Budget Breakers

[Jim Tannehill]

What are some of the best ways to stay within or even under budget? I've learned a lot by trial and error but I'd still like to further educate myself on this matter. Any input would be greatly appreciated! 

[Jennifer Harrison]

This is what we've done and it helps keep us on track. My husband and I walk the house, room by room, item by item. He yells out measurements and things that need repaired or replaced. We make a repair estimator sheet...how many door knobs need replaced, how many Sq feet of granite, paint, carpet, how many missing doors and the measurements, etc. Then I take all of that information and I prepare a spreadsheet. Columns include item, estimated cost per item (Google retail) and then actual amount paid per item cost. There is a separate sheet for labor costs. As items are purchased/paid I enter the actual costs. The spreadsheet keeps a running total at the bottom. Now with our spreadsheet of materials in Google Drive, our whole team has access and everyone scouts the materials needed without paying retail. For example, I know I need a 6x8 sliding glass door or a bunch of faucets. With all of our dimensions in the spreadsheet, everyone on the project managers team can scout the materials. We found a $1200 Andersen dual pane, custom order, sliding glass door for $140 on OfferUp. I found an entire kitchen including maple cabinets, Thermador HUGE fridge, double ovens, range top, trash compactor, sink, and granite slabs also on OfferUp for $1400. There is also a liquidation warehouse that purchase Home Depot returns and sells them for 50% off retail price. This was a great find because I got all of my faux blinds, toilets, light fixtures, faucets for 50% off retail. These tricks have cut my cost of materials in half. The labor is the most extensive costs and while there's some stuff we can do on our own, there's also a lot that we cannot. To save time and get the job done right, it's better to find deals on materials and pay labor to get it done. Having the spreadsheet available for everyone on the team, we know how much we are alloted per item/repair. It become a challenge of who can score material under budget.