Home renovations can be a daunting yet incredibly rewarding process. Starting from the very bottom you get to watch as your dream home comes to life right before your eyes. But like many new homeowners before them, rookie renovators can find themselves stuck in the mud and falling behind because of a few common pitfalls. Here are a few tips and tricks to keep yourself afloat and enjoy the journey of home renovations.

Have a plan!

It can be easy to jump into things going full speed ahead, but before you pick up the tools and start breaking down those walls, make sure you know exactly what you want and where you are going. Start from the very beginning; what rooms are you going to be focusing on? What sort of design styles or themes are you going to be drawing inspiration from? When you have an idea in your head, or laid out across your vision board, it’s time to start thinking practical.

When DIYing it’s easy to fall in love with the idea of doing everything yourself, but there are tasks involved that cannot be done by anyone other than a professional. Things like plumbing, electrical work, or roofing and tiling are best left to the experts. So, once you have established where you will need the help of an outside vendor, it’s time to start doing your research. Call around, get some quotes, but most importantly find who you believe is going to be the best person to bring your vision to life. Then think about what equipment you’re going to need. Paint rollers, power tools, etc., are all useful, but even more so when you have what you need prepared and don’t have to rush out to bunnings halfway through the day once you’ve realised your missing key equipment.

Another area to consider is council applications and approvals – what work can and can’t be done without one? You don’t want to get four steps ahead then have to take five steps back because you failed to check what work or renovations require permits.

Set a clear budget $$

Now that you know exactly where to move on the chess board of renovations, it’s time to think about money. It makes the world go round, and we would all love a little bit more in our pockets, but realistically, how much do you have?

Sit down with your renovation partner – or your team – and go through what number you’re comfortable putting towards the renovation. From there, break it all down. Gather those quotes you got earlier when you made a detailed plan (if you didn’t, go back to the first paragraph. I’m watching you!) and set out budget limits for each category. How much are you spending on paint? Furniture? The little things matter. It all counts, and it can all add up quickly. If you stick to the budget and even have a little set aside in case of emergency, you’ll be ready to kick things off.

Set out a realistic timeline.

We’re not Marty McFly, and we can’t jump into the Delorian and whisk ourselves back to Monday when we wished we had more time to finish installing those beautiful glass doors. So be realistic when setting out your timeline. Ask around and see how long the professionals believe certain tasks may take. Factor in your own lifestyles and work schedules, and make sure your timeline can be flexible if emergencies or unforeseen circumstances do occur. But while you have a finish line in sight, make sure you savour those little moments throughout the process and enjoy the ride.

Keep on top of your paperwork.

You may feel like a hoarder with everything you need to keep an eye on, but staying on top of your paperwork is key to sticking to your goals, your timeline, and your budget. Whether it be digital or paper copies, make sure to keep those receipts, invoices, records of quotes, etc., as they will all come in handy to ensure you’re not met with any sneaky surprises.

This may be the most important tip after all. Have fun! It’s easy to feel dejected, tired, or stressed during such a big event, but don’t let yourself get lost in the hard parts. Every day can be a new memory and story to tell your friends and family when they walk through the halls of your new and improved home.

Now that you’re ready.

On your marks…

Get set…

GO!