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Survival tips: living in your house while you renovate it

June 20, 2022 Leave a Comment

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Are you planning to live in and renovate your home at the same time? You need these seven tips from serial flipper Claire O’Connell to make your renovation survivable!

Claire’s own kids are right at home on a (safe) building site!

Living in your renovation is a fantastic way to save money whilst you renovate. The thought of renovating your house is very exciting but that excitement can quickly wear off if youโ€™re not prepared. Here are five tips to help you survive your live-in home renovation.

It’s important to prepare yourself for whatโ€™s to come. This means putting a proper renovation plan in place and understanding which trades you intend to use and what you plan to do yourself. Pinning down a timeline is important for you to understand how long things will take. In my experience, renovations very rarely finish on time as inevitably surprises or delays will happen, so preparing yourself for the reality of time is very important

Create a plan but prepare to be flexible

The one consistency with renovating is that plans will change, there will be the inevitable delays and hits to the budget. You have to understand you canโ€™t plan for everything. But as youโ€™re living in the renovation, you need to be realistic about timing and factor in your contingency for time and budget. You also need to prepare yourself for the disruption and dust and plan to work around your renovation zones.

Phase your renovation

Itโ€™s not realistic to completely demo each room and start to renovate. You need to consider how you will use the house during the renovation so you will have to phase your renovation to suit living there. Ensure you have a running toilet and water as well as somewhere you can prepare food and eat. 

Remove any hazardous or harmful materials

A lot of old houses can contain lead paint and asbestos so the I would highly recommend having a professional come in to flag any potentially harmful materials and have them removed. Asbestos can be found in ceilings, walls, insulation and lino as well as other materials so always get a professional company to walk through before any demo is done. Donโ€™t take any chances when it comes to your health and always use appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) if youโ€™re sanding or stripping walls with lead paint.

Remove any porous materials

Removing any porous materials or materials that hold a smell or bacteria, like carpets or water damaged wall boards or any rotting wood that may contain mould will go a long way to making your live-in reno more comfortable. 

Consider climate control

Consider temporary air con or heating units to provide comfort. You can pick these up on Facebook Marketplace. If they arenโ€™t a longterm solution you donโ€™t need to buy brand new and this will save you some money and you can always re-sell after youโ€™ve finished.

Create a safe place to play

Renovation sites get messy and thereโ€™s usually construction waste and nails etc so if you have pets and/or kids then create a safe and comfortable space outside for some play and fresh air. Create allocated areas for construction mess and add temporary fencing to ensure there are safe areas for you kids and pets to play.

Have fun

Renovating is stressful and if youโ€™re living in it you literally never leave the mess and it can get you down. Donโ€™t forget to add joy into your life! Celebrate the progress and the wins. Having a proper plan and budget is a great way to reduce the overwhelm so stay organised and on top of your plan. Remember youโ€™re creating a beautiful home for yourself and your family so if itโ€™s all getting too much, take a couple of days off and go and do something you enjoy. This will help you to unwind and come back with renewed energy.

Follow Claire and husband Derek on Instagram as they renovate their 15th house, and this one’s to actually make home with their family.


Check out their handy budget trackers, reno calculators and more for purchase

Serial renovators embark on 15th house and this one’s for keeps!
Claire O’Connell and her now husband Derek have been renovating for profit for the last decade after meeting as backpackers…
When cost of living increases put your reno in jeopardy, be smart
With a piping hot property market over the last two years, you may have bought the imperfect house in the…

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One half of popular parenting podcast @wedonthavet One half of popular parenting podcast @wedonthavetimeforthis, turns out former Neighbours actor @gemma_peanut is even more multi-talented than we thought! Will you check out the joyful and colourful reno of her holiday home (and airbnb) @yo_caba_caba?!

Head over to the blog via link in bio to read all about why she went bold and full of pattern in this project, which is a stark contrast to her zen and neutral Northern Beaches abode.

There's also plenty of details about where things are from etc.

