Our cottage reno $10,000 budget

We have recently purchased a 1900's chamferboard cottage. Thought someone would like to see some pics of our renovations so far.

I have made a budget of $10,000. The reason being is that it makes me think of everything I do to the property and having a budget of $10,000 I always think of how to save money. I do what is necessary and will do work ourselves or only get in a professional when we want to.

Timber floors polished  : The floorboards were in reasonable condition so we are very pleased with the way they came up after polishing

Before : The enclosed front verandah had red carpet squares over timber

After:  The floor boards after we had them polished

Bedroom 1 old carpet

Bedroom 1 New polished floorboards

Hello Reno Queen

Hi
As the verandah is enclosed (they call it a sleepout) we had it polished the same as the two bedrooms.

I couldnt believe the difference and it is so nice to walk on the polished floors

Kitchen cosmetic makeover

Being a small kitchen we are constrained by what we could do. Being a rental property we decided to keep the stove and gas top which is in pretty good condition

Old kitchen

New makeover (still more to be done)
We got one of the benchtops and one cupboard half price from IKEA bargain section

Have you got a picture of the front you wouldn't mind posting?
I confess I don't know what a 1930's chamferboard cottage looks like.

I will post a pic of the house but have a look at the enclosed front verandah.  Notice the white wall these  are  chamferboards. . Its like weatherboards but wider. I believe you cant buy them any more they have to be especially made.

The white wall is the original front of the house. The original verandah has been enclosed to make another room

Chamferboards have a "straight" finish with a bevelled edge at the top of each board. Because of the bevel each board sits flat and creates a nice straight finished line down the outside wall. Queenslanders usually are weatherboard and Californian Bungalows generally are chamferboard. Weatherboards don't have the bevel and each board slopes out towards the bottom. They look quite different. Chamferboards look a bit more refined and "finished".

This is so exciting what you've done - we are looking at a circa 1930's house tomorrow that will need a touch up in the kitchen, floors done and a lick of paint.  I totally think that $10k is a great starting budget (for us at least) to get a house looking fabulous. 
Don't you just love IKEA !!  Question - are buying, reno and selling or buying, reno, rent & sell.  If you're Brisbane based, did you get a good deal on your polished floors ?  We're about to do our PPOR.

Hello Rache

I decided when I bought the cottage I was going to have a budget of $10,000 because if I didnt I would just buy whatever and really not try to get good bargains.

 Last week I got these cupboard doors with glass in them from IKEA for $7 each normally $40 each . If I didnt have a budget I would have bought them at the full price possibly.

I have spent about $4500 so are on track. We are having a two car garage built as well but that is not included in the $10,000 budget for the house. I try to do as much as we can ourselves.

If I come under budget then I will be happy.

The floors cost us $1,100 which was for bedroom 1, bedroom 2 and front verandah. We had them professionaly done

We bought the house for our two daughters so we are doing the reno and will keep the cottage. We all pay a share in it

Removing the cladding;

I wanted to see what exactly was under the cladding as  I didnt want us to paint the cladding. Luckily it is chamferboards. You never quite now what is under there as cladding can hide problems.

The chamferboards are in quite good condition.  The cladding is difficult to pull off but its worth it to see the original boards

Removal of metal window hoods

Covering up old Louvre windows

Reno Queen - thanks for posting your progress - very interesting to see  - I hope to do a reno some day  - I have my eye on a 4 Br house which needs massive csometic stuff but I suspect nothing structural and it would be +CF once it was done but I have failed to convince my husband to go with it. He thinks anything we can't rent out immediately is too risky. The irony is it is also a big corner block so subdivision would be possible too. I shall just have to live vicariously through you for a while!!
cheers.

re Ikea...

moral is, watch ebay for large store vouchers going cheap, especially when they are high value vouchers since most people cant afford thousands of dollars OR have trouble spending thousands in one store. I also saw a $4000 Good Guys voucher go for $2500.

www.posigear.com.au