Having completed our third major renovation, this one taking three years and starting in Covid with all the extra stresses that brought, I can honestly say, unless you can be in the property most of the time, be experienced enough to detail everything in advance and have everything ordered and on site before trades start… you need to employ a really reliable project manager. As a professional interior designer married to a joiner… this is not for the faint hearted!
This really resonates with me having come through just over 18 months of a major project on my home affecting every room. I didn’t move out and definitely needed to be here everyday. Even with the architect’s plans the builder would have got the new downpipes in the wrong place had I not been checking all the time and that was just one example. One of the most frustrating things is the often poor communication from trades. I had a really good joiner but when I got in touch to alert him that another batch of work was needed it would be ages before he confirmed his availability, not even giving an indication of when he might be available. But in the scheme of things his excellent joinery skills were worth waiting for but better communication would have reduced my stress levels. And it has all been worth it and then you focus on what has been achieved and the memory and stress of what you lived through recedes.
Part-way through a major renovation, my house is currently rocking the “unplumbed gold miner’s shack c.1898” aesthetic. Your advice is spot on, Michelle - I was fortunate to be able to relocate nearby before the work started and I became a sort of “Disruption Prepper”, making my temporary home cosy, neat and womb-like to provide sanctuary after I’d seen my much loved house torn to pieces. It WILL be worth it, but the financial cost is only part of it.
I’m planning a total rebuild on my home and I’m excited and also not looking forward to the schedule of work that needs to be done and the dust, mess and dealing with builders. I just have to get my big pants on and get on with it.
Having completed our third major renovation, this one taking three years and starting in Covid with all the extra stresses that brought, I can honestly say, unless you can be in the property most of the time, be experienced enough to detail everything in advance and have everything ordered and on site before trades start… you need to employ a really reliable project manager. As a professional interior designer married to a joiner… this is not for the faint hearted!
Agreed. PS Ace call being married to a joiner!!!
I am considering moving and as I have some special needs which may necessitate some building work, I'm dreading it!!
It IS always worth it in the end, but I guess my caveat is to not take it lightly, whatever the makeover programmes might like us to believe!
Thank you, I so needed to read this today. 🙌🏽
This really resonates with me having come through just over 18 months of a major project on my home affecting every room. I didn’t move out and definitely needed to be here everyday. Even with the architect’s plans the builder would have got the new downpipes in the wrong place had I not been checking all the time and that was just one example. One of the most frustrating things is the often poor communication from trades. I had a really good joiner but when I got in touch to alert him that another batch of work was needed it would be ages before he confirmed his availability, not even giving an indication of when he might be available. But in the scheme of things his excellent joinery skills were worth waiting for but better communication would have reduced my stress levels. And it has all been worth it and then you focus on what has been achieved and the memory and stress of what you lived through recedes.
Thank you, I needed to read this today.
Part-way through a major renovation, my house is currently rocking the “unplumbed gold miner’s shack c.1898” aesthetic. Your advice is spot on, Michelle - I was fortunate to be able to relocate nearby before the work started and I became a sort of “Disruption Prepper”, making my temporary home cosy, neat and womb-like to provide sanctuary after I’d seen my much loved house torn to pieces. It WILL be worth it, but the financial cost is only part of it.
I’m planning a total rebuild on my home and I’m excited and also not looking forward to the schedule of work that needs to be done and the dust, mess and dealing with builders. I just have to get my big pants on and get on with it.