Lessons Learned from a Full Home Renovation

Renovating an entire home can be a dream or a nightmare, depending on how prepared you are.

Luckily, you have landed on this blog post where I’m sharing my top lessons learnt from a full home renovation so you can avoid making the same mistakes. These lessons will save you time, money and serious stress.

Expect The Unexpected & Budget For It

Even with the best planning, surprises happen.

Old wiring, plumbing issues or structural damage can easily throw a wrench into your timeline and your wallet.

A lesson I learned is to set aside at least 10 to 20% of your total renovation budget as a savings fund. This means that no matter what you might uncover during the home renovation, you won’t feel completely strapped the cash when you have to solve it.

We had to completely (and unexpectedly) re-wire our entire Victorian house!

Design First, Then Demolish

It’s tempting to start tearing things down the minute you get the keys but don’t rush demolition without a detailed design.

So before you make any huge decisions, finalise your layout finishes and fixtures. You can use mood boards and 3-D rendering or work interior designer to understand the end result.

Hire a Professional

Your contractor can seriously make or break the entire renovation.

Take your time vetting general contractors, contractors and interior designers. Ask for references, check out their previous projects and look online for reviews.

And also make sure that your vision aligns with them and that they can communicate clearly.

It’s also important to consider hiring an interior designer as early as possible.

Interior designers think holistically and they can prevent costly mistakes from happening.

Remember That Timelines Are Estimates

Even with the most efficient team, full home renovations often take longer than expected.

Delays can be due to weather, material back orders or inspection bottlenecks.

if you’re living elsewhere during a renovation, plan a cushion in your temporary housing. If you’re staying home at brace for dust, noise and disruption.

I can confirm this - our full kitchen reno was estimated to take 2-3 weeks and ended up taking 7!

Keep Track of Your Decisions

Fixtures, finishings, paint colours and flooring, there are so many decisions to make during a full home renovation.

Delays and decisions may cause delays elsewhere.

That’s why you should keep track of each decision that is made and track it in a spreadsheet so you know your plan entirely.

There Will Be Emotional Highs & Lows

At first, renovating your home can feel exciting, but once the initial excitement fades, it can become stressful.

Fatigue, budget pressure and decision overwhelm, can wear anybody down. It’s important to celebrate the wins and trust the process.

It’s Worth It in The End

Leading on from that point, a full home renovation can be stressful but incredibly rewarding.

You get to build a space to reflect your lifestyle, your personality and your needs. Your home is worth investing in so keep the end goal in mind!

Key Takeaways on Lessons Learned from a Full Home Renovation

A full home renovation is not for the faint-hearted but with careful planning, the right team and a flexible mindset it can be one of the most fulfilling projects you’ll ever undertake. Make sure to save this post for later to come back to you when you’re going through the highs and lows of renovating your home.