Audrey
Meet Anna and Jake, a couple with a cozy home in need of a modern touch. They dreamed of sleek countertops, a sunlit reading nook, and a backyard haven for their two dogs. But before diving into this renovation journey, they knew they had to face the intimidating task of crunching numbers and setting a budget.
In this guide, we’ll explore various financing avenues like home equity and contractor financing, alongside practical budgeting tips. Our goal is to equip you with the strategies to help you achieve a dream home without breaking the bank.
Where Do You Stand Financially?
Before you can dive into renovating your home, you must assess your financial situation and set a budget. These steps can help focus the scope of your project to ensure you can make the necessary upgrades without straining yourself financially.
The cost of home renovations can vary significantly based on the scope and location of the project. However, on average, a complete house renovation costs between $44,000 to $75,000.
Most homeowners opt to tackle one project at a time to save money or if they have a low budget. Here are some cost ranges for individual projects:
- Low-end, basic remodel: $16,000 to $48,000
- Mid-range renovation: $48,000 to $75,000
- High-end remodel: $85,000 to $200,000 or more
10 Tips for Smart Financing
Let’s now take a look at several different tips for financing your home renovations.
Start With a Detailed Budget
Home renovations are a fantastic way to add value to your home and enhance your living space. However, without a well-thought-out budget, what started as a dream project can quickly turn into a financial nightmare.
Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you budget for your renovation project effectively:
- Define Your Renovation Goals: List all the renovations you aspire to achieve, then categorize them into ‘needs’ (essential) and ‘wants’ (desirable). Assess the impact and necessity of each project. Prioritize them, considering factors such as urgency, value addition to your home, and personal preferences.
- Assess Your Financial Health: Review your savings, income, and existing financial obligations to ascertain a comfortable budget range. Include a contingency of 15% to 20% for unforeseen expenses, a common occurrence in renovation projects.
- Research Costs and Contractors: Obtain multiple quotes from reputable contractors to get a realistic view of labor and material costs. Ensure quotes are itemized to understand the cost breakdown better.
- Explore Financing Options: If you plan to finance the renovation through loans, ensure your credit score is in good standing to qualify for favorable loan terms, rates, and amounts.
Explore Home Equity Financing Options
Tapping into your savings is definitely one way of financing your home renovations. However, if you need a supplemental cash boost, home equity financing is a viable option.
A home equity loan (HEL) operates similarly to a traditional loan, where a lump sum is provided upfront, and the borrower repays the loan over a set period at a fixed interest rate. The amount you can borrow through a HEL is largely based on the amount of equity you have in your home.
Equity refers to the difference between the current market value of your property and the amount you owe on any mortgages or other liens against the property. It’s essentially the portion of your home that you own outright.
Lenders often allow you to borrow a certain percentage of your home’s equity, commonly up to 80% to 85%, though some lenders may offer more. Loan terms can range from five to 30 years, with fixed interest rates between 3.5% and 5.5%.
Another option is a home equity line of credit (HELOC), which offers a revolving line of credit similar to a credit card. Instead of receiving a lump sum, homeowners will have a set limit that they can borrow from as needed. HELOCs are beneficial for projects that might fluctuate in price, as homeowners won’t need to reapply for financing.
Similar to home equity loans, the borrowing limit is significantly influenced by your home equity. Interest rates are variable, starting around 5.25%, but can be changed to a fixed rate. Homeowners will only need to pay interest on the amount they borrow, not the entire amount. Repayment periods may not be as long as HELs but may range up to a few years.
Lenders offering both types of financing will often require that homeowners have at least 15% to 20% equity in their homes to qualify.
The funds from a HEL and HELOC can be used for a variety of home improvements, including:
- Structural improvements for roofs and foundations
- Room additions and expansions
- Kitchen and bathroom remodels
- Energy-efficient and smart home upgrades
- Outdoor and landscaping projects
- Accessibility improvements
- System updates for HVAC, plumbing, and electrical
Find a Contractor with Financing
Financing a home renovation can be a challenge, especially for budget-conscious homeowners. Contractor financing offers a simple alternative to traditional bank loans, making it easier to fund your home improvement project.
With contractor financing, you can obtain funding directly from the contractor handling the renovation. While not all contractors offer this service, many provide financing options to their clients, adding a level of convenience to the process.
Contractors may offer a range of financing solutions, such as installment loans, lines of credit, or personalized payment plans. The specifics, like loan amounts, terms, and interest rates, are tailored based on both the contractor’s offerings and your financial situation.
Typically, contractor financing provides loan amounts between $1,000 to $500,000, with terms from two to 12 years and competitive interest rates starting as low as 4%.
Some contractors partner with third-party financing providers, offering a wider range of loan options. This partnership can cater to different credit scores, increasing the chances of finding a fitting financial solution for your renovation project.
Pursue Local and Federal Grants
With the backing of government grants and rebates, upgrading your home becomes financially more feasible. Offered by federal, state, or local governments, these grants assist homeowners with the costs of repairing, upgrading, or improving their homes, and they don’t need to be repaid.
