Many hopeful homebuyers seek to save money by buying a fixer-upper and doing most of the renovations themselves. This is a proven method for those who have a knack for home improvement and aren’t afraid to get their hands dirty.

However, estimating the cost of a remodel can be difficult. There are many costs you may not be aware of, and others that are easy to go over budget on.

In this article, we’re going to talk about the cost of an average remodel, and some lesser-known costs that you might be forgetting to factor into your budget.

Average remodeling costs

As you might guess, the cost of a remodel can vary greatly. Things like the size of the home, the number of rooms you’re remodeling, and the type of repairs you’ll be making all factor into the equation.

Some repairs can be quite costly. Septic system replacements can cost several thousands of dollars depending on the type of system you need. And, if you’re buying an old home, you’ll need to look out for expensive fixes like asbestos removal and foundation damage.

According to one report, most Americans spent between $17,000 and $61,000 on their remodel, with the average renovation cost being around $37,000.

If you’re hiring a contractor for the bulk of your remodel, expect them to charge between 10% and 15% of the total cost.

Lesser known costs of a home renovation

Remodeling a home isn’t as simple as looking up a contractor and telling them to give you the bill once it’s finished, and that’s probably a good thing because odds are you would be shocked by the cost.

First, you’ll pay a contractor to do a walkthrough and estimate costs. Next, you’ll need to get any permits that are required for your renovations.

If you plan on doing the renovations yourself, there are a few costs you’ll need to consider. First, understand that you likely won’t be able to take advantage of all of the discounts that contractors can, meaning your building materials may be more expensive than expected. Similarly, the cost of tools for the project adds up quickly. And, when you make mistakes--we all do, we’re only human--you’ll be paying for it out of pocket.

Knowing your long term goals

An important consideration for a remodel is to look toward the future. Do you want to sell your home within the next few years? If so, you might consider going with less expensive materials--such as generic kitchen cabinets rather than custom-built--to save money while still increasing the value of the home.

However, if you plan on being in this home for decades or more, it may be worth the extra money now to make sure you are happy with your home for years to come.

Remodeling a home can be a memorable and rewarding endeavor. You get the chance to take a house that you see potential in and make it truly your own. Now that you know the costs, you’ll be better prepared for planning your home renovation.

No matter what color the rest of your house, utilizing a crisp white paint to trim, augment, or refresh areas of your home can add that shabby chic or authentic standout farmhouse vibe. White comes in dozens of shades with various reflective properties. Here are a few areas to use white and the correct white to get your desired result.

• Outdoors: No matter if your house is clad with siding, brick or stucco, crisp white trim around the windows and doors, and even on the eaves brightens up everything. Or, think about adding a beautiful white pergola to shade your patio or a white trimmed deck. Or keep the deck au natural but add a chic white farmhouse table and benches. Let it sparkle with bright white fairy lights for a romantic outdoor evening. In the front, the porch pillars and rails enliven the whole entry.
• Built-ins. Whether they be bookshelves or cabinets, create a lovely monochromatic look with matte white walls and glossy built-ins. Let them seamless blend with a nearby white brick fireplace or pop from a contrasting statement wall. Add drama to the look with white sculptures, vases, and candlesticks.
• Freestanding bookshelves also lend themselves to a semi-gloss white for drama or a sleek satin finish to give it that ultramodern flair.
• Create a bright white sunroom in soft matte white to create a warm and cozy space. Cover windows with white voile curtains and furnish the room with shabby chic sofas and benches.
• Give an old bed a new look. Paint a vintage head- and footboard white, then scuff them up to bring on the aged look. Top it off with a white-on-white coverlet and white pillows of various textures for an edgier mix.
• If your home has alcoves, consider painting the back or sides in a beautiful flat white. The distinction of white nooks against a colored wall lets your display area make a statement.
• And speaking of display areas, paint a vintage display case white and showcase your family heirlooms.
• Consider white floating shelves above the sofa or to create a spectacular wall. Shabby chic shelves support antiques well, while pristine modern shelving perfectly captures black and white photos in frames leaning against the wall in stacks.
• In the kitchen, consider a white marble island paired with ultra-black quartz countertops. Of paint the base white to brighten up the center of the cooking area. If you are renovating cabinets, covering over the dark wood stain with gorgeous semi-gloss white makes a ho-hum kitchen into an inviting open space.
• Mix a crisp white countertop with white subway tiles, and white cabinets for a truly streamlined look.
• A different take on white, whitewash is a hint of white on wood that allows the grain to show through. Use this finish to give industrial shelving or shiplap a rustic vibe.
• Finally, use white on white to make a small bath appear larger. White tile, white counters, white fixtures, and white walls contrasted with bright details makes any bath a welcome sight.

Most any room lends itself to a white makeover, so if you’re looking for a change, try white. If you’re thinking about selling, trimming up with white could be just the clean slate your buyers are looking for, so talk to your real estate professional about it.

The shed is a space that’s useful for storing tools and equipment; homeowners who have a lovely garden they maintain themselves might not pay any attention to their shed after use. The shed is useful if appropriately used and organized, making it easier to find and locate tools when needed. During the spring and summer period, homeowners use the shed more often. The period before winter, homeowners should ensure they have their shed adequately arranged and organized to avoid staying out in the cold looking for a snow shovel.

To arrange your shed is not a difficult task, and you can do it in no time if you follow the steps highlighted below.

Install A Track

Installing a track in your shed is a great way to keep tools of different size organized and easy to locate. Mounting it reasonably high above the ground would create room on the floor and also make it difficult for kids to have access to tools. The track is easy to install making it ideal for your shed. 

Create An External Cupboard

When it comes to storing tools and gardening equipment, cabinets and cupboards come in handy. Installing a garden cupboard to hold supply you often use outside your shed is a smart way to keep your shed organized while making it easy to access tools regularly used. External cupboards outside help free space inside the shed and make cleanup easier. 

Consider Pegboards

Pegboards is a great way to keep things organized within and outside your shed. Install pegboards on your wall, make use of the right hooks and attachment and your wall would turn out as arranged as you want it to look. Making use of the pegboards keeps Smaller tools like your hand shovel and spanners in a place and off the floor. For an additional solution, label each part according to the tool type–makes it easier to locate items. 

Jars For Smaller Items

Smaller tools like nails and screws might cause a problem when you need to locate. For a complete organization, devices such as this should fit inside jars just at the bottom end of a shelf inside the shed. Depending on the size of the tool, jar containers can vary in sizes. Ensure each jar is appropriately labeled to avoid mixing up items. 

Magnetic Strips

Using a magnetic strip is a unique way to keep your tool organized and properly stored. Metallic items need not remain on the floor anymore, free up floor space with the use of magnetic strips and hangers. 

The steps detailed above are great ways to organize your shed, making it convenient and easy to locate tools and items at no cost to you.