Things I Wish We’d Done During Our Renovation
Our home renovation project feels like it was forever ago. Three and a half years have disappeared, but it also feels like we’ve been in our home forever. During our renovation, progress felt so slow, but in actual fact it was done in just over five months. But there are some things that I wish we’d done during this time.
There would have been a lot more things on this list if money hadn’t been an object. But a lot of wish list things like new windows, a new front door, a garden renovation etc just wasn’t within budget for us.
During our renovation I wish we’d finished our garage renovation
We bought our home at the very start of the pandemic so Luke and his dad were out of work for a period. And when they did go back there was limited work, and generally no overtime. Weekends were pretty clear as we couldn’t go away or do very much, and this would have been prime time to get the garage renovation complete.
Fast forward three and half years and we’ve only made limited progress. Luke works a very manual job and understandably the last thing he wants to do is then work at home. We’re looking to have the project (mostly) finished by the end of this year. But I do wish we’d just finished the project during the renovation process.
I wish we’d not left any snagging details
We were keen to move in as early as possible and I didn’t think the snagging details would take so long to finish. For example we have no door frame on our bathroom door so it’s quite messy looking. And we have a few sockets/ switches etc where it needs some filling and finishing up.
We’ve tackled a few smaller bits but I still have a long note of things that we just need to finish. I’m making it my mission to get as many of these small bits that I can do myself complete by the end of the year.
During our renovation I wish we had wallpapered our downstairs loo
We had visions of a jungle style room and bought the wallpaper for our downstairs loo around three years ago. But as the plan was to get our garage renovation done shortly after moving in we thought we’d do the decorating for both areas all together.
But the garage renovation is still unfinished, and the wallpaper for our downstairs loo is still sitting around. Again I wish this was just something we’d done there and then regardless of other plans.
Again this is something we’re looking to complete before the end of the year.
Here’s hoping most of this list gets completed in 2023
16 responses to “Things I Wish We’d Done During Our Renovation”
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Rhian Westbury
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Wishing you all the best with your renovation – sounds like you’ve identified what you would have liked to have done differently. This is helpful for me as we are embarking on a major renovation.
Aww. That sucks about the renovation, but I totally get it. That’s the last thing I would want to do if I were him, too. It’ll get done, though!
These are very valuable lessons, thank you so much…Next year we will be renovating our kitchen…I am both scared and excited at the same time lol
I think the kitchen is one of the most exciting projects as it can make such a huge difference x
Homeowners always have some sort of DIY project pending that is always on going. I am sure you will work your way through them in due course.
It’s always like this when you do any house works. I can relate to the wallpaper; there are parts of our house I also wished we had redone.
Your blog post beautifully captures the paradox of home renovations – the feeling of time both dragging and flying by simultaneously. It’s a reminder that the process may be challenging, but the sense of having a “forever home” at the end makes it all worth it. Your honesty about budget constraints is relatable to many, reminding us that even with limitations, we can still create a place we love. Great read!
Oh dear, the snaggings, I feel for you there. We did the same. We always intended to fix them when we could. It’s been years, oops!!! Oh well, at least you managed to get some of the smaller bits done. It’s a few less to have on your list at least.
Yeah I’ve ticked off a few little bits so far, but the list is getting longer every time I look round the house haha. Always the way x
Hindsight is 20/20. It’s nice that you’re sharing so others can take this into consideration when it’s time for them to renovate.
As a fellow mom who has been through home renovations, your insights are incredibly relatable. It’s funny how time can both fly by and stand still during such projects, right? Your regret about not finishing the garage renovation during your home renovation process is understandable, as work-life balance and energy are crucial factors.
Ohh 100% about time flying, but things also feel like they’re taking forever x
I remember after hurricane sandy the stress of renovating was so overwhelming. I think in the thick of it between the stress, deadlines, finding honest contractors, it was hard to know what the right decision was. It’s always after the dust settles you realize, but it’s great having guides and articles that share the same experiences and lessons in renovating because as exciting as it can be, it’s also so stressful!
You shared some helpful tips we are going to get our renovations done next year and these points I can surely include when we sit with our interior decorator.
There is always so much to learn from renovations! The snag details is such a good call.
Things get so busy when you move in and get back into life that it can take a long time to sort out x