Look, I’ve renovated more homes than I can count, and let me tell you – it’s not rocket science, but man, it’s easy to mess up if you don’t know what you’re doing.
I remember this one time, couple years back, I watched my neighbor try to “save money” by doing everything himself. Poor guy ended up spending triple what he budgeted because he had to redo half the work. Don’t be that guy.
## **Start With The Boring Stuff (Trust Me On This)**
You wanna jump straight into picking tiles and paint colors, right? I get it. But hold your horses.
First thing – and I mean the VERY first thing – you gotta know what you’re working with. Get a proper assessment done. Check the bones of your place. Foundation issues? Electrical problems? Water damage hiding behind those walls? Find out NOW, not after you’ve spent 20k on a fancy kitchen.
Here in Sydney, you can’t just knock down walls willy-nilly. You need permits, approvals, the whole nine yards. And trust me, the council doesn’t care that you already bought the materials. They’ll make you tear it all down if you didn’t do the paperwork right.
## **Budget Like Your Life Depends On It**
Okay, whatever number you have in your head right now? Add 30% to it. Seriously.
Here’s how I break it down:
– **60%** for the must-haves (structure, plumbing, electrical)
– **25%** for the nice-to-haves (that dream kitchen)
– **15%** for the oh-crap fund (because something WILL go wrong)
And please, for the love of all that’s holy, don’t blow your entire budget on one room. I’ve seen people create these magazine-worthy kitchens while the rest of their house looks like it’s from 1982.
## **Get The Right People (This Is Where Most Folks Screw Up)**
You wouldn’t perform surgery on yourself, would you? So why try to design and manage a whole renovation without pros?
A good building designer isn’t just drawing pretty pictures. They’re thinking about:
– How your space actually flows
– Where the sun hits at different times
– How to maximize every square meter
– Making sure everything’s up to code
I’ve worked with teams that handle everything from the initial sketches to getting council approvals. The good ones will even stick around during construction to make sure the builders don’t “interpret” the plans their own way.
## **The Order Matters (Like, Really Matters)**
Don’t be that person installing new floors before fixing the roof. Here’s the order that actually makes sense:
1. **Structural stuff** – Foundation, roof, walls
2. **Systems** – Plumbing, electrical, HVAC
3. **Insulation and drywall**
4. **Flooring**
5. **Kitchen and bathrooms**
6. **Painting and finishing touches**
Mess this up and you’ll be ripping out brand new work. Expensive mistake.
## **Small Spaces? Get Creative**
Not everyone’s renovating a mansion. Most of us are trying to make our regular homes work better. Here’s what works:
– **Built-ins everywhere** – That weird corner? Built-in storage. Space under the stairs? More storage.
– **Multi-purpose everything** – Dining table that extends, ottoman with storage inside, you get the idea
– **Light colors and big mirrors** – Oldest trick in the book because it actually works
– **Open plan (if you can)** – Knocking down non-structural walls between kitchen and living areas is a game-changer
## **Sustainability Isn’t Just Trendy BS**
Look, I used to roll my eyes at all the eco-friendly stuff too. But here’s the thing – it actually saves you money long term.
Good insulation? Lower energy bills forever. Water-efficient fixtures? Same deal. Solar panels? They basically pay for themselves these days.
Plus, if you’re in Sydney, you need that BASIX certificate anyway. Might as well lean into it and do it right.
## **The Reality Check**
Renovating while living in the space? It’s gonna suck. No sugar-coating it. Dust everywhere, no kitchen for weeks, contractors showing up at 7am. If you can crash somewhere else for the worst of it, do it. Your sanity (and relationship) will thank you.
Timeline? Whatever the contractor tells you, add 50%. Weather delays, material shortages, surprise problems when they open up the walls – it all adds time.
## **Final Words From Someone Who’s Been There**
The best renovation isn’t the one that looks perfect on Instagram. It’s the one that makes your life better every single day. Focus on function first, then make it pretty.
And honestly? Sometimes the smartest move is admitting you need help. A good design team can save you from expensive mistakes and actually get you better results than going it alone. They know the local councils, they know what works in Sydney homes, and they’ve seen every possible problem before.
Your home should work for YOU, not the other way around. Keep that in mind and you’ll do just fine.
*Now if you’ll excuse me, I need to go help my neighbor fix the “minor” flooding issue from his DIY bathroom reno. Some people never learn.*