"Iโ€™m not an interior designer so I just chose what I liked and followed my gut. Ultimately this home has been an opportunity to explore my alter ego โ€“ it allowed me to do things that I wouldnโ€™t normally do.โ€

๐Ÿ“ท @tanikablair_photography 

#interiorsblog #interiorsaddict #theinteriorsaddict #jenbishop #gemmapeanut #wedonthavetimeforthis #parentingpodcast #parentingpodcasts #holidayhousesofinstagram #cabaritabeach #airbnbstyle #airbnbstyling #colourandpattern #wallpapergoals #patternedtiles #featuretiles #poolgoals #sparkjoy #yocabacaba #boldinteriors #funinteriors #colourfulkitchen
Not many friends in life fall into the unofficial Not many friends in life fall into the unofficial family category and they're a special gift. So ends three weeks with @danisteve81 who left her husband and son in the UK (I'm forever grateful they lent her to me!) to come and cheer me up and help me in the most practical ways after I spent Christmas and New Year in hospital. There were tears and I miss her so much already but how amazing to have had all that time together as adults. Such a rare treat and would never have happened without having been through something so challenging. Silver linings and all that. So many other friends have also been incredibly thoughtful and kind. There aren't many times I'd say this without cringing but I am 100% blessed!

I still cannot believe we have been friends since we were 12! 12! Are you still close with your childhood besties?
The renovation of this 80s beach shack @camillo_ho The renovation of this 80s beach shack @camillo_house is a work of art and while almost every surface was updated, the decision to keep the original slate floor was genius if you ask us. 

Owner @clarehillier__ says: "With its purple, pink, red and brown tones, the slate was the starting point for our interior palette."

Come and check out the before and afters via link in bio now and read the reno story. It's a real beauty.

And you can book it for your next holiday too!

Blair Smith Architecture @kateshanasy

#slatefloor #slatefloors #80shouse #80sbeauty #camillohouse #interiorsblog #interiorsblogger #interiorsaddict #theinteriorsaddict #jenbishop #realreno #holidayhousesofinstagram #morningtonpeninsulahomes #morningtonpeninsula #morningtonpeninsulasmallbusiness #blairgowrie #blairgowriebeach #airbnbstyle
Me and my boys ๐Ÿ’— Me and my boys ๐Ÿ’—
Just a couple of dorks who've been friends for thr Just a couple of dorks who've been friends for three decades going out for a child-free dinner ๐Ÿ’“๐Ÿ˜
Excuse me while I die of a cute attack ๐Ÿฅฐ @damia Excuse me while I die of a cute attack ๐Ÿฅฐ @damianfrancis 

This doesn't happen often these days!
Hello friends! Just thought I'd say hi. Two weeks Hello friends! Just thought I'd say hi. Two weeks since leaving hospital and I'm doing much better than I expected to be at this early stage. A long recovery road ahead but making progress in how much I can move my arm and although I drag myself through some days non-stop yawning, others I can go for a little walk or out for lunch before collapsing on the couch! I can now tie my own hair back and put on a real bra which is very exciting ๐Ÿคฃ Having my bestie here to help us with the boys, drive me places and just be brilliant positive company is the best thing I could have asked for not to mention the many Dinner Ladies vouchers from friends! Thanks for all your kind messages, cards, flowers, gifts and offers of help โค๏ธ
I definitely feel like a statistic now but hoping I definitely feel like a statistic now but hoping to raise some awareness off the back of my misfortune (and also very lucky escape).

@newsouthwaleshealth have just put out this warning about a rise in serious bacterial infections. iGAS (invasive group A streptococcus) is what caused my necrotising fasciitis and sepsis.

Apparently there's similar happening in VIC too.

It's extremely rare but very serious nonetheless so please have a read and be aware of symptoms. I've linked to the article from a button via my link in bio.

#interiorsaddict #jenbishop #necrotisingfasciitis #groupastrep #groupastreptococcus #sepsis
While new technologies continue to shape the inter While new technologies continue to shape the interior design scene, one that has been getting a fair bit of traction of late isย marble-look porcelain. A cheaper alternative to natural stone, the latest printed porcelain tile technology makes it difficult to distinguish from the real thing.

Founded by husband and wife duo Anton and Rita Bourtsev, Sydneyโ€™s @kaolintiles has a unique offering in this space with over 100 different marble-look tile designs in small and large formats.

More via link in bio now.

#porcelain #porcelaintile #porcelaintiles #largeformattiles #largeformattile #marblelooktiles #bathroomtrends2023 #interiorsaddict #theinteriorsaddict #heartyourhome #realrenovations #goldsink #brasssink #jenbishop #kaolin #kaolintiles #interiorsblog #interiorsblogger
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