Renovating Types

Do you know these renovating types? Be careful not to fall into one of these categories during your renovation project. These 3 types of renovators are the ones who tend to run into trouble at some stage of their project. But by strategically thinking and getting other opinions, you can avoid falling into one of these categories.

They’re so excited about the renovation plans that they just want to get started without thoroughly thinking about the project. They jump right in and hope their builder can work with their ideas, which have a habit of changing along the way. They think, “It can’t be that hard to change this or that during the build – can it”? (Hint: The answer is, yes, sometimes it can be “that hard”) To avoid becoming a ‘why wait’ type, it’s best to speak to other people who have renovated. Everyone will have words of wisdom for you. Hopefully, there will be a like-minded person to sway you from rushing into the renovation based on their own experiences. Sit down with your builder and discuss the renovation process thoroughly. Sometimes you can go into a project with the vision that it’s going to be like a tv show, glamorous and fun, but in reality, it can be much tougher and not as easy. Discussions with builders and friends and family, should give you an insight into the process and hopefully encourage you to stop and think before rushing in. If you’re still eager to get started, why not begin with small projects or cleaning that will help out in the long run.

No matter how excited they are about living in their newly renovated home, life events keep ‘popping up’ and getting in the way of starting. These are the procrastinators of the renovating world. There are always other projects that need attention over the primary renovation. So while the house may be sparkly clean, it still hasn’t been renovated. These are also the same people who struggle to complete the project once it’s begun. Even though the renovations were started, other priorities have come up yet again, getting in the way of completing the renovation. No one wants to live in a half renovated house. Procrastination gets all of us, but when it hinders your renovation project it can become frustrating. Try creating a checklist, so you can work through one bit at a time, plus you get to check it off once it’s done, and who doesn’t love that satisfaction? Alternatively, setting a deadline can encourage the process to move along. Working on completing the renovations before your next event or holiday can mean that instead of simply stressing over getting the renovations done, you can work towards impressing your friends and family with your new home!

These characters enjoy the thrill of a bargain and the challenge of “penny-pinching” prices…but have champagne tastes. They think there is always a compromise that can be made so others will sharpen their pencils for their benefit. Price comparing is their thing, even if it means employing the cheap and cheerful guy down the road without the experience or reputation required for clean finishes and a stress-free project. Yet they still expect the finished product to be incredible. Everyone wants the home of their dreams, however, sometimes this is not realistic. Cutting corners to cut costs will only end badly. To avoid this, it’s best to set yourself a reasonable budget, and allow for it to be flexible on unexpected extras, just in case! Sitting down with your builder and working through the plans and budget will allow you to gain an understanding of why the project will cost what it does. This budget can also guide you in later monetary decisions, such as buying appliances and furniture. It’s important to have these discussions with your builder because they can also provide guidance and a different perspective. They might have a solution or alternative to an otherwise costly renovation choice. Another error that corner cutters fall for, is blindly choosing the cheapest builder. There’s a reason that they work for so little and it’s generally because they won’t do a high-quality job. Do your research before you start your project. Read up on the builders and find reviews. You can then make an informed decision.