Renovating The Home Everyone Told Me Not To Buy!

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Renovation Interview With @Thefaffingnest

Meet Dot & Arlo!

Alongside her husband and dog Arlo, Dot has been renovating her home since December 2023, showcasing the renovations on her Instagram & Tik Tok accounts and we think they’ve been doing an amazing job!

Dot has taken the time to answer a few questions about her renovation and given us an insight into what it’s been like to renovate a house that your whole family told you not to buy!

1. Tell us about when you first saw the house and why you wanted to buy it.

We had seen a lot of properties by the time we got around to seeing this one. We wanted somewhere quiet and out of the way, so when my estate agent showed us this one online, I thought he was joking because the map showed it was in the centre of a built-up area. He told me to give it a chance and wait until we saw it. We drove there, realising it was so close to our old house, but we never knew this road existed. It was a gorgeous July day, with clear blue skies and beautiful weather.

We walked down the long driveway, surrounded by trees and bushes, and walked around the house.The inside wasn’t great, with lots of work needed and cat hair everywhere, but as soon as we stepped out into the garden, we knew it was the right house for us. Firstly, it was silent (except for the sound of birds chirping); you would have no idea how close we were to town and all the shops and supermarkets. The garden itself is not overlooked at all, and the huge conifer trees surrounding the borders make you feel like you’re in a clearing in a vast forest – truly magical.

We went for a few beers with our friends in the evening, sat outside in the sun, and we couldn’t stop talking about the house and its potential. We put in an offer the next day, and the rest is history

2. What was the initial plan with the house once you got the keys, and has this changed?

Initially, I had grand plans for a two-storey extension, with gabled roofs and laundry chutes. Then it went down to a single-storey, where the side was extended to give us a large utility room and downstairs bathroom. But since everything costs so much, and we wanted to save a portion of our budget to really improve the garden and driveway, we decided to scale back even further and just knock a few walls down instead of extending the footprint. Luckily, the house’s floor plan allows for a beautifully large kitchen, and we’ll be adding large glass doors to enter the garden

3. Do you have experience of previous renovations or work in a trade?

Before this one, I helped my dad with two renovations in one, where he purchased one house and split it into two dwellings. To save us money, we lived in one of the houses while everything was being done up around us. That in itself was a challenge, and we promised ourselves we’d never do it again.

The experience I gained showed me what was possible and gave me the ‘eye’ to see the potential in a property, but because it was my dad who dealt with the budget and tradespeople, I had to learn a lot when we got this house ourselves. My advice is to always get more than three quotes, ask for advice, and compare costs always, but also to remember that for something magical to happen, you have to take risks. I think we all believe we will get it right the first time, under budget, and be pros. But that’s simply impossible. That Pinterest-worthy example you saw cost a lot, and your friend’s friend ‘Mike’ may have done it all himself, but was he also working a full-time job? Probably not. So let yourself make mistakes, but don’t let anyone fob you off either. Hold your ground

4. What challenges have you had to overcome throughout the process?

My first challenge was that my family of property developers, including my dad, all told me not to buy the house. They said it was too much work and I wouldn’t see the profit. But I had to remember that for them, this is a full-time job where the profit they make pays salaries and overheads. Our ‘profit’ will be just that, ‘profit’. We both have full-time jobs, and therefore we’re doing this house up to live here, and if we do sell, hopefully we at least break even. The second challenge was having those full-time jobs. Wallpaper stripping at the weekends is not what we call enjoyable, but it’s all part of the process.

5. Tell us about some of the highlights from your renovation

Finishing the first room felt amazing. We had been sleeping in the spare room, which was bright blue and under the water tank that made funny noises. The bedroom was done quickly so that we could move in, so it still needs some final finishing touches, which classically, will take an age to complete. But that first night, on the new mattress and new bed, was awesome. I loved building our alcove cabinets with my dad; they came out better than I could have expected, and I’m so pleased with how they turned out. Just spending time in this house, it’s a bit grim in some places, but the location and the garden are two things we have utterly fallen in love with.

6. How have you managed to stay positive and manage your mental well-being?

Oooph, great question. Positivity is hard to maintain; things happen, and people let you down. But I am very lucky to have a husband who doesn’t have time for moping about or feeling sorry for yourself. When something doesn’t go to plan and I’m having a wobbly lip, he’ll remind me of all the achievements we’ve had. He’ll remind me of the worst-case scenario and help put it all back into perspective. However, what he can’t help me with is my constant need to ‘do stuff’. I am always on the go, and I have two speeds: dead fast or dead slow. I burn out about two times a week, but I think I’d do this renovation or no renovation. Painting, planning, and spending time doing something productive is my favourite pastime. I’m just learning not to try and bite off too much or put too much pressure on myself to achieve in short deadlines

7. What have you done to fund the renovations? Have you had to make extra money from a side hustle, etc.?

We sold our house, and with the profit from that, we were able to put down a deposit, keep some for the renovation, and mortgage the rest. We’re both working full-time and getting our normal salaries, and we both contribute to the things that are out of budget but we’d like to have, like fancy fridges or a log burner. The budget was also halved into Phase 1 and Phase 2 so that we could really understand what was a priority and what was secondary. This has helped us a lot.

8. What tools could you not have done without?

A chop saw, for sure, multi-tool, my impact driver and cordless drill. I reckon I use my laser measurer about two times a week, and my filler knife is being used for lots of things besides filler. I do not use my brad-nailer half as much as I thought I would. And I wish I had a proper hoover; my poor Shark has been beaten

9. What three pieces of advice would you give to anyone looking to buy their first renovation project?

1. Budget in detail, get real quotes, look up products (plus delivery), and then add 20% to it. Invest in a good budget spreadsheet, either by buying one online or spending time making your own. I have one, and it’s my literal bible.

2. Get the right tools. You’re only as good as your tools, and if you’re going to attempt panelling with a hand saw only, you won’t enjoy the project.

3. Go big or go home. If you’re up for it, just do it. You’ll learn as you go. There are always ways to lower the price (Facebook Marketplace and a friend with a van is all you need). Be confident, give things a go, and make it work. But also, be warned about the dust; don’t say I didn’t warn you.