Now that you’ve bought a property, here comes the most exciting part: The renovating and decorating!
Do it up however you like, and in any theme you fancy. Whether it’s Scandinavian-inspired, industrial chic, or a Balinese resort villa — turning your house into a home is a fun-filled journey with moodboards, Pinterest browsing, and plenty of shopping.
However, creating a beautiful place might require a few more sacrifices than needed. Overlooking basic needs and functions in favour of looks could cost you dearly to repair, restore, or renovate once you’ve settled in.
Instead of a centrepiece chandelier or a statement wall, bear in mind these 6 essential renovating tips to launch into, as soon as you receive the keys (so you can save on unnecessary expenses)!
Not only will you save those hard-earned Ringgit, but they’re quick and easy to accomplish in an empty unit. A fully-furnished unit with people living inside? Not so much.
1) Avoid Potential Rewiring Works By Properly Planning Power Points
After building your dream home, you wouldn’t want to ruin it by hacking it apart just for rewiring. But you need those extra plug points for your (future) PS5, smart TV, internet modem, landline, phone chargers, and air purifier!
The solution? Make sure you have a proper plan in place for your electrical points to avoid spending more in the future, plus any possible inconveniences that may occur, like having to move out temporarily while renovations are going on.
Having a power point plan is especially helpful for spaces using multiple small appliances, like kitchens with a rice cooker, water dispenser, toaster, oven, coffee machine, etc.
Your guest room might also evolve into a home office or study room, so prepare ahead by making sure there are enough power points for computers, printers, and the works. You won’t need to risk tripping over an extension cord pulled from one room to the other!
On the other hand, consider a total rewiring makeover if you’re buying a subsale property, as the wiring has most likely not been upgraded since it was first built.
We’ve heard one too many stories of homes catching on fire because of old or damaged wiring, so a complete rewiring will be much safer AND cost-saving in the long run.
To save even more on your power point plan, consider having the power points, devices, and/or lights on the same circuit to shut them off easily when not in use. That will at least reduce the hassle of tearing out built-ins, or replacing hidden and ageing wires.
2) Save With Energy-Saving Appliances
The last thing you want to do is splurge on even more when you’ve just settled your down payment, but trust us on this: invest in energy-efficient appliances to lower your electricity bill!
Although the upfront cost of a 4- or 5-star appliance may come as a shocker, it’s still quite comparable to less energy-saving appliances, and you’ll notice the difference when your TNB bill arrives.
Energy-saving appliances you can consider investing in are air-conditioners, ceiling fans, water heaters, cooktops, and refrigerators as they’re frequently used throughout the day. Some are even switched on 24/7.
As costly as LED lights may seem, they’re more worth it than conventional choices as they last longer and work out to be cheaper (we’ve got the math, see below!).
a) Hardware Costs
Cost per bulb
RM3.50
RM12.50
RM13
Average lifespan (hours)
1,500
8,000
25,000
Cost to replace bulbs after 25,000 hours
RM58.33
RM39.06
RM13
b) Energy Costs
Watts
53
18
12
Energy usage for 1 month at 4 hours a day (kWh/month)
6.36
2.16
1.44
Monthly electricity cost per bulb (@21.8 sen/kWh/month)
RM1.386
RM0.479
RM0.314
Energy costs for 25,000 hours of use
RM48.13
RM16.63
RM10.90
Source: recommend.my
So, if you were to combine the costs of both hardware and energy (a+b), here’s the grand total for all 3:
- Halogen = RM106.46
- Compact fluorescent lamp = RM55.69
- LED = RM23.90
PropertyGuru Tip
LED lights are also safer as they’re cool to the touch and don’t emit much heat, plus completely free from infrared radiation.
Another energy-saving tip is going for natural gas cook-tops instead of induction/electric. Not only will your food taste better and give you that much-wanted oomph of flavour, but gas is the cheapest alternative and the upfront costs (hood and hob) are lower too.
3) Use Natural Ventilation To Cut Down On The A/C
Plenty of natural lighting and ventilation are some highly sought-after features for a home, and rightfully so, as they’re extremely energy-saving since you won’t need to switch on the lights and fans!
Even so, installing a type of mechanical ventilation will help even more in eliminating moisture from the air that occurs frequently, especially in bathrooms and kitchens.
