💸 This is ONE of the ways we saved money on our Reno 🛠️🏡💵
Just sharing some of the steps we took after designing our home in SketchUp. I wanted to show a glimpse of the amount of prep work that happened behind the scenes before renovation even started 😮💨 Lots of spreadsheets, comparisons and planning — pretty intense Excel sessions LOL.
We compared 5–7 IDs and contractors before deciding who to go with. Cost was important, but so was finding someone we felt comfortable working with. Chemistry matters too — which is why meeting face-to-face at least once really helps.
These were the steps we took during our renovation journey. The whole selection and planning process took around 2–3 months, so starting early definitely helps.
✨ ✨ ✨ ✨ ✨
🔨 Step 1: Confirm your 3D Design
Lock in your design direction first before engaging contractors. It’ll make discussions much clearer and reduce unnecessary revisions later.
🔨 Step 2: Prepare a Scope of Works
List everything down clearly — carpentry, tiling, electrical works, painting, glass works, lighting, etc.
The more detailed you are upfront, the smoother things move later.
🔨 Step 3: Obtain 1 Master Quotation
📌 Be as specific as possible so you can get a detailed and concise cost breakdown.
📌 It’s often better to slightly over-design than under-design initially. This reduces variation orders later if you decide to add items after works begin.
🔨 Step 4: Compare Quotations
💰 One of the most important (and surprisingly fun) parts.
This is where you start seeing:
• Cost differences
• Company mark-ups
• Scope gaps between quotations
• Which contractor is pricing more aggressively
Don’t just compare the total amount — compare *what’s included*.
🔨 Step 5: Engage Sub-Contractors (if needed)
This is where you can source specialists for specific works.
Examples:
• Glass works
• Smart home systems
• Feature lighting
• Curtains / blinds
• Custom furniture
⚠️ Always check with your main contractor / ID first. They usually need to coordinate schedules to ensure everything runs smoothly.
🔨 Step 6: HAVE FUN!! 😆
Honestly… we probably had way too much fun building spreadsheets LOL.
Planning can feel overwhelming, but if you enjoy organising and seeing everything come together, this process can actually be really satisfying.
When embarking on a home renovation project, one crucial aspect often overlooked is how immensely detailed preparation can impact your budget and smooth execution. From my experience, spending considerable time upfront on designing your layout, like using SketchUp or similar 3D modeling software, sets a strong foundation. This not only clarifies your vision but significantly reduces costly changes later on. Creating a comprehensive Scope of Works document was a game changer. Detailing every aspect — from carpentry and tiling to electrical works and lighting fixtures — helped communicate exact needs to contractors and avoided scope gaps during quotation comparisons. I recommend using Excel or Word docs, enhanced with visual aids like Pinterest images or your 3D models, which contractors appreciate when understanding project complexity. Obtaining a master quotation for all items allowed me to standardize costs and clearly identify areas with pricing discrepancies. Don’t just look at total costs; analyze the breakdown to spot hidden mark-ups or missing elements between bids. This comparison revealed which contractors were offering the best value and alerted me to any scope trade-offs. Engaging subcontractors for specialized tasks such as glass works, smart home installations, or custom furniture sometimes resulted in better deals. However, this requires good coordination with your main contractor to maintain schedule and quality control. Be prepared to manage some logistics yourself, as subcontracting can be a bit challenging but rewarding both financially and in quality. One unexpected benefit was that these detailed preparations and comparisons transformed what many see as an overwhelming task into an enjoyable and satisfying process. Building spreadsheets and organizing info gave a clear sense of control and progress. In the end, thorough preparation not only saved us money but also made the renovation a positive experience worth sharing.
