Sunday, April 14, 2013

Before and After - Little House Renovation

I am so very happy to announce the renovation of Little House is just about done. Our tenant, Louise, moves in today and I think she'll be happy that she's getting the 'after' not the 'before'.

These photos were taken the day we arrived here. GULP.

Before - Little House


Before - Little House


Before - LIttle House

And the afters:

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The total spend was $18,000. The cost was pushed up by the short time frame. Dan did most of it in six weeks, around his job - so we had about a week's worth of paying extra labour to help him get it done.

Other trades jobs that have been done include plumbing and electrics (both about $2,500 each) and the floor sanding (about $1,600).

Also, we had planned to use a second-hand, freebie kitchen but it didn't end up fitting - so we bought this one.

Still, price-wise, we're pretty happy.

The kitchen is a Bunnings kitchen with their 'country' style of doors. The benchtops are bamboo and Dan used a two-pack product to seal them so they're hard wearing.

The wall cladding is a MDF VJ knock-off. Dan loves using it because it means he doesn't have to do any plastering, which makes it much quicker to install.

The paint is leftovers from our last house - I think it's actually an exterior paint, but it was just sitting in the shed so we figured we may as well use it.

Pretty much everything we've used is from Bunnings, except the two-pack product for the benches (the only option I could find there cost $50 a square metre - no thanks)

There's a few little jobs to do. I'm waiting on blinds which are being cut and there is some repairs to be done to the roof and gutters.

But, mostly, for now - it's done. And we can take a few weeks off before we get ramped up on Big House.

32 comments:

  1. That looks pretty awesome guys! I want to say "ouch" to how much it came to, but you can legitimately write it off your tax return. Plus you know the job is done properly, so no do-overs.

    Quick question though - what about the shower screen/curtain? Or can that be something the tenant can put up if they so choose?

    I think it's an awesome little set up. :)

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    1. We've got a shower screen on the way. Should be here this week!

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  2. It looks amazing - and having done lots of renovations of old buildings I don't think $18K was too bad! Particularly if you got it all done in 6 weeks. Now you have an income source too with its rent.

    You have inspired me with your Bunnings kitchen. I need to put a little kitchen in the shearers' quarters we are doing up for guests and was thinking of Bunnings. I got all my bathroom fittings there and they were fabulous.

    I would love to say I was amazed by the amount of mess left by the previous owners. But having bought houses etc before unfortunately I was not.... Thank God for skip bins.

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    1. Thanks! Yup, costs add up quickly! Just getting a skip bin here each time is $300 (and we've been through four). The joys of renovating.

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  3. Wow kudos to you both, that looks absolutely awesome!
    Cheers Judy xx

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  4. Kudo to Dan and you. Wow - it looks amazing. Your tenant should be very happy. When you are adding up your receipts for tax return, dont forget to factor in Dan labour costs - talk to your accountant. Now, have a bit of a rest. I hope your tenant is into gardening and will soon have the little verandah with pots of lavender and herbs - thats what i am imagining.

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  5. Looks great, what a transformation. I can't believe the state of the place before. I would be embarrassed to leave all that behind!

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  6. Wow, the decision to do it in white has lightened up the interior of the Little house and made it seem much bigger too. Love the bamboo bench tops and Dan has done a brilliant job in such a short period of time and I don't think the cost was extensive considering the circumstances. The good part is that it will eventually pay for itself :).
    Cheers, Robyn

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  7. That looks so fresh and clean now! Well done, and in such a short amount of time too. Look forward to seeing what you do with the big house!

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  8. What a difference! How gross was the old place, gulp indeed!! Well done, it looks amazing and I'm sure your tenant will love it. You should take some photos from the same angles as the befores, so the impact is even greater.

    I do wonder about how high that second towel rail is. Can anyone reach it up there?

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    1. I meant to say in post - I was limited by what angles I could shoot photos from as Louise has started moving her things in and didn't want to photograph her stuff without asking.

      As for towel rail, Dan was probably just thinking of him-size people when he hung it :-)

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  9. For me, the biggest change is the bathroom. One tiny shower held together with duct tape to a beautiful bathroom! I'm impressed!

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  10. Amazing! Nice work :)

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  11. So what about the other rooms - dining/living and bedroom/s - don't tease, show em all!!
    And as to $300 per skip bin - why not do what the old farmers did - dig a BIG hole with the farm tractor, then slowly, over time, bury all the old junk - that's what happens to it at landfill anyway!

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    1. Yup, really should have mentioned my limitations in shooting 'after' pics in post! Apparently it's frowned upon to go poking around someone's bedroom after they've already moved stuff in ;-) As for landfill idea...what tractor?!

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  12. You guys have done a fantastic job..little house looks so adorable!
    x

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  13. It looks great. I love the cupboards in the kitchen - who'd have thought Bunnings had something so nice!

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  14. Amazing. what a transformation. Love your style.
    x

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  15. Amazing transformation, much better than that taped-up shower/tub,eeeww!

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  16. Wow looks great! That first bathroom gives me the shudders! Well done!

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  17. its BEAUTIFUL!!! they are going to be sooo happy with it.... especially the kitchen!

    xx, kara

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  18. It all looks great! You did well for the price considering you added a brand new Kitchen and Bathroom, the new tennant should be very happy :-)

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  19. lucky louise!...all looks fab...I keep looking at the before shot of the bathroom!...bloody hell! x

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  20. What a great job, man, that bathroom was soooo manky, eeew ! it all looks just lovely now.
    Masters are opening in Toowoomba first or second week in May and have their reps for the kitchens at K Mart till the opening, most helpful and well informed, might be worth a look, even if just for ideas.

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  21. Really I do not know what was wrong with the old bathroom, looks similar to the one here in our house! Seriously though looks amazing. Dan should be loaned out to other renovators!

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  22. Wow, it looks incredible, you tenant must be so happy and those will be paid off quickly with the rent coming in. So glad you bought your VERY hard working hubby those recliners! mel x

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  23. Serious - you dudes are awesome! Well done.

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  24. Always the renovated house looks different. In your case there is a big difference because you have not only painted the walls, but you have completely changed the look of the rooms. The final result is stunning!
    http://anyclean.co.uk/

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