If there are no windows in your bathroom or kitchen, it’s imperative to include a ventilator fan in the renovation plans to prevent mould, airborne pollutants, odour, and excess moisture in your living space.
Otherwise, you can break down an inner wall or change the layout of your doors/windows for improved ventilation. Not only will your space look wider and fresher, but you’ll have more natural air to circulate through.
And if you’re dwelling in a high-rise or a particularly windy location, opening the windows will let the breeze in to cool down the room naturally. Inhale fresh air, exhale bad vibes!
4) Water-Saving Devices For Rainy Days
Ever heard the phrase, “Home is where the toilet is”? We gotta say, that’s completely true!
While you’re feeling comfortable on the ‘throne’ or scrubbing yourself clean, water-saving fixtures will give you a great reduction on your water bill! Some of these include low-flow toilets, showerheads, taps, and dual flush buttons.
Low-flow toilets might sound like a nightmare for those who drop big and frequent #2s, but fear not. These toilets work by utilising gravity or pressure-assisting technology that releases the water in the bowl, instead of the traditional way, thus saving water.
Another popular method is the dual flush button: The smaller button is meant for urine and uses less water, whereas the larger button for faeces uses considerably more water. But at least you know you have an option to use less water with the smaller button!
For showering, opt for a low-flow showerhead that uses an aerating or laminar-flow. If you want to save on electricity, switch off the heater and take a cool, icy shower that your skin will thank you for.
An aerating showerhead feels like a gentle, outdoor drizzle. At times, it might feel like a larger volume of water, but it actually creates a mist-like spray as the water combines with air, providing you with a ‘softer’ shower.
On the other hand, a laminar-flow showerhead is a rain shower, in other words. The showerhead shoots out many small streams of water at once, creating a more substantial flow than aerated showerheads, but might sting a bit if the water pressure is too high.
Now that you’ve gotten your own place, you’re going to want to spend more time in it and that means doing plenty of cooking.
If washing up is your pet peeve, a dishwasher is the answer! Now you can kiss goodbye to those sweaty days of furiously scrubbing greasy pots and pans.
Regular hand-washing means a thorough rinse, wash, and sometimes an overnight soak. With dishwashers, you just need to make sure the dishes don’t have any large chunks of food (the water and scraps will go down the drain), pop it in, and Netflix and chill until they’re done.
Not only do dishwashers reduce water wastage, but you get the perk of having your dishes properly sanitised. The dishes will be blasted with jets of hot water to sanitise and wash, and there are multiple settings to choose from.
5) Storage Solutions & Modular Furniture For Modern Alternatives
Living in a small home can be challenging because where are you going to store all your things? Luckily, the 21st century has brought us all types of ingenious storage solutions and modular furniture!
Modular furniture — like sofas — can be pieced together however you like. Upgrade it with additions to prepare for your growing family, or downsize to a loveseat.
Not only does the concept allow you super flexibility, but the fittings are easily stored too, so you can improve and remove it anytime.
Flexible space-planning means you’ll save big on furniture as you can prioritise the essentials and upgrade when needed, all without compromising the aesthetics. You also eliminate the trouble of removing bulky built-in furniture!
For smart storage solutions, look for furniture pieces that double as storage spaces. Our favourite examples are chairs, beds, and coffee tables with storage drawers, as they keep clutter out of sight and out of mind.
6) Reduce Heat With Blackout Curtains & Shades
Smart consumers will know to beat the heat with blackout curtains and shades. Not only are they eye-catching, but they’ll keep the temperature low so you can cut down on your electricity bill.
Also known as thermal curtains/shades, these window curtains reduce the transfer of heat from the outdoors to the indoors; just take note to draw the curtains before the sunlight hits and heats the room.
They keep the room cool and the environment dark, cosy, and private, they also make great sound absorbers for an enhanced living environment — perfect for movie nights, and cuddles on the couch!
The worst thing to happen would be tearing apart your beautiful home after all your hard work and effort because of something you’ve ignored or looked over during renovation, so be a smart homeowner and plan wisely for your home!
You have a 5- or 10-year plan for yourself and your family; your home should too so that you can live in comfort and ease throughout the years. However, if your budget is tight, you could consider taking out a loan to fund your renovations.
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