We’ve just made cosmetic renovations new carpet, new flooring, polishing old floors, new storm water plumbing, down lights throughout, 3 x BIRs, painting, replastering, caulking, kitchen respraying and landscaping front and rear - plus a heap of smaller things you’d hardly notice.
Spent around $100,000 and real happy with the results:
A few things I’ve learned I’d like to share:
Spent around $100,000 and real happy with the results:
A few things I’ve learned I’d like to share:
- demo costs a heap, as do skips, tree removal and asbestos removal. Stuff that adds close to no visible value esta budget. In our case a heap of concrete drive, a few large trees and a heap of paving/garden needed removing.
- you will spend approx 20-30% more than you budget. You’re going to blow your budget - accept that. Things will come up you never realised you’d have to do.
- one job completed creates a few more eg. New floors go in, now you gotta repaint skirting plus hire caulking.
- it takes a shit load of mental energy, time & inconvenience on your life (even if you do zero of the actual work). Researching materials/designs, getting samples, sourcing and deciding on tradies/quotes etc. plus making sure everything has been done right and fixing defects. Also actually agreeing with your partner, luckily in our case we share similar tastes.
- it’s very distracting for your business in our case (or career) and family life.
- the jobs is never done, just less incomplete.
- Hipages was handy as is knowing good trades or getting referred by friends. Having friends do work though can be great but also challenging if there are problem with the work. I prefer to break balls of someone I’m not having a beer with next week.
- see a paint color or garden you like? Knock on a door. We found the best landscaper doing this.