After months of trial and error with my first (and definitely last!) fixer-upper, I can share the lessons I learned so you don’t have to make the same mistakes if you decide to take this on. I’m also sharing tips I was lucky enough to discover early on—tips that could benefit anyone.
By the way, “budget-friendly” is relative. Renovating is simply expensive, even if you do everything yourself. And for some people, it ends up costing even more because they mess things up so badly that they have to hire an expert to fix the damage—often costing more than if a professional had done the job from the start. Think of a stubborn woman trying to bleach her black hair using a cheap drugstore kit. Getting a nice, cool blonde shade (avoiding that tacky, brassy look) is nearly impossible to begin with—let alone with a cheap toner kit and no idea how long to leave it on. You end up having to go to a hairdresser anyway to have your hair stripped of color before a proper toner can be applied. Not only do you end up with a bird’s nest on your head, but you also spend more money in the long run.
Anyway, I tried to avoid scenarios like that as much as possible by calling in experts for things like plumbing, bathroom installation: tasks I really couldn’t or didn’t dare do myself. I’d recommend you do the same. And for the many other things, I found creative ways to save lots of money. Here they are:
1. Still in the buying phase? Compare prices from mortgage advisors. It pays off, as rates vary significantly. Especially if you live in a big city, it can be worth checking out a nearby small village. I saved over 2,000 euros this way.
2. Karwei frequently has good paint on sale because it’s being discontinued. You can often find cans online at a 50% or even 70% discount. I love their ‘house brand’ paint, Le Noir et Blanc. It offers truly excellent coverage, has a ‘creamy’ texture, and is easy to apply. Of course, ‘De Verfkampioen’ is another good outlet to check, but not everything is cheaper there! For instance, you’re better off buying Albastine products when they’re on sale at the hardware store.
3. Buy a construction vacuum cleaner. You can get one at Lidl for just 50 euros, and they are indispensable during renovations. They handle the massive amounts of dust—and much more—far better than your regular vacuum cleaner. Don’t ruin your household vacuum by subjecting it to heavy dust, grit, or small debris.
4. Before buying the house—or ideally, even before viewing it—research the common issues associated with homes built in that era. This helps you know what to look for during the viewing and allows you to better estimate potential costs. It also helps you decide whether taking on the project is feasible in the first place. If you Google ‘problems house built in xxxx Eigen Huis’, you’ll find a helpful article on the Eigen Huis website.
5. Start with a mood board. It serves as a foundation you can experiment with later—for example, if you suddenly wonder, ‘Does this paint actually go well with that other paint or this wallpaper?’ I know you can apply paint samples directly to the wall, but that’s not quite the same. A mood board is much faster, less of a hassle, and cheaper. What I did was keep the items and colors separate so they weren’t glued down and rendered unusable. This way, I could easily remove a ‘wall’ (a piece of colored cardboard) and place a different color there to get a clear view of the contrast. And if you want to test a very specific color on your mood board, you could use a cardboard sample card from the store, or use a mini ‘paint marker’ sample to paint a scrap of paper and place that on your mood board.
6. Calculate in advance the minimum duration of your renovation and whether you can—and want to—live there during that time. I chose not to, because the house was a total wreck—no kitchen, no running water on the ground floor. That meant months of paying for two homes. I had slightly underestimated how many months I would still need my old house. But my mental health is valuable to me, too; if I were to burn out, that would end up costing far more money.
7. Are you somewhat handy? To lower the contractor’s quote, you could offer to pitch in with the work yourself. That way, you get the benefit of working alongside professionals while also handling a good portion of the job yourself. Not every contractor agrees to this, but plenty do.
8. Start with a simple room—the one that’s in the ‘best’ condition—and get it tidied up so you have a dust-free space to store all kinds of items. Because believe me, there is going to be *so much* dust—everywhere.
9. Ordering samples is worth it. You usually have to pay a small fee for samples of flooring, tiles, adhesive tiles, or fabrics. When combined with shipping costs, this can really add up. However, things often look different in real life compared to photos—and different again depending on the lighting in your home. In short, those small amounts might save you from a costly mistake that would require a return. Plus, many companies send a discount code after you order a sample, hoping you’ll place a full order with them. Ultimately, you come out ahead, even after deducting the cost of the sample.
10. Build in a generous buffer for unexpected setbacks. Don’t hand over your entire budget to the contractor thinking, “Now everything is covered.” It might sound obvious, but plenty of things will inevitably go wrong, and those small, incidental expenses really mount up.
