Prudent and Practical

It seems like D and I are always working on a home project.  We’re trying to improve our home so it will sell quicker and for more money – two important points with the stumbling economy and living in a small town.

Home improvement projects can be expensive, even when doing them yourself – but don’t let that deter you.  You’ll still be saving a boatload of money by going the DIY route.  We’ve done quite a few projects over the past three years and have learned a lot, especially when it comes to trying to make that DIY project even cheaper.

1 – Our most recent find is the Habitat ReStore.  These are located all over the United States and Canada.  They are secondhand stores for lightly used building materials donated by “building supply stores, contractors, demolition crews or from individuals who wish to show their support for Habitat”.  The proceeds go to fund Habitat homes within the community.  At the location in Iowa City, we found paint, lighting, sinks, bathtubs, windows, doors, and hardware.  I only wished we lived closer to one.  We ended up purchasing a quart of paint and a can of spray paint to repair a scratched pot for only $3!

2 – When shopping at your local home improvement store, keep an eye out for un-announced clearance items or closeouts. D and I found our bathroom flooring and kitchen cabinet trim this way.  They were sent too much flooring and had then marked it at 45% off to get rid of it.  I looked at the sticker on the back of the oak chair rail molding (used for the kitchen cabinets) to see that it was over three years old.  A couple stores in Iowa were getting rid of the molding.  After depleting one store’s stock priced at 50% off, we purchased some more at another store for 66% off.

3 – Auctions are another way to find bargains. Many people have been defaulting on their home and business loans lately and in order to avoid foreclosure, they’ve been turning to auctions.  Keep an eye out in your local newspaper or do a search for “(insert location here) auction.”  I’ve seen a lot more business auctions in the last year ranging from restaurants to tree trimming services and even a general contractor – think building materials and garden supplies!  Before going to an auction make a list of items you’re interested in and the maximum amount you’re willing to pay.  If you don’t know what you’re doing you could easily end up in a bidding war and pay a lot more than the item is worth.

You also might have seen Total Wrecklamation on the Discovery Planet Green channel.  The show follows Jody Murphy, President of Murco Recycling Enterprises, Inc. Murco goes into a home and auctions off items such as kitchens, bathrooms, lighting, fencing, paneling, flooring, doors, and sometimes appliances before the home is torn down.  They mainly operate in the midwest, so check out her site for the latest demolition auction.

4 – Going out of business sales have been happening a lot around here too. The latest victim in our town is a pawn shop/music shop.  I’ll just reiterate what I’ve said before:  do your research before deciding to purchase from a business that’s closing.  Often there aren’t warranties on your items and sales are final.

In the above instances we had a general idea for what we wanted to accomplish but did not know exactly how we wanted to achieve the end result.  If you keep your eyes peeled, keep an open mind, and have a general idea of what you want your project to look like, the most unique ideas and the best deals will pop up right before you!