Tips for Home Renovation

How much does renovation cost?

The cost of home renovation can vary considerably. Often the cost depends on what you need to renovate, as different rooms have different requirements; whether it's a bathroom, kitchen, living room, bedroom, floor plan changes or extensions.

Before you begin the renovation, it's important to get a realistic overview of the costs. A good starting point is to assess the scope of the renovation: Can you do it yourself or do you need professional help? If you need to hire help, it's wise to contact several contractors to request a quote. By comparing the price quotes, you'll get an idea of the average costs for the work you want to carry out. You can then decide whether this is something you can afford or not.

Budget for renovation

It is important to set up a budget for the renovation to keep control of expenses and ensure you do not exceed your financial limits. The larger the renovation project, the more detailed and comprehensive the budget should be.

Some of the things you should remember to include in the budget to avoid financial difficulties include:

• What must be done?Make a list of everything you want to do during the renovation project. Rank them by priority, so that you can focus on the most essential upgrades first and postpone less important items until later.
• Plan the work that must be done – must you do anything yourself?Which part of the renovation can you do yourself to save money and what might you need to outsource to professional tradespeople or contractors? Compare these prices and choose those that best fit within your budget.
• Check prices for materials and consider reusing items.You can save a lot of money by exploring different materials and their prices. You may have the opportunity to buy second-hand or obtain leftover materials from others who have recently renovated. Many people, for example, sell used kitchens at reasonable prices. In this way, you can make some good finds and free up more funds for the rest of the budget.
• Remember to include unforeseen expenses.It is not uncommon for unexpected events to occur during renovation or for something to become more expensive than anticipated. Therefore, remember to set aside a buffer for unforeseen expenses in your budget.

Do you have the funds or do you need a loan for the renovation?

Once you have decided what you want to renovate, what it will cost and have drawn up a budget, the next step is to arrange financing. Does it cost more than you can afford? Then you should reconsider or make changes to what you want to renovate – or consider several options for financing the project.

Borrow extra on your home loan

If you have a mortgage you may have the opportunity to increase the total loan amount by refinancing it. This can be worthwhile compared to other loan types, because a mortgage usually has a lower interest rate and the repayment can be spread over a long period.

Take out a favourable Green Loan

A green loan may be relevant if the renovation involves energy-efficiency measures, such as installing low-energy windows, a heat pump, solar panels or underfloor heating. The loan has favourable terms and can provide you with affordable conditions and flexibility to finance your renovation.

Consider a construction loan for extensive renovation

A Construction loan covers ongoing costs during the construction period, and the disbursements follow the progress of your renovation. When you are finished, the loan is converted into a mortgage. We have dedicated construction loan advisers who support you throughout the entire process and provide financial advice.

Using a credit card or consumer loan

For smaller renovation projects, using a Credit card or Consumer loan be an alternative. This is a quick and easy way to create financing, but be aware of potentially high interest rates and fees. These options can be useful if you can repay the loan quickly and avoid high interest expenses.

Using saved funds

If you are planning to renovate, you should set aside money for this. If you have already saved up a sum of money, you can consider using these funds for your renovation. By using your own funds, you avoid debt, interest expenses and therefore additional costs. In addition, it is wise to save up a financial buffer for unforeseen expenses related to the renovation.

Increase your home's value through renovation

If you have carried out extensive renovation of your home, it may be worthwhile to obtain a new valuation. If your home is worth significantly more than before, you may in some cases be able to get a lower interest rate on your home loan, because you can offer greater security to the bank as your loan-to-value ratio has decreased.

You can check the estimated property value for homes you own in the mobile banking app, but if you have carried out extensive renovation, you should contact an estate agent for a valuation to get an accurate price.

What should I renovate to increase my home's value?

It is not always the largest renovation projects that are necessary to potentially increase the value of your home. If you are renovating before selling your home, for example, it is not necessarily advisable to tackle the biggest projects. Instead, you can prioritise the "small jobs", such as a fresh coat of paint, replacing kitchen fronts, removing old grout, repairing unsightly skirting boards and blemishes, and similar tasks. First impressions matter greatly to potential buyers.

If you have a renovation project, you will of course not be able to avoid the major works such as kitchen, bathroom and floor plan changes to increase the value of your home. Remember that you can still do a fair amount yourself to reduce costs and retain more value for yourself. This could include handling demolition and waste removal yourself, whilst a contractor takes care of the actual upgrade.

In many cases, it will also be worthwhile to create additional bedrooms to increase the value of the property, or a separate rental unit if you have the opportunity to do so.