Sometimes the hardest part in renovating is getting started. It can be a daunting experience but with solid planning your renovation can become a financial and personal success. iThink Sales & Marketing Associate Lana Holznagel, is currently in the process of renovating her home and has a few reno ‘must knows’ for you!
BUDGET, BUDGET, BUDGET
Creating and setting a budget is a vital step when planning your renovation. Make a list of all your needs and wants & include everything from bathroom taps to paying your tradies. It can be easy to overspend when renovating so make sure you keep track of all your expenses. To help save on costs, shop around as much as you can and compare costs to make sure you get the best and fairest deal. It’s also a good tip to allow a bit of extra cash as a buffer for those unpredictable hiccups.
CHECK WITH YOUR COUNCIL
Depending on what sort of renovations you are doing you may need to get council approval. This can sometimes take time so it’s important to get in early before you start making any drastic changes. The regulations and requirements can differ between councils so don’t just take someone else’s word for it.
HAVE A PLAN
Plan ahead and set yourself targets. A timeline with dates of when you would like jobs started and completed is a good way to keep on track. Before getting too ahead of yourself think about what style you want and how that style can flow throughout the house. You need to have a general idea of how you want each room to look and feel. To avoid spending every weekend at Bunnings be organised and know exactly what materials you need for each room and by when.
If you’re not sure where to start or you need some style inspiration have a look at Pinterest. This social media platform is a virtual inspiration board which can help you collate style inspiration and ideas. But be careful, Pinterest addiction is a thing!
RENOVATE WITH THE FUTURE IN MIND
It’s important to remember renovation is a long term investment; your decisions will have important consequences down the line. When renovating you want to choose finishes that won’t date. Leave the latest trends for accessorising- they are easier to change. To ensure you don’t regret your decisions invest in quality finishes and keep it simple with neutral colours.
LITTLE THINGS, BIG DIFFERENCE
Sometimes it’s the little things that can make the biggest impact on the home. Things like door handles, the colour of door and window frames, the choice of paint on the wall etc. Make sure you don’t overlook these items otherwise it could ruin all your hard work. An important tip for when painting is to remember to look at the colour in different lighting- morning, midday, evening. These different times of the day will throw a different colour so be prepared and ensure this colour is right for you.
LANA HOLZNAGEL – SALES & MARKETING ASSOCIATE
LANA HOLZNAGEL – SALES & MARKETING ASSOCIATE 0413 535 191
lana.holznagel@ithinkproperty.com.au
Since joining Mark Costello’s sales team this dynamic duo have achieved a number of record sales and they are quickly gaining a reputation as one of the most professional and hardest working teams in Toowoomba. Interior design and styling is Lana’s other forte and passion, and not only has she spruced up their office space, but has been a great source of advice to sellers looking for that edge when it comes to securing a buyer.