11. Recycle materials from your home. I reused doors, a toilet, and a sink. All sorts of things can be repurposed, potentially saving you hundreds or even thousands of euros. I’m not the type to insist that everything be “perfect,” though; as long as it works and looks reasonably tidy, I can fix the rest myself. It’s a great way to save money and avoid the hassle of sourcing new items—plus, it saves time and transport effort.
12. Consider a multitool. If you don’t have many tools yet and plan to do a lot of the work yourself, a device that handles multiple functions—like sawing, sanding, and cutting—is incredibly practical and likely more cost-effective than buying separate tools for each job.
13. Before you start, check for moisture in areas like walls, floors, or woodwork. You can use moisture meters for this, and having that information helps with many aspects of the project. You want to get rid of moisture in your structure, so you can tackle that right away. But it’s also important to check for any leaks that need fixing. You’re likely already keeping a close eye on this before buying the house anyway. I had some damp walls—something I only discovered while renovating the kitchen and replacing the heating system: the entire wall surface came away. Not fun. And the new plasterwork had to dry for weeks, causing further delays. So, it’s smart to measure for these kinds of issues as early as possible.
14. No money for plastering? Use renovation fleece wallpaper (*renovlies*) and paint over it. It hides quite a few imperfections and is much cheaper and faster. There’s also a product called ‘Muurglad’ by Alabastine that can help, though the finish won’t be quite as smooth as actual plastering. Still, sometimes you have to think in terms of practical solutions.
15. If you’re painting, do the doors and frames first, then the walls and ceilings. It’s much easier to remove wall paint splatters from door or frame paint than it is to remove frame paint from the wall.
16. Paint over your masking tape, too. When painting—and presumably masking off areas—you need to apply the tape tightly against the line, but tiny gaps can still remain where paint might seep underneath. You can prevent this by painting over the edge of the tape first (effectively sealing it down) before painting the adjacent area.
17. Do you already have a kitchen but dislike the look of it? There are many budget-friendly ways to pimp it without buying a new one. You can wrap the cabinets—essentially applying a new finish to the fronts. You can also replace the handles and the worktop. It creates a completely different look. You can paint the kitchen backsplash with tile paint or apply self-adhesive tile stickers yourself. And if you’d prefer a different kitchen altogether? You can often find them on Marktplaats for free or at a low price, provided you dismantle and transport them yourself. Another option is a showroom kitchen. These are somewhat pricier than the previous options but still much cheaper than buying new, and they can often be adjusted to fit your home’s dimensions.
18. Check for subsidies. Currently, there are subsidies available for things like insulation and making your garden more rain-resistant—at least where I live; this can vary by municipality. Be sure to check this beforehand and review the requirements. You often need to take “before and after” photos, for instance. Such a subsidy can save you a lot of money. Plus, you can do some of the insulation work yourself; it saves on energy costs and makes your home feel more comfortable.
19. Ask your neighbors if they want to carry out any work too—such as insulation, installing a dormer or extension, or replacing the fence. Hiring a professional together is often cheaper.
20. Skirting boards on a weak wall? You can leave them in place to protect the wall, as removing old skirting boards can easily cause damage. Leave them be, treat the wall as desired—with wallpaper and/or paint, for example—and buy ‘renovation skirting boards.’ These can be installed right over the old ones. Just check the product specifications for the maximum thickness and height allowed for the old boards. This turned out to be the perfect solution for me upstairs. Downstairs, I did remove them because it was essential for other work, but I ended up having to restore the walls in almost every spot.
21. Caulk your skirting boards at both the top and the bottom. It looks much neater and prevents water from getting underneath or behind them when mopping. It’s best to use silicone sealant for the bottom edge and acrylic sealant for the top. I learned this the hard way… Silicone sealant handles floor movement and moisture from mopping better, whereas acrylic sealant can be painted over—something silicone sealant can’t do.
22. Factor plenty of storage space into your plans. Yes, I find cupboards ugly too, and I want my home to feel as open as possible. But you’ll really regret it if you realize at the end that you don’t have enough room to store your things. So, choose your storage wisely—perhaps something multifunctional, like a room divider, under-stair storage, or a window seat. You’ll thank yourself later.
23. Need something from IKEA? Check the ‘Second Chance’ section first, both in-store and online. You can often find the furniture item you want—or something similar—there for a fraction of the price. There are always plenty of curtains, lamps, and kitchen appliances available, too!
