A bathroom renovation can actually improve your home's overall resale value, because potential homebuyers want to avoid having to remodel a bathroom on their own. A renovation in the bath can even save you money on utilities if you add low-flow toilets and showerheads as part of the renovation.

However, it's not unusual for homeowners to go over budget on their bathroom renovation or wind up spending much more than they anticipated once the renovation begins. While you can't always anticipate every problem you'll come across when renovating your bathroom, you might consider a few tips for ensuring you save as much as possible during the renovation process.

1. Stick with the existing floor plan

The more work you need to do to move plumbing pipes, tear up flooring, and go behind the walls of your bathroom in order to move around the fixtures, the more expensive the labor costs. If you can stick with the existing floor plan, this can save you that expense. If you're thinking of moving the toilet or sink because it sits too close to the tub, consider downsizing to a pedestal sink or a smaller model of toilet. If the bathtub is in an awkward location, see if you can simply turn it and keep the plumbing in place. Anything you can to do leave the footprint as it is will reduce the cost of your renovation.

2. Refinish rather than replace

Adding a new coat of glaze to a tub can mean not having to replace it, and it can look brand new. You might also be able to refinish hardwood floors or clean and reseal stone floors rather than replace these. A good scrub of the grout between tile by a professional company that specializes in grout cleaning may also be all that's needed to preserve these materials so they don't need to be replaced, and you can save on your renovation costs.

3. Use reclaimed and recycled items

If you must replace items in the bathroom, try reclaimed and recycled items. Salvage yards may sell bathroom vanities, mirrors, and other pieces that look brand new. You might also be able to get recycled wood from another project and cut it down for slats for a new floor. Granite remnants or pieces from other renovations might be cut down to fit over a vanity so you don't need to buy new granite. These pieces are all usually less expensive than new ones, so try reclaimed and recycled items wherever possible.

For more information, work with an experienced renovation company like Ray Browne Joinery.