What is the real life cost of renovating or building your home?

And why does it seem so much cheaper and faster to renovate or build in the television or online world?

The most significant differences between real life renovating and building, and reality TV and online versions are this: COST and TIME.

I’ve been working with homeowners for almost 25 years now, and one thing has been constant. Their expectations of what it will cost, and and how long it will take, are vastly different to real life renovating and building.

You’ll be told by well-meaning friends when you announce you’re planning to renovate or build … “You know what they say? It’ll cost you twice as much and take twice as long as you plan it to.”

However, in my experience … homeowners commence the process with a budget that’s 50% – 75% of where it needs to match their brief (their needs, wants, wishes and desires for their home). And they don’t understand how long the whole process will take, and that it can sometimes be 2 to 3 years from start to finish.

Why this big mismatch between expectations and reality?

Well, I believe this is the most significant difference between real life renovating and building, and what is presented on reality TV and online versions.

LISTEN TO THE EPISODE HERE:

Of course, when it comes to your own project, no one is bailing you out budget-wise. No one is turning up on site, offering you an extra $10,000 along the way because you overspent.

It’s also difficult to understand exactly what the budget is paying for in online and TV renovating and building. Brand partnerships, discounted trade rates, free products and free labour all contribute to a lack of transparency you can directly compare to your own project.

You’ll often see online and TV renovators and home builders making decisions and choices ‘on-the-go’ (cue hectic scenes and mad dashes in and out of tile shops). Or changing their mind (and home) during the build. You’ll find, as a homeowner, that this …

• Costs a huge amount of extra money in variations
• Blows out your project timeline
• Represents terrible project management methodology
• Isn’t liked by a lot of builders

If you’re financing your project, signing a contract with a builder for the total sum, and committing legally and financially to the build or renovation of your home, you will get yourself in a lot of hot water if you behave like an online or TV renovator or home builder.

Chances are that you will not be running this project as your full-time job. Squeezing a renovation or new build into an already-busy life can cause stress and headaches if you expect it to seamlessly happen.

Your capacity to make decisions, have clarity when under pressure, and feel comfortable whilst operating outside of your comfort zone … these will all be entirely different to the online or TV renovator or home builder who gets to dedicate their full attention and time to their project.

Listen to the episode as I talk more about the significant differences between real life renovating and building, and reality TV and online versions: COST and TIME. And how you can manage your expectations more realistically to save cost, time AND stress on your project.

This episode is brought to you by my online course “Manage Your Build”.

Are you planning to build your new home or renovation? Do you fear it will be a stress-filled ride of budget blowouts, compromises and dramas?

MANAGE YOUR BUILD provides you with industry-insider knowledge, checklists and strategies to save you time, money and your own sanity when building your new home or renovation.

A collaboration between Amelia Lee, Undercover Architect, and Duayne Pearce, of D Pearce Constructions, Manage Your Build shares know-how, expertise and experience from over 45 years in residential design, building and renovation.

This online course will prepare you for your construction phase so you can know you’re actually getting what you’re paying for, and avoid the heartache and drama of a horror build.

It gives you the clarity, confidence and information you need to start your project on the right foot – and navigate throughout each stage of construction.

Head to https://undercoverarchitect.com/manageyourbuild/ to learn more and join us.

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