You can find these grants through the Housing and Urban Development (HUD) office, the National Residential Improvement Association (NRIA), or local government offices.
Here are some grants to consider:
- Section 504 Home Repair Program: Ideal for low-income, elderly, and disabled homeowners, this program provides funds for essential repairs and modernization of single-family homes.
- VA Specially Adapted Housing Grant: Veterans with service-related disabilities can access up to $109,986 for home accessibility projects.
- Native American Housing Improvement Program: Members of indigenous tribes can receive up to $60,000 for home repairs and renovations to bring their homes up to code.
- Area Agency on Aging: Senior homeowners can access funds to make their homes safer and more comfortable, thanks to this program backed by HUD.
Adopt a Phased Renovation Approach
Another budget-friendly strategy that can allow homeowners to save on the costs of renovations is adopting a phased approach. A phased renovation approach is when homeowners spread out the renovation process over several stages, tackling one project at a time.
Here’s a closer look at a phased renovation approach and its phases:
- Critical Repairs Phase: Tackle urgent repairs that demand immediate attention to prevent further damage and additional costs down the line.
- Examples:
- Electrical issues
- Plumbing repairs
- Examples:
- Functional Upgrades Phase: Focus on projects that will improve the functionality and usability of your home. Opt for renovations that provide the best value for your investment.
- Examples:
- Remodeling the kitchen with a more efficient layout
- Upgrading bathrooms to lower utility costs and water usage
- Examples:
- Aesthetic Enhancements Phase: Now shift your focus to projects that will enhance the visual appeal of your home. Consider cost-effective updates like a fresh coat of paint, which can transform the look of your home without a hefty price tag.
- Examples:
- Painting walls and ceilings
- Replacing old flooring with a fresh, modern alternative
- Examples:
- Energy Efficiency and Technical Integration Phase: Incorporate energy-efficient appliances and fixtures that can provide long-term savings on utility bills.
- Examples:
- Replacing old windows for better insulation
- Installing smart thermostats to better regulate heating and cooling
- Examples:
- Evaluation Phase: After each phase, assess the quality of work, ensuring it meets your expectations and stays within budget. Use the insights gained from completed phases to better plan and budget for the next one.
DIY and Save on Select Projects
For homeowners eyeing cost-effective solutions to home renovations, the DIY (Do-It-Yourself) route is an option. It not only provides a significant saving opportunity but also a sense of personal accomplishment in seeing your efforts transform your home.
Some projects lend themselves well to the DIY approach, including:
- Painting
- Shelving installation
- Landscaping
- Tiling
- Backsplash installation
- Replacing hardware like knobs, handles, and faucets
- Flooring installation
Certain projects carry inherent risks or require specialized knowledge, making them unsuitable for DIY. These include:
- Electrical and plumbing work
- Roofing
- HVAC installation and repairs
- Permit-required projects
- Foundation repairs
To kickstart your DIY project tap into a wealth of learning resources, including:
- Online Tutorials and Workshops: Platforms like YouTube or DIY-centric websites host a plethora of tutorials. Moreover, online workshops on platforms like Udemy or Coursera offer structured learning.
- Local Workshops: Check out local hardware stores or community centers that might offer hands-on workshops.
- Books and Magazines: Traditional resources like DIY books or home improvement magazines are rich with ideas and guidance.
- Online Forums: Engage in online DIY communities to seek advice, share your projects, and learn from others’ experiences.
On average, a home improvement project carried out by professionals costs about $6,352, while the same project executed as a DIY task costs approximately $2,502.
Regularly Review and Adjust Financial Plans
It is also important that you review your plans on a regular basis and make sure that you are on track in your spending. As any number of factors can change along the way, you will probably find that you need to make small adjustments to some of the amounts.
There could be multiple reasons for this: the cost of materials could change, you could find that there are extra parts you need (or perhaps can do without), etc. It is always good to check your progress to ensure that your allotted budget is right.
Safeguard with Insurance and Warranties
When venturing into home renovations, having a safety net in the form of insurance and warranties is a prudent step. These safeguards not only provide financial protection but also peace of mind as you enhance your living space.
Insurance and warranties range between $30 and $70 a month and cover many repair or replacement costs. Here are some options you can consider:
- Builder’s risk insurance covers damage to the home and materials and is most suitable for large-scale projects.
- Homeowner’s insurance rider extends your current homeowner’s insurance to cover renovations, which can be ideal for smaller projects.
- Contractor warranties cover defects in workmanship and materials.
- Home warranty plans cover repair or replacement costs of major systems and appliances, acting as a long-term safeguard post-renovation.
Final Recommendations
Whatever home improvement renovations you have in mind, there can be a financing option out there for you. Just be sure to start by assessing your finances and setting a budget.
Then, set a reasonable timeline and consider what the most cost-effective options are for your circumstances. In the end, you will be able to enjoy your newly renovated home and know that you’ve gotten the best value for your money.
