1- Set your budget and plan for the unexpected

• Do some careful planning before you start. Be sure to research the project thoroughly, and make sure you have the time and money to see it through. In addition to budgeting for materials and supplies, be sure to set aside extra spending money for anything that could come up unexpectedly (for example: an indefinable large white thing in a bag at Home Depot)
• Don’t be afraid to ask for help. If you’re feeling overwhelmed by all of the steps your home improvement project requires, or feel like it’s too much money or too much work, bring in reinforcements. Look into hiring a contractor or handyman service — this might add a little extra cost on top of your existing budget, but at least there will likely be no more surprise costs popping up along the way!
• Don’t let yourself get overwhelmed by details. Make sure that as you research your project and plan it out, you’re allowing yourself space not just for finishing it but also enjoying life in between. It’s easy when working on something big like restoring old windows (because who knew?!) or building a new deck with their hands that people become so focused on getting things done quickly instead of making time for things like taking breaks from work when needed most importantly enjoying home improvements as they go!

2. Get multiple bids

Once you have your list of materials and tasks, it’s time to start contacting contractors. Give them a copy of the list and ask for a bid. It’s important that you get bids from at least three different contractors. That way, if one contractor is much more expensive than another, you can make sure that they’re using the same materials and labor in their bids. If you only get one bid, there’s no way to be sure that it isn’t inflated by an unreasonable amount. In addition to getting bids from multiple contractors, also make sure all of the bids are itemized lists—that is, lists with every item listed separately rather than just having a total cost for each task or group of tasks. Itemized lists will allow you to make sure that all of the contractors are charging similar amounts for each material or type of labor required for the job

3. Make a detailed, itemized list

Once you’re aware of the potential for overspending, it’s time to address it. To make a detailed, itemized list:

• Gather all the materials you’ll need for your project, and write them down in a spreadsheet or on paper.
• For every item, include its cost. If an item has different grades (e.g., paint comes in interior and exterior), choose which one suits your needs best and record that price.
• Make sure your list includes everything—even tools you may already have but need to pull out from storage or buy.

4. Remember that you’re in charge

As the person who has hired them, you’re in charge. No one else is. This means that you should be the one to set and enforce boundaries. If a contractor is being difficult, don’t let them push you around. If they won’t listen to your concerns and demands, fire them. You can also hire an architect or designer to act as a middleman between yourself and any contractors or builders on the job site—that way you’ll have someone else already on your side if any issues come up, and that person can keep tabs on progress and make sure everything goes smoothly while you focus on more important matters. As a final note: be sure to keep detailed records of every step of the process so that if something goes wrong, there’s proof it wasn’t entirely your fault!

5. Document everything

The final piece of advice is to document absolutely everything—and ask your contractor to do the same. Take pictures and keep copies of receipts, contracts, timesheets, lien waivers, etc. Don’t be afraid to ask for documentation from your contractor on a regular basis. Anything you can keep track of in writing will help if there’s ever a dispute between you and your contractor or subcontractor. Thanks for reading! I hope these tips help you steer clear of any unwanted surprises in the future!

6. Plan aheah

Planning ahead is one of the best ways to keep a home improvement project on budget. Planning ahead for a project will help you avoid mistakes that could wind up costing you more in the long run. For example, planning your paint colors at the beginning of the project will save you from having to repaint if you don’t like the color choice once it has been applied. When you plan ahead, it is easier to prepare for unexpected expenses and keep costs down because you are not rushing through any part of your project. If changes do come up as your project progresses, it will be easier to make adjustments when you have planned ahead rather than trying to catch up later in the process.

7. Keep open communication with all involved in the project, including neighbors

In addition to keeping your family updated and involved with the home improvement process, you should also keep your neighbors in the loop. Informing them of any construction noise or parking concerns will help build a relationship and make sure they aren’t caught by surprise. This can be a great way to meet people you otherwise wouldn’t have gotten to know. Don’t forget to ask for their input as well–maybe they have ideas that could make the whole project work better for everyone!

8. Hire a professional to do things you can’t do yourself

It’s always tempting to save some cash by doing things yourself, and home improvements are no different. While it’s possible to take on certain projects by yourself, others can be too difficult or time consuming for one person to handle. For example, if you have an electrical problem in your house, it may make sense to hire an electrician because of the high risk involved. If the project is only going to take a few minutes and cost less than $200, it probably won’t be worth it for the electrician to come out for just that small of a job. On the other hand, if you’re spending thousands of dollars on your renovation or remodel project or tackling a big project like adding outlets or new lighting in your house, hiring an electrician is almost always worth it because they will know how much work needs to be done before they start and what complications could arise during the process that could cost extra money down the road.

If a project goes over budget, try to have a fund set aside for it so that it doesn’t completely derail your financial plans.

There’s nothing worse than coming in under your budget on a project. If a renovation costs less than the total you’ve anticipated, be prepared to spend that extra money on something else you’ll enjoy. Will it be a new coffee table to match the new floors? Maybe some chairs to go with your newly refinished dining room table? If it’s not too late, perhaps you can even tack on an extra feature or two, like a wet bar or walk-in closet. There are so many ways to make good use of unplanned savings. Just make sure that you don’t completely lose track of your financial plans when this happens. Ultimately, home improvement projects can be stressful, but they don’t have to derail your entire life and budget if done right. But no matter how hard you try and how carefully you plan for everything to go perfectly according to schedule and cost, there will always be unexpected expenses that crop up from time to time—so make sure that you’re prepared for them by setting aside some money for them in advance