialist know exactly who stands where. If a conflict arises, you can always fall back on the agreements that you have both agreed to. Therefore, always sign on paper together with the specialist. This can all be included in the final quotation and / or in a remodeling agreement, for example. Important components are:
16. Cheap is often expensive
Finally, there are quite a few handymen in the Netherlands that offer their services at a very low price. These are often DIY companies from Eastern Europe that work seven days a week. Although this may seem like an attractive deal, the saying ‘cheap is expensive’ often applies here. If the completed work is not satisfactory, then you are out of luck and it will cost you extra money to have it repaired by a recognized company. Other disadvantages according to Attorney Search:
- no certainty that agreements made will be fulfilled, a possible contract often has no validity in court;
- in the event of leakage, fire or other damage, the insurer can reject a claim in whole or in part;
- if you had roof tiles replaced, but a roof tile has come loose and landed on the head of the neighbor, then there is a good chance that the liability will end up with you;
- no guarantee;
you are also liable to tax evasion if the tax authorities find out, which can result in a fine of up to € 4,000 per undeclared worker;
if you have borrowed money from the bank for your remodeling, your interest deduction may be at risk because the interest is only deductible if the loan has demonstrably been spent on the owner-occupied home.