The good news is that, with the economy still struggling to get back on its feet, prices for building material have dropped significantly.  So right now is a great time to plan some of those bathroom renovations you have been putting off.

The following 10 tips will help you complete your bathroom renovation with the minimum cost required to ensurte good quality.

01

Plan ahead

Planning ahead will not only help you to stay within budget but it will give you the needed time to find the best deals on materials. Many homeowners think a renovation is an all-or-nothing affair where you have to purchase everything right away, gut the room to the bare bones and then renovate. If you plan ahead, with design ideas and colour schemes, you can slowly acquire the needed items and materials as you find deals or sales. It takes a little research, but ultimately you will save some money. Give yourself 4 or 5 months to search for the best deals on each item you’ll need..

02

Research for materials and price

Planning ahead leaves you time to conduct research on materials and where to find better prices. Some specialty stores, specifically ceramic tile stores, sell off their old stock at a fraction of the price.  Timing is everything. You also search through the classified ads in your local newspaper or on the Internet to see who is trying to offload some excess materials.

03

Order online

You can also save money by ordering materials online. Some online retailers have coupon codes available to reduce prices and many places offer the option to have the materials shipped to the store, which will save you money on shipping fees.

04

Never pay full price

As any good contractor knows, you should never pay full price for materials. Although they usually order it in bulk, Big Box Stores do not always have the best deal on materials, especially if you want to go with higher quality. Going through a contractor to get your materials is usually your best bet at getting insider discounts.

05

Go for quality materials

Just because they may initially be cheaper you should never go for the substandard materials. In the long run the cheap stuff may just end up costing you more to replace when it breaks or wears out. You’ll not only save money but headaches, as well, by choosing quality materials.

06

Replace or modernize

When doing a bathroom renovation you essentially have two choices, you can either replace it completely or modernize it. If you are just going for a different look and want to save some money, you can very simply modernize your bathroom with new fixtures, a fresh coat of paint or even have the bathtub and sinks reglazed. With some research, and careful planning you can give your bathroom a stylish update at a fraction of the cost of new materials.

07

Reuse items

Another way to save some money on your bathroom renovation is to reuse items that do not need changing or updating. Even if you are going for the full bathroom renovation you can still reuse certain items, such as vanities, toilets and even tile, and incorporate them into your new design.   You’ll also be doing the responsible thing for the environment.

08

Reduce items

There are many programs that are now offering rebates, credits or other incentives for upgrading to energy efficient products, such as installing water conserving low-flow toilets, faucets or showerheads. Taking advantage of these incentives will also help reduce your monthly utility expenses.  Just like choosing quality materials, an investment in reductions like this can save you money over the long-term.

09

DIY

If you are a bit handy there are parts of your bathroom renovation you may want to do yourself. Although this will help save you money be sure not to go outside your abilities as mistakes could cost you. When in doubt hire a professional. (You don’t want to pay to replace substandard workmanship any more than to replace substandard materials.)

10

Hiring Professionals

Hiring a professional is always a good idea. With building material costs down you are already saving money, but to save more make sure you get a few different quotes and to compare prices.  Remember, just because a quote may be cheaper, it does not necessarily mean the work will be better, so always get at least three references of a contractors works and take the time to look into them before making your decision.