Reno hacks for rookies

Ask yourself why

According to home and interior design experts, Kyal and Kara Demmrich, working out why you want to renovate is one of the most important things. ‘Figure out what your long-term goals are,’ says Kyal. ‘Is this the family home you want to live in or an investment property?’

Break down the budget

‘Always start with a budget so you don’t spend the bulk of your money on one room,’ advises Kara. ‘Allocate each room a budget and try to stick to it.’

Track your spending

‘Make sure you record every cent you spend because it adds up really quickly!’ explains Kara. ‘There are some really great apps out there to keep track of spending and it’s something you can do while sitting on the couch at the end of the day.’

Start small

‘Our advice is to go room by room,’ recommends Kara. ‘The bedroom you are going to spend most of your time in is a good place to start because they are generally the easiest to renovate and once you’re done you’ve got a room to escape the mess of the rest of the reno.’

Buy second-hand

According to Kyal and Kara, you can save big bucks by buying unused materials. ‘Gumtree is a great platform for second-hand goods in the home section because with each build there is always going to be building materials surplus that you can pick up for cheap,’ says Kyal.

New isn’t always better

Look at the areas of your home that could be improved with a simple cosmetic renovation to save money. ‘If your kitchen cabinets are in good condition, you could just look at painting them, replacing the handles and putting in a new tile splashback,’ says Kara.

First impressions matter

Doing up the yard with small changes can make a huge difference. ‘Make a nice entry to the front door,’ suggests Kyal. ‘It could just be adding some stepping stones that you can pick up for $10 each to create a nice path to the home.’