Here are some thoughts about successful renovating from a serial renovator:
- Stick to your strengths. Ask yourself what you’re good at and what you enjoy. Plastering is meditative, tiling requires precision, landscaping gets you outdoors.
- Painting is a great place to start. And delivers the most impact, cheapest, by far.
- Leave the most dangerous stuff to the professionals, and treat them like family.
- Be mindful of over-capitalisation, even if you’re not worried about making a profit. Even mid-range finishes have a huge impact.
- Keep a record of everything you spend.
- keep a close eye on the local property market, even if you have no intention of selling in the short-term. Stay connected to an informed agent who knows.
- A good floorplan is critical: agonizing over the layout before you even lift a hammer will set you on the right path.
- Look for humor in everything you do. Don’t let the stress of dust, bills, delays and your substandard workmanship eat away at you.
- Create a place where you’d be happy living. In case you cannot/don’t want to flip/sell.
- Accept failure quickly because not every project will go as planned. (FT)
4/17/2025