Saving money on a renovation isn't about finding the cheapest builder. It's about avoiding waste: changes halfway through, materials bought at retail, rooms rebuilt twice. Here's how our clients typically save up to 10%.
Finish the design before you start
Every change after work begins costs more than the same decision made on paper. A full set of drawings and a finishes schedule is the best money you'll spend.
Keep kitchens and bathrooms where they are
Moving soil stacks and drainage is expensive. A clever new layout in the same footprint often achieves 90% of the result for a fraction of the cost.
Buy materials at trade prices
Builders get trade discounts on tiles, sanitaryware, timber and electrics. Ask your contractor to pass them on — we do, and it typically saves 7–10% on materials.
Get an itemised quote, not a lump sum
Line-by-line pricing lets you see where the money goes and decide what to keep, swap or drop.
Spend where you touch, save where you don't
Invest in taps, handles, worktops and flooring. Save on things hidden behind panels — as long as they're properly specified.
Do everything in one go
Rewiring and replumbing a house in one project is far cheaper than room by room, because walls and floors are only opened once.
Choose standard sizes
Standard unit widths, tile formats and door sizes are cheaper and quicker to get than bespoke ones.
Plan around lead times
Order long-lead items (kitchens, windows, steel) early so the team is never waiting — idle days still cost money.
Move out for the messiest weeks
Working in an empty house is faster and safer. A couple of weeks away can shorten the programme considerably.
Keep a 10% contingency — and don't spend it
A contingency stops a surprise becoming a crisis. With a well-planned project, much of it often comes back to you.
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