24. Don’t try to apply adhesive window film to large windows by yourself. Man, oh man, I really wish I’d received this advice myself before just doing the work. It is absolute hell to cut that stuff you buy on a roll in a straight line and apply it—especially if, for instance, you’re aiming to place multiple lines or squares one above the other with equal spacing. You really need to do this as a two-person job!
25. Arrange with the tax authorities right away to receive your mortgage interest deduction on a monthly basis. That way, the payments are spread out, and you can potentially save or invest the money—earning you some extra interest or returns.
26. You’ll get better at things the more you do them. So, try doing them for the first time in the room you care about the least. 😉
27. Consider heat-blocking window film. I love a light-filled home too, but it’s been getting so hot lately—and the heat lingers so long indoors—that something had to be done. Lots of sunlight also fades curtains; I didn’t want to ruin my new ones, so I bought heat-blocking film. It blocks 99% of UV light and about 50% of visible sunlight. This varies by brand and type, so check what suits your needs. The film I have allows you to see out, but prevents people outside from seeing in—great for privacy. Just be careful with HR++ glass; you need to buy a special film suitable for it, otherwise, you risk a thermal crack in the window. You don’t want that.
28. Not finished painting and want to continue tomorrow? Wrap a trash bag around your paint tray, brushes, and rollers. This prevents them from drying out so you can start right up again.
29. Break your to-do list down into smaller tasks. If you write down only big projects, the workload feels too overwhelming to even start. Break it up into smaller steps so you can get a quick dopamine hit from something you’ve already accomplished.
30. Do you live near the border? Take a look at the shops across the border for furniture and building materials. It can really save you a bundle. I bought a lot of things in Belgium and just filled up the car while I was there. It’s ideal.
31. Ask for a “moving pass” (or renovation discount card) at the DIY store like Praxis. Many of them offer this option, giving you a 10, 15, or even 20 percent discount for a limited time.
32. You can often find items available for free pickup on Marktplaats or Facebook. Keep an eye on your local Facebook marketplace group or search Marktplaats for free garden tiles, flooring, or kitchens. You often have to dismantle or remove the items yourself, but you get to take them for free.
33. Gross taps left by the previous owners? Descale the taps before rushing out to buy new ones. I was tempted to replace the taps right away too, but descaling made them look good as new. It saved me a lot of money and effort.
34. Do you live in a city with apartment blocks nearby? Check where the underground waste containers are located. This can really help with waste disposal so you don’t have to drive to the dump a hundred times. In my city, there are containers for general waste as well as paper recycling. It’s perfect for the miles of cardboard you end up with from packaging… No joke.
35. Don’t be fooled by “one-coat coverage” paint. That is—in my humble opinion—total bullshit. I’ve painted plenty of walls and other objects—using all kinds of different materials—and I’ve never had a job that was truly finished with just one coat. The only paint that came close was Noir & Blanc (a house brand from Karwei) and MissPompadour. Even then, I still had to do some touch-ups with a second coat. So save yourself the extra cash you’d pay for that promise; if you want to do it right, you’ll probably have to apply a second coat anyway…
36. Do invest in good rollers and brushes. It saves a lot of time and mess (splatters) and yields a better final result. I started out using cheap rollers and brushes from Action, but there really is a huge difference compared to professional gear. In my opinion, Goudhaantje makes good rollers and brushes…
37. Need to measure something by yourself that’s actually too long for one person? Tape the end of your tape measure in place, and you can often manage it after all. Or use a laser measure—though I have trust issues with those things… Haha.
38. Paint the toilet (or another small room) last so you can use up your leftover paint there. It creates a nice blended effect and actually ties in well with the rest of the house, since multiple colors from other rooms are reflected there.
39. Does an item keep sliding off your workbench when it needs to stay put, and there’s no one around to hold it? Stick some sandpaper onto your workbench. That board or other item won’t go anywhere.
40. Need to drill precisely? Place a piece of tape on your drill bit, just above the depth you need to reach. For example, measure 5mm up the bit and apply the tape right above that mark. When drilling, stop once the tape touches the wall. That way, all your holes are the same depth. 😊
41. Buying MDF skirting boards? Consider treating them with moisture-resistant paint and applying wood glue to the ends to protect against moisture. MDF warps, swells, or develops mold very easily when exposed to moisture. That’s obviously not ideal when you’ve just installed them to put the finishing touches on your home. Alternatively, you could opt for PVC skirting boards; they are moisture-resistant and can even be used in the bathroom if you like.
