Renovating can feel overwhelming, but breaking it down into smaller tasks and creating a plan can help make the experience more manageable. Don't hesitate to seek advice from professionals, who have gone through the process before...
Are you thinking about renovating?
You’ll want to have a read of this…
If you’re thinking about renovating your home and worried about budget blowouts, you’re not alone. Renovation Project Manager Jen Jones from Nine Yards Consulting sees it all the time “most homeowners realistically need to 2-3x their budget to achieve the inspo image they have in mind”. Scary thought! Especially with rising interest rates, labour shortages, long lead times on materials, and the overall (ever rising!) cost of construction – as a result of all of the above.
So what exactly does a Project Manager do, and is it worth hiring one given the prevalence of budget blowouts on renovation projects? From where we’re standing, it makes the homeowner’s life a whole lot easier. Project Manager’s like Jen often place their orders well ahead of when items are needed, ensuring fabrication lead-times don’t impact progress on site, and protecting their client from future cost increases by locking in today’s price. Win:win.
Scale that up to all aspects of a renovation project, and you can’t really go wrong. In fact, having Jen on your side will most probably save you money as well as achieving the elusive ‘on budget’ renovation that no one seems able to obtain. It can be done! You can also expect your renovation to be completed to a pretty high standard, with regular quality checks on site as things progress – this after a very thorough review of your architect’s drawings, preparation of a scope of works, and a comprehensive dissection of your builder’s quote and contract to ensure everything is captured.
Throw in comms with the team on site (including translation of tradie talk), and a mediator for any issues that may arise, and you’re onto a winner. But what if the price tag of a Project Manager feels out of reach? Even if the value is highly likely to surpass the investment? This is where we get to share one of our favourite things about Jen… she’s created affordable resources for homeowners from $7+ including cheat sheets, checklists, workbooks, ebooks / guides, template documents and even an eCourse that teaches you how to do her job for a fraction of the cost. If you need extra support, you can even book ‘pick my brain’ sessions with her or sign up for a monthly support package as you work through your reno.
If you’re still wondering what it is that makes Jen the best secret reno weapon you can have, you might be surprised to hear she has almost 15 years’ experience in the construction sector. With so many self-taught renovators sharing tips and tricks on Instagram, you can be forgiven for thinking that’s all Jen is – but no, she’s managed renovations from $50k - $2m right up to commercial projects valued at $220m+.
We asked Jen to share some of her top tips with you today, and here’s what she came up with…
“With the biggest issue for homeowners being budget blowouts, I recently pulled together a 40min webinar taking viewers through my three secrets for preventing just that: budget blowouts. Here’s a summary of what they are:
1. Align your expectations with reality. If you’ve never renovated before then of course you’re not going to know what to expect it all to cost! Homeowners are notorious for underestimating the cost of renovations and it’s down to inexperience – which isn’t your fault! Like anything that you’re new to, you have to fumble your way through it once to fully appreciate what it takes.
2. Identify the risks and mitigate them. There is always an element of ‘unknown’ on any renovation – but often for me it’s the same half a dozen ‘surprise’ items that come up. Asking around will help you to identify what when wrong for your friends and family, and then you can figure out if it’s a risk for you too. If it is, you can mitigate or allow for it so there are no surprises.
3. Know your scope. Architectural drawings are notoriously lacking in the detail required to obtain an accurate quote from a builder. This is why there can often be such a huge price disparity between builder’s bidding for the same project – the drawings are totally open to interpretation and they’ve each looked at them differently. Being able to articulate exactly what your expectations are upfront will serve you in the end.
“To learn more about these three secrets to preventing budget blowouts, watch my free webinar where I dive into each of these in more depth, with examples to help explain them.”
“I set up Nine Yards Consulting to allow me to bring my commercial construction experience and expertise to residential projects. I am well equipped with the know-how, competence and confidence to manage the process, keep your project running smoothly, and share the journey with you from start to finish, in whatever capacity you need.”
~ Jen Jones
Sustainable choices when building / renovating
Renovating is daunting enough without the worry of taking sustainability into consideration, the products we choose to put in our homes can directly impact the environment and our health, so the smallest change can make all the difference.
Being sustainable is crucial because it helps to ensure that we are able to meet the needs of the present, without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. It allows us to conserve resources, reduce waste, and minimize our impact on the environment. Additionally, embracing sustainability can promote social and economic well-being by creating healthier communities, stimulating innovation, and fostering long-term economic growth.
On the blog this month we have Genia and The Natural Paint & co, which are two companies that are becoming well known with in NZ, not only for their amazing products but for their response to the environment and sustainability. Have a read below and check out their websites.
Genia's Interior Linings have been inspired by New Zealand's breath-taking landscapes. Each profile has been carefully crafted to add natural warmth and texture to any interior space.
The Ninety Mile, Castlepoint, and Egmont profiles have a radius profile, allowing for elegant curved designs and detailing. The Interior Linings can be natural, painted, stained, and/or clear-coated. Sometimes it's hard to decide whether to leave the beautiful natural timber look or to finish with a coat of paint.
The timber profiles are manufactured from solid timber and supplied in lengths that are easy to handle and install. They can be supplied and cut to your specified length, thereby minimizing wastage. We have a responsibility to reduce the impact on our community and the environment wherever we touch it, however we touch it and wherever our products are distributed. However, our obligation must extend beyond saying how we will, into how we do.
We are committed to minimising our effect on the environment, creating value for our customers by using less resources and striving for less waste.
Environment ~ We are constantly researching and introducing more effective ways of processing product. We invest in machinery that processes product more efficiently and consumes less power. We will only produce untreated shavings and sawdust in our processing operations with a goal to achieve zero waste with all timber waste being used to fuel kilns for drying product. We will only source our timber material for production from sustainable plantations and use recyclable material in our packaging wherever possible.
Genia is a family business based in Motueka, with a long-standing reputation for crafting high-quality timber products. Genia offers a sampling service for their entire range of architectural products. Check out their website and request your samples today!
Having a healthy home is crucial for our physical and mental well-being. It can help prevent illnesses, allergies, and other health problems. A healthy home also promotes a better quality of life, as it provides a comfortable and safe environment for us to live in.
Natural Paint Co’s paints and oils are eco-friendly alternatives to traditional synthetic coatings on the market. They are made from natural ingredients such as plant oils, resins, and minerals. They have removed the harmful chemicals found in conventional coatings , making them safe for both humans and the environment. This is what Grace and James from Natural Paint Co are striving for …
“Natural Paint Co was created with an uncompromising promise; to make the world’s best paint and timber oils that are better for people and our planet”.
Their pillars are ~ Health, quality and sustainability
Health ~ At Natural Paint Co, we use well researched ingredients that have no negative impact on your health during or after application, and disclose all of these for you.
Quality ~ Using decades of scientific knowledge, we have transformed natural clays, resins, and pigments into high-quality paints and oils right here in Aotearoa. Natural Paint Co paints are scientifically formulated with everything you need and nothing you don’t.
Sustainability ~ Sustainability is at the core of everything we do, from prioritising natural and renewable ingredients, through to our initiatives of recycling or donating left over paint to those in need. To further our impact, we protect 1sqm of Amazonian rainforest with every 1sqm you paint - to date they have saved over 4M square meters.
Natural paint Co products range from quality prep, indoor / exterior and oils, in many stunning colours and finishes . Check out their website and get your samples today to begin your project.