ANCHOR: WHAT COSTS MORE AND TAKES LONGER THAN YOU COULD EVER IMAGINE? TRY ANY HOME IMPROVEMENT PROJECT.

ANCHOR: OUR MONEY SAVING EXPERT ILYCE GLINK IS HERE TO HELP YOU SAVE MONEY ON WHAT COULD BE YOUR BIGGEST EXPENSE OF THE YEAR.

GOOD MORNING.

ILYCE: JUST WHEN YOU’RE AWASH WITH HALLMARK HOLIDAYS, IT TURNS OUT THAT MAY IS HOME REMODELING MONTH. GOOD THING, TOO, BECAUSE THIS YEAR HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF HOMEOWNERS WILL SPEND MORE THAN $180 BILLION ON HOME IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS.

ILYCE: SAVVY HOMEOWNERS ARE MAKING THEIR PLANS NOW TO REDO THEIR BATHROOMS, KITCHENS, AS WELL AS MAINTAINING AND UPGRADING THE EXTERIORS OF THEIR HOMES. PLANNING AHEAD IS THE KEY TO SAVING MONEY ON ANY OF THESE JOBS.

PLAN AHEAD TO SAVE MONEY
KNOW WHAT THINGS COST
VISIT HOME IMPROVEMENT CENTERS
DECIDE WHAT YOU LIKE
AND WHAT YOU CAN AFFORD.

ILYCE: TO CREATE A WORKABLE BUDGET YOU HAVE TO KNOW WHAT THINGS COST. VISIT LOCAL HOME IMPROVEMENT CENTERS AND DISCOUNT STORES AND TALK TO EMPLOYEES ABOUT THE INEVITABLE HIDDEN COSTS AND FEES THAT COME UP.  DECIDE WHAT YOU LIKE, AND WHAT YOU CAN AFFORD.

SHOP AROUND TO SAVE MONEY
GET BIDS FROM 3 CONTRACTORS
ASK EVERYONE FOR A DISCOUNT
SWEAT EQUITY
PAY IN CASH

ILYCE: SHOPPING AROUND FOR ALL OF THE MATERIALS AND SERVICES YOU’LL USE CAN SAVE YOU A TON OF CASH. GET BIDS FROM AT LEAST THREE CONTRACTORS. ASK EVERYONE FOR A DISCOUNT, FROM THE GUY WHO HAULS AWAY THE TRASH TO THE PLACE YOU BUY YOUR FIXTURES. ARE YOU HANDY WITH A HAMMER? CONSIDER TAKING ON A FEW OF THE MORE DOABLE PROJECTS YOURSELF, LIKE TILING, OR CONTRIBUTING SWEAT EQUITY FOR A DISCOUNT. FINALLY, OFFER TO PAY IN CASH.

ILYCE: CHOOSE THE CHEAPEST WAY TO FINANCE YOUR PROJECT. IF YOU’RE DOING SOMETHING SMALL AND YOUR ANNUAL BONUS WILL COVER IT, THEN GET A HOME EQUITY LOAN. IF YOU’RE DOING SOMETHING BIG, REFINANCING MIGHT BE THE WAY TO GO. OF COURSE, I’LL PUT ALL THESE TIPS AND MORE UP ON MY WEBSITE, AT WWW.THINKGLINK.COM.

ANCHORS: DOES IT REALLY WORK TO ASK CONTRACTORS AND SUBS FOR A DISCOUNT?

FOR MORE INFORMATION:

RemodelingMagazine.com
NAHB.com (National Association of Home Builders)
HomeStore.com