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Remodeling a home can be a pricey endeavor. You may have your eyes on a marble countertop but only have funds for old-school Formica. And who said installing a water heater was affordable? Fortunately, taking advantage of some of the credit cards out there for homeowners can help you get what you need while staying on budget. There are plenty of options, but you’ll need to have good or excellent credit in order to qualify. (Not sure where you stand? You can take a look at two of your free credit scores on Credit.com.)
Below, we’ve listed a few of the cards that can help you get started. And if the thought of opening another credit card fills you with dread — whether you’re working to pay off your debt or just prefer to keep your finances simple — you can also consider taking out a personal loan. Just remember, whether you’ll qualify and what type of interest rate you’ll be charged if the loan is approved all depends on your credit. So you’ll want to do your research before you apply, lest you wind up choosing a loan with standards you find you’re unable to meet. That rule also applies to credit cards, so read the fine print to be sure one is right for you. With that in mind, here are five credit cards to help you with your remodel.
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With 15 months of interest-free financing on both new purchases and balance transfers, the Slate Card from Chase could be worth your while if you’re gearing up for a remodel. There is no balance-transfer fee for transfers made during the first 60 days of account opening, which can save you real money, and by avoiding interest charges for 15 months, you’ll also have an easier time paying off whatever balance you put on the card. Cardholders can also take advantage of Chase’s Blueprint program, which allows them to pay some balances off in full while dodging interest charges.
With the Citi Double Cash card, you’ll earn 2% cash back:1% cash back on all transactions at the time and place of purchase, and another 1% when you pay the bill — not bad for interior decorators who need a little breathing room after stocking up on fabrics. The card also offers 0% interest for 18 months on balance transfers and comes with no annual fee. (Full Disclosure: Citibank, Chase and Discover advertise on Credit.com, but that results in no preferential editorial treatment.)
Put that shiny new bathroom sink to use with a card that helps you rack up rewards. Through September, Discover it card customers can earn 5% back on up to $1,500 on home improvement purchases. On other purchases, including those that don’t qualify for the bonus or go beyond the $1,500 in eligible spending, cardholders can earn 1% back. Discover it also offers two enticing promotional financing offers for homeowners: 0% APR for 14 months on new purchases and balance transfers, or 0% APR on new purchases for 6 months, plus 0% APR on balance transfers for 18 months.
With a fixed 7.99% APR, the Home Depot Project Loan credit card offers one of the lowest rates we’ve seen to qualifying applicants. Credit lines can go as high as $55,000, which can make sense for kitchen or bathroom remodels that can easily run past five figures. (Just remember to stay within budget.) The card also comes with no annual fees and offers 84 months to pay it off with no prepayment penalty.
Like Home Depot, Lowe’s offers a way to finance home remodeling projects with its consumer credit card. When swiping the card, customers can receive 5% off their purchase or spend $299 or more to receive special financing for six months. The card tacks on no interest if it’s paid in full in six months, however, monthly minimum payments are required.
At publishing time, the Slate card from Chase, Citi Double Cash Card and Discover it card are offered through Credit.com product pages, and Credit.com will be compensated if our users apply for and ultimately sign up for any of these cards. However, this relationship does not result in any preferential editorial treatment.
Note: It’s important to remember that interest rates, fees and terms for credit cards, loans and other financial products frequently change. As a result, rates, fees and terms for credit cards, loans and other financial products cited in these articles may have changed since the date of publication. Please be sure to verify current rates, fees and terms with credit card issuers, banks or other financial institutions directly.
Image:Â Feverpitched
