Buying a fixer-upper home can mean thousands of dollars saved. A good home in need of some minor repairs in a good location is generally sold under market value. By providing some sweat equity and doing some of the work yourself, you can often save money by paying less in total than you would have paid on a move-in condition home in the same neighborhood. Even if you're not handy, there are many ways to transform your fixer-upper property without spending a lot of money:

1) Clean. Getting a professional cleaning of your entire home helps you assess what shape the property really is in

2) Paint. Paint is one of the fastest and least expensive ways to transform a property. A fresh coat of paint instantly makes a room looked brighter and larger. Painting small rooms in pale colors also tends to make rooms look larger, while painting dark rooms in vibrant colors helps the rooms look sunnier. When shopping for paint, ask for oops paint. This is paint that has been pre-mixed for a customer who then changed his or her mind about the color. You can often get a good discount on oops paint that can help you save on renovation costs even more.

3) Repair parts, not wholes. If your cabinets are in good shape but have doors and handles that are old-fashioned or in poor repair, consider replacing only the doors and the handles. You'll save a bundle, and you can often do the work yourself. Similarly, if your tiles need repairs, consider replacing only the few cracked tiles rather than the entire bathroom floor.

4) Look for building materials and appliances in the right places. You can often save money, even if you hire a contractor, by looking for bargains on building materials and appliances. You can often find building materials and appliances at great discount if you look for used products. You can often buy directly from contractors or by looking in classified ads. Don't overlook factory outlet stores, auctions, estate sales, and sales at your building centers.

5) Take a class. Most local building centers offer free classes that will teach you the basics of do-it-yourself projects. It's a wonderful way to learn how to put together a great-looking home without spending a fortune.