About

What are the renovator’s top problems?

You guessed it:

1. Time blow out
2. Money blow out
3. Bad building quality
4. Stress

I could argue that stress is often the result of the previous three. So that makes them even more important to manage.

Here’s the deal:

• Having a good builder won’t guarantee a perfect renovation
• Do-it-for-me doesn’t mean you don’t need to do anything yourself
• Some people spend more time researching buying the house or even a car than they do researching their renovation
• Just because you’ve hung a picture or two doesn’t mean you know anything about building
• Luck is NOT a management strategy

BUT

• Preparing the early stages - budget, design, tendering, contract - is absolutely critical in having a stress-free building process

So how do you best prepare?

First of all (and this is a no-brainer for a couple of reasons) you should read my book The Renovator’s Survival Guide. I wrote it after I experienced my own renovation disaster and in it I go through all the pitfalls renovators can so easily fall into, and how to avoid them.

Industry experts have described it as essential reading and radio hosts across the country have said it’s both surprisingly funny and jam-packed with good advice.

Honestly, the last thing I’d want to read is something technical, dry and boring. So I wrote this for people just like me.

(In case you want to know more about me - “Why should I listen to her anyway?”, you’re asking - the short story is that I have worked as a senior manager in the building industry for the last decade, as well as personally experiencing a six-year renovation epic that involved firing and suing my builder, and turning an inner-city horror story into something fabulous. I’ve also interviewed hundreds of renovators, architects, builders and consultants for the book and at work. The long story you can get here.)

Secondly, you should subscribe to this blog, which will keep you up to date with top tips, top products, and top news. Things change all the time, so hear it first here.

Finally, you should join RENOSURVIVOR, the free community site I set up because I know that renovating is a bit like having a baby or rescuing a new dog. There’s almost as much pain and just like new mothers, renovators want to talk and talk, and then talk some more about their renovations. Sometimes non-renovating friends become a little bit bored. If you want to share with other renovators, as well as ask all the questions that seem to arise along the way, then join up here.

That couldn’t be simpler, right?

So go to it, and best of luck with your renovation!