Renovating can take a huge toll on us both physically and mentally. Often, we set high expectations on what we’re going to achieve and enter the whole process a little naive on just how smoothly things will run, all while underestimating the cost of the job. Unfortunately overwhelm, exhaustion and even resentment are not uncommon side effects from the mid renovation blues.
Renovations often start with big goals we set out to achieve without fully assessing the enormity of the job ahead. We generally begin with a fire in our bellies and an excitement to ‘get the job done’, but as the weeks roll on and life gets in the way it can become a hard-juggling act to stay motivated.
There’s no doubt that renovating is hard work, both physically and mentally – but what’s not talked about is how common renovating blues are, and how many renovations never quite reach completion because people don’t have the right tools and supports in place to get them through.
Project Management is your job
To stay on top of the renovation and knowing what’s going on, it’s important for you to take over project management. Make sure you have a thought-out plan in place that documents what tasks need to get done on what day. But it’s not just about having a proper timeline in place, it’s also about being aware of the budget you’re working with.
Time and budget are both key factors and many renovations fail with them. It either goes over time or over budget. We recommend writing all things down, how long they will take and how much they will cost.
Budget doesn’t just need to cover the trades people coming in, but also council fees for example, which often are forgotten. At the end of the renovation you still need to have some budget left for styling the house and getting a professional photographer in for pictures.
Many people don’t start a renovation until the tenant has moved out. This can truly be a waste of time. So many times it can take up to 2 weeks to get a quote from your tradesmen. This is valuable time for you where no rent is coming in. Your house all of the sudden moves from being an asset to being a liability. Most tenants are very understanding of future renovation plans and are happy for you to come in to measure the place properly and inspect closely of what actually needs to be done.
Talk to your tenant about future renovation plans and start the actual planning stage of your house renovation as soon as you can. It will save you time in the end and takes the pressure of you! Believe us.
Stay real
While we all would love to whip out renovations within a week, it just doesn’t happen that quickly – and more often than not it doesn’t happen without any complications along the way either.
As we mentioned earlier, an action plan should be in place from day 1. Make sure your tradesmen are in on all deadlines that are waiting for them and what is expected of them each day. Communication is key – and of course, make sure you check in with them regularly to track the process.
However, as we all know that no renovation has ever been completed without any complications along the way add a couple of days as a grace period to each major step. You will thank us later to actually plan for issues to happen.
One little issue on the road throws everyone else out! By allowing for an issue to appear, you are not further delaying other tradies to come in and therefore delaying the final completion date. Be realistic of what can actually be achieved on a day to day basis. Don’t go over the top and try to cramp as much into a day as you can.
Instead, set a clear task list for each day with the days focusing on different tasks: plastering, plumbing, flooring, skirting, painting – whatever needs to be done in your renovation. Not all renovation is the same and needs the same scale. Make sure you use whatever you can of your original house to speed things up.
Another thing to remember is the structural integrity of a home to the future buyer. The foundation needs to be right! Don’t try to take any shortcuts when it comes to the structure and foundation of the house. You will regret mistakes on these integral parts later without a doubt.
Track your progress
Renovations can drag out over weeks, if not months. We often see people getting frustrated, lost and quite emotional. By choosing to renovate, you choose to go backwards before you go forward. Remember this! It gets worse before it gets better.
More often than not we’ve seen people getting close to their breaking point and giving up altogether. We understand it more than you know. Standing in an empty house with demolished walls can be daunting. All you can see is the work that is waiting for you, not the things you’ve already achieved.
We encourage you to celebrate your small wins and document your progress! We all have a camera in our pockets these days – use it! Take pictures with your phone, short little videos. It’s not just for the memories in a few years, it’s for an instant feeling of success when you feel like you’ve lost everything. When you are renovating, it might feel you haven’t moved forward in days when in fact you’ve come a long way from where you started.
Renovations take the strength and optimism out of you which is why it’s even more so important to document your renovation wins and remind yourself of all the work you’ve already done!
Always keep your eye on the end goal: Creating that dream for your future buyer. It will pay off!
When the paint has dried and you can start style the rooms all the pain throughout the renovation process is forgotten. We often refer as painting is like putting on your make up. It will make the final difference to your house and you will attract potential buyers who will pay the price for all your work.
Don’t forget, every renovation is different. There is no one size fits it all. While we can’t give general advice on how much you should budget for or what you should definitely be doing, we are more than happy to inspect your house and give you recommendations based on a personal consultation.
Overall we always tell clients to start by looking around the direct neighbourhood. How do houses look there, what are features that stand out, what’s common and different to your house. By observing the houses in your area, you will get a good idea of what you should include in your renovation as well.
If you’re thinking about flipping or just want to know whether you’d get more for the sale of your home with some simple improvements, get in touch with Mark and the One Agency team on 0408 534 772.
