How to Budget for your Next Project
Getting yourself organized and on a budget for your next home project is no easy task. When it comes to ironing out the numbers, there are so many factors to consider: construction costs, materials (like tile, wallpaper, etc.), furnishings, light fixtures, plumbing fixtures, etc. It's no surprise, given all of the variables, that most construction projects go way over budget.
Add to this that almost no one has time to properly manage all of these variables, and you're looking at a completely chaotic mess. Without time or access to fancy project management software, you're left depending on others, whose only incentive is to charge you more, to keep things on track.
Believe it or not, hiring an interior designer, especially a full service firm like Surf Road, can help you stay on budget while still achieving a timeless, beautiful aesthetic you will be happy with year after year. We recently posted about having saved one high end client over $20,000 because of our discount share program. In addition to savings on finishes and furniture, an interior designer is often also a project manager, helping to keep all of the other players in your project on track, on time and on budget!
Not convinced yet that you should hire an interior designer for your next project? That's ok, we're happy to share our 3 best tips to budget for your next project anyway.
Actually have a budget in mind. This seems...obvious? But I can't tell you how many people just literally have no idea what their budget is when they start their renovation project. They always want to know what's "reasonable", and the god's honest truth is that what's reasonable is what you can afford. So before you start a project, think about what you can afford, and that's your budget. If it's not enough to get the project done the way you want, keep saving and tackle the project when it is.
Plan for the finishes and furnishings you want - starting with a mood board. If you know where you want to end up with a project, you can start filling in the right pieces right away, rather than fumbling around making costly mistakes. If you can't afford the piece you really want, wait until you can.
Create a spreadsheet that automatically subtracts from your overall budget. It should detail each vendor and all of your furnishings. Not sure where to start on this? We're happy to share ours (preview above)! CLICK HERE.