Articles

Lessons from the Money Pit

The things most homeowners find out too late — written by someone who managed a two-phase home project from the inside, and kept the receipts.

Our renovation didn’t start with a budget. Why phasing, compromise and knowing when you’ve done enough kept us in control.

As my electrician finished his quote he said: let me know when the chaser is finished. The who? Why trade sequence matters.

I compared quotes and picked a good builder — but I never questioned the timeline. Why the programme matters as much as the price.

Our renovation is finished — so why do I still think about the next project? On knowing when your home already gives you enough.

Our floors never quite levelled — a compromise I chose. A dead socket was a snag. Knowing the difference, and why a running snag list matters.