Five reasons why you should never renovate

By
Vivienne Pearson
October 17, 2017
Even small, seemingly simple renovations can become massive undertakings. Photo: Stocksy

To renovate or not to renovate, that is the question. It’s a decision that comes to most at some time. There are other variations on the theme. Renovate or move? Renovate or stay put in a less-than-ideal home?

I have never renovated and I hope to still be able to say that when I move into a nursing home. The very thought of renovating sends shudders down my spine. That’s because I’ve watched others do it. Sure, some of them are very happy at the end but there was a long, dark tunnel they had to get through before that point. Others are less than happy, a very disappointing state of affairs after all that work and money.

Here are my top five reasons why I hope to never renovate:

1. Double the time and double the budget

This motto stands the test of almost every renovation undertaken in history. The $10k bathroom reno comes out at $20k-plus. The six-month total renovation ends up taking a year. This goes for small, seemingly simple renovations to massive undertakings. Even those who know their journey is going to be broadcast internationally fall for this trap (reference: re-runs of Grand Designs). The trouble is that you can’t go back. Once you’ve stripped the bathroom, knocked down that wall or shopped for a mountain of floorboards, it’s impossible to turn back on discovering that hidden asbestos / had the quote updated / finding that you’ve forgotten to cost in a major element.

2. Decisions, decisions, decisions

Some people thrive on making decisions. I’m not one of them. I’m famous for making a decision then changing it the next day. The sheer numbers of decisions involved in a renovation are mind-boggling. From the overall concept through to every niggly detail, decisions are everywhere. And so many of the decisions rely on others. You can choose the colour scheme for the kitchen and make subsequent choices of bench tops, flooring and cupboards only to discover the most beautiful splashback in a completely out-of-scheme colour. For me, this would be torture. I’ve managed smaller projects such as new blinds and found myself overwhelmed, then regretful, before finally loving them. Multiply this by a factor of lots and I’d be a mess.

3. Total domination

Like other major life events, like planning a wedding or having a baby, a renovation completely dominates the renovator’s life – before, during and after the job is done. Like marriage or parenthood, there is pressure to become a mini-expert in all sorts of topics in a short space of time. Evenings are dominated by internet searching and decision-making. Weekends are filled with visits to display homes and tile shops. Most of these are located at a considerable distance and are no fun for anyone other than the keenest renovator. My sister used this as an effective discipline tool for her sons: “any more fighting and I’ll take you back to the lighting shop!”.

4. The interim

There seem to be three options for existing while a renovation is in progress. The first involves living without a functioning bathroom / cooking facilities / outside wall. I don’t mind camping for a weekend but living a normal life in amongst a renovation does not appeal in the slightest. The second option is to find a rental property for exactly the period you need it for. This is like looking for a needle in a haystack, especially after referring to point (1): that all renovations last for twice as long as planned. The third option is to renovate a new house while still living in your current one. Good luck to anyone who can afford the bridging finance this requires (on top of the doubled cost of the planned reno). The fourth option is moving in with parents or parents-in-law. I probably don’t need to comment on this prospect.

5. The memories

After a renovation, everything in your house is something that you have planned, chosen and paid for. While this may be a heartening experience for some, for me it would bring regular reminders of the stress, the options not taken and the burden of the cost. And that’s if it all goes well. One friend admits that she hates her kitchen cupboards every time she opens one. Another friend relives her builder’s mistake of putting the bath tap in the wrong place every time her kids scrape their back on it.

Maybe renovation is a joy for those who have lots of time and money, thrive on decisions, have no other life, and somewhere attractive to live during the process. Maybe others have worked out ways to subvert or manage my imagined renovation woes. Maybe if I find myself with no other practical option, I will have to take a deep breath and plunge headlong into the process. But I still hope that I’ll hit that nursing home without having renovated a house.

Vivienne Pearson is a freelance writer who wrote this article in an attempt to talk herself out of buying an unrenovated house…

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