This book was expensive at the time - about $50, but it covers just about every repair, upgrade, renovation I've ever conducted and as far as I'm concerned is worth it's weight in gold.My first project was to renovate the ensuite in my main bedroom. I chose to do this whilst my husband at the time was away on 5 months training. I figured that way any mistakes I made could be rectified before he came home. The demolition was by far the best bit of it. As it was so out of date, toilets got smashed vanity was ripped out, the only part I took real care with was the shower screen for safety reasons. I also had two large mirrors in the bathroom, which I carefully removed and then sold to a lady who wanted to use them in her dressage arena. That then paid for the tip fees, the tile adhedsive and grout for the new tiles.
I chose a cheap blue common tile for the flooring and a common white wall tile for the walls. All tiles including capping cost me $450. I wet sealed the area using a brush-on wet sealer from Bunnings that cost me $70 (compared to the $300 I was quoted for a professional). Rather than create a hob for the shower base I went to my local reno depo and picked up a pre moulded shower base for $99, I also picked up a brand new mirror for $70. The vanity I bought on ebay for $360 delivered and the shower screen I got three quotes from local tradies and it ended up costing me $650 installed. I read the section of my book on how to lay tiles and found it remarkably easy as long as you took your time and paid strict attention to detail. The paint for the walls was a mis-tint from Bunnings costing me $21 and I did this myself as well. I carried out this project over two weeks and the total cost came in at $1720.
Not a bad result for a first reno - I would estimate this saved me over $4000!
My next project came about when I moved into the three bedroom unit. In real estate terms the unit had 'good bones' but nearly all the fixtures and fittings needed replacing or updating. I started by pulling up the flooring in the lounge and lino in the kitchen.
I bought mis-tints from Bunnings again and painted the lounge, kitchen and bedrooms for $65 including two feature walls. I then ordered carpet ($500 fitted) and bought some factory second tiles for the kitchen for $150. I knew the kitchen desparately needed updating but priced a flat pack kitchen at $1500, so instead I bought some laminate paint, some tile paint and new knobs for the cupboards. I painted the doors, old tiles and lined the inside of the cupboards with some contact. The kitchen cost me a total of $120!
I had a family friend who owed me a few favours, so I got them around to paint architraves and doors in gloss (I could have done this myself, but there is quite an art to painting with oil based paints) I paid him $200 to do this for me. The ensuite in the main bedroom was still in quite good condition, so all I did in there was replace the toilet seat and put up a sturdier shower screen - total $50.
The main bathroom had been re-tiled at one point, but the previous owners had simply tiled over the old tiles. I discovered this as I tried to pull a tile off the bath to find a leak. I bought a hammer drill with a chisel bit from Bunnings for $69 and spent three weekends, two manicures and several bottles of red chipping off the old and the older tiles. I then bought the same tiles ($100) I had used on the walls in the previous house and decided rather than going through the pain of chipping up the old tiny floor tiles, that I would simply re-grout. I found border tiles for $1 each on ebay and I bought a new mirror for above the vanity from the Reject Shop $20. I found an old vanity drawer at my local recycling depot for $10. After re-tiling, re-grouting, painting and ordering a new shower screen ($600) the total bathroom reno cost me $880.
I used left over tiles and paint to use on my balcony and at the end of this reno my total costs were;
* Paint $65
* Architrave painting $200
* Carpet $500
* Kitchen $120
* Ensuite $50
* Main bath $880
* Grand total $1815
I sold the unit six months later for a tidy $60,000 net profit and bought a larger home a few suburbs away. The home was only seven years old so all that was required was some gardening.
Twelve months later I moved out of this house and rented it out, this became my first investment property since my divorce. I moved into a new house with my partner at the time and before moving in, carried out some basic renovations.
The floor was old slate, having not enjoyed the experience of chipping away at tiles last time, I arranged for a tradesman to come in and do this for me. I found some beautiful porcelain tiles at a steal for $380 for 22 sqm and paid the same tradesman to lay them for me (porcelain tiles are not as easy to cut as normal ceramic tiles) The removal, plus laying of the new tiles cost $2200 ($2580 inc tiles)
I then chose a new paint for feature walls in the bedroom and lounge, this cost me $90. I bought a ceiling fan with light from Bunnings for $99 and had an electrician (a good mate of mine) install the fan, some downlights, some extra internal powerpoints and an outdoor powerpoint for $900. I bought second hand cupboard handles for $10 from the local recycling depot and this completed the kitchen.
Total cost for this project was $3679
While I was living in this home I bought a 2 bedroom unit at the south coast. The property was tenanted at the time, but around 6 months later they decided to relocate, this was just before Christmas - hooray! So I packed up the car with my renovating supplies and headed down. I knew the tenants were smokers, so I arranged for my property manager to have the walls washed with sugar soap prior to my arrival, this cost me $200 but was well worth it. I replaced door handles in the kitchen, repaired the cupboard doors with new hinges, rplaces wardrobe door handles, repainted the kitchen and lounge, replaced cracked tiles took the curtains home and washed them. Total cost for this project was $125
I managed to rent this place out on the 2 January for an extra $30/week.
About 12 months later I bought a block of land through a ballot, it was my intention to build a house on the block and move into it with my partner, turning his property into another investment. Unfortunately a few months later, the relationship broke down and I was forced to move back into my parents house. None the less this inspired me further to build the house on the block and have it as my own. I was now 26 years old, had two investment properties and whilst I was living with my parents, it was very affordable and I had a new home to look forward to. Just prior to the house being complete, I got keys to the home and painted feature walls in the foyer, main bedroom and lounge using - of course - a mis-tint $22!
Being a brand new home, there was no work required other than landscaping. I had some left over bricks which I tucked away in the garage and I used these for an edge in the garden, I cemented these in to minimise weeds. I then put down weed matting and dug holes for the border plants. The best part of building a new home in the ACT is the $220 plant allocation from the government. I went out and selected 16 hedge plants and three cordelines as feature plants. Total cost to me - nothing! I knew I didn't want to mow lawn so I chose cheap rock and bark for the front. Front yard landscaping cost $400
Out the back is still a work in progress. I plan to pave an area and have bark in the other area. Meanwhile I am nearly finished tiling the alfresco area with left over tiles from the house. Once this project is complete I will add more photos and include total costs.