42. YouTube is your friend. You can find so much knowledge there, accompanied by clear visuals. It’s great. I usually watch two or three videos on the same topic to minimize the chance of missing an angle, detail, or method, and to choose the approach that best suits my situation.
43. Trying something for the first time? Do it in the room you care about the least. That way, any imperfections or mistakes won’t stand out as much, and you won’t mind them as much either.
44. Ask around among people who have renovated before what they would definitely avoid doing or would do differently next time. It can save you a lot of money and frustration.
45. Moving is the perfect time to cancel old subscriptions and contracts and switch to more affordable new ones. Often, contracts—such as those for internet, TV, mobile phone service, or gas and electricity—have been automatically renewed multiple times without you realizing it. And as a loyal customer, you almost always end up paying too much. Ideally, you should look for the best deal well in advance (a few months!) of your contract expiring. But I know, it’s not exactly a fun chore. When I was moving, I knew months ahead of time—after all, I had to renovate the house first. So, I checked how much time was left on my contracts and whether I could cancel them with a one-month notice period. For most of them, that was the case. I cancelled my internet and TV services and then signed up for a new contract. For those wondering: I used to be with KPN and have now switched to Youfone. It saves me 50 euros a month. That’s a huge amount of money over the course of a year. As for gas and electricity: that contract runs until next year, so I couldn’t renew it yet. But actually, that’s a good thing financially right now, given the high energy costs. I’m with Vandebron and am really happy with them, which makes me a bit less eager to switch. Still, I’ll definitely compare prices early next year. And a quick tip: with many companies, you can still get a discount as a loyal customer if you call and negotiate—pointing out that it feels unfair for new customers to get discounts while you don’t. 😉 I’ve managed to do this several times.
46. Bought an old house? There will be crooked walls—guaranteed. Figure out how you want to ‘fix’ them before you start; there are several ways to do it, but you don’t want to be making that decision halfway through installing your kitchen, for example.
47. Wear gloves when working with high-tack adhesive or other heavy-duty glues. Better to have your gloves stuck together than your fingers. Yes, even if you think it won’t happen to you. Better to play it safe. 😉
48. Applying caulk as a beginner? Tape off the floor! If you’re caulking for the first time, save yourself a lot of cleaning and frustration by grabbing a roll of painter’s tape and sticking it neatly along the baseboard or the area you’re sealing. This ensures the caulk goes on in a straight, clean line, with any excess landing on the tape—which you can easily remove after the job is done. Just make sure to remove it immediately after finishing, while the caulk is still ‘wet’.
49. Need expensive items? Look for cashback opportunities. These are programs that refund a portion of your purchase price if you order through them. It’s a simple matter of signing up for the cashback program for free (just once) and then—via your account—clicking the link to the store where you intended to shop anyway before placing your order. Some examples include Euroclix, Scoopy, and Woolsocks. I’ve received hundreds of euros back this way. It’s especially worthwhile when you need pricier items like a bed, furniture, flooring, tools, etc. So, it’s perfect if you’re renovating 😉 Some examples where I’ve received significant cashback include Dekbed Discounter, Gamma, and Amazon. However, there are hundreds of well-known stores listed, including supermarkets like AH and Plus, as well as good old Hema. Euroclix and Woolsocks, in particular, offer a huge selection, though I find Euroclix the clearest regarding the rules on which products qualify for cashback and how much you get.
50. Renovating in late October or early November? Keep an eye out for Black Friday. It can save you a serious amount of money. However, monitor the prices of the items you want beforehand to avoid getting ripped off by so-called ‘special offers’.
51. Check out local ‘giveaway’ groups. Search Google Maps to see if there’s a local giveaway group or community in your area. Facebook also often hosts these kinds of digital groups—look for names like ‘weggeefhoek Eindhoven’ (giveaway corner Eindhoven) or ‘gratis ophalen Eindhoven’ (free pickup Eindhoven). You can often find useful items from people who need to get rid of things quickly—perhaps due to a move—or who have leftover materials from a project.
52. Don’t get a matte countertop. Every single mark shows up on it, and you can’t even set down a glass without leaving a trace. It’s awful.
53. Accept mistakes. This is a tip for myself, too. You *will* make mistakes, take much longer to finish tasks because of them, and feel frustrated. But it’s inevitable, and nobody’s going to die from it. Well, usually not, anyway. Just make sure to turn off the power when working on the wiring! 😉
Love,
Bridget
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