High-end finishes on a budget?
Yes, it can most certainly be done. We’ve spent hours sourcing materials, and we’ve scoured the web for the best deals. There’s also been a lot of behind-the-scenes research. But, I’m happy to report that it IS POSSIBLE to fill your home with high-end finishes even if you’re on a tight budget. Our home renovation is living proof.
This reno started out like any other project. We had a list of hopes + dreams for the space, we met with multiple contractors and then we got slapped across the face with a huge renovation estimate. Guys, it’s so expensive to build, remodel or renovate a home. The cost of materials and labor quickly adds up. Before you know it, you risk having to compromise just to make ends meet.
Rather than skimp on the design details that can truly transform a home, we’ve decided to invest our time into finding high-end finishes that do fit within our budget. Here’s exactly how we’ve made it happen:
Window Shopping In-Store
This is the best way to see things in person and decide what you really like. Think knobs + pulls for your cabinetry, appliances, flooring/tile, paint colors and faucets/fixtures for bathrooms. I love being able to open, touch or get a feel for these products before making the decision to include them in our design.
Be sure to take notes and take pictures while you’re out and about–you’ll want to include specific details like color, finish or model number. It will be your point of reference when you go to make the purchase later. Often times, the best deals are online.
Hello, eBay
I owe all the props to Jake for this one. He’s been an avid buyer + seller on the site for the last 10+ years! Thanks to his loyalty, we’ve found all of our high-end bathroom fixtures and faucets on eBay. They’re in new, perfect condition, AND we purchased them for a fraction of the cost.
Since we already did our homework (aka in-store window shopping), we knew exactly what we wanted. All it took then was a few simple clicks, and our high-end bathroom finishes were en route to the job site.
Discontinued Product
Do you watch HGTV’s Flip or Flop Vegas? The couple on the show ALWAYS asks about discontinued product. It’s a great way to scoop up high-end finishes at a deep discount. For example, we found a terrazzo tile product that we wanted to use in our basement. But, the cost per square foot was way above our price range. I’m talking at least five times what we could afford to pay.
Instead of blowing our budget on the basement flooring, we looked through their discontinued product list. This tile was just as beautiful, and the discontinued options were very similar to current terrazzo styles they had for sale at full price. The only catch was that quantities were limited. Luckily, we found a discontinued tile that was just a shade darker than the full price tile I originally picked out. They even had enough of it still in stock!
This simple switch saved our budget, and we still got the high-end terrazzo tile we wanted as our basement flooring. I’d say that’s a win, win.
Price-Matching at Lowe’s
You read that right. Lowe’s Home Improvement price matches. We scooped up few odds and ends like light fixtures, smart home technology and electrical outlets after finding great prices online.
Make sure you have proof of the prices for each item you intend to price match. Just hop on your smart phone, and pull up the product you found for a cheaper price. FYI: We found a lot of great prices via Amazon. The Lowe’s employee checking you out (or at Customer Service) will have to see this listing in order to adjust your purchase price.
Shop Holiday Sales
This shouldn’t come as a surprise, but the best time to purchase your appliances is during a holiday sale. We picked out what we wanted and waited until Memorial Day weekend to finally pull the trigger. This would also be a great time to find the best deals + utilize price matching at Lowe’s.
We purchased our appliances online at AJ Madison. If you’re currently hunting, they’re having a 45% OFF Columbus Day Sale on select appliances. We bought from them because the price was best, there was no sales tax (they only charge sales tax if you’re within their state) and the shipping was free (on orders over $499). This saved us big time.
Are you planning a home renovation? Do you have any budget-friendly tips?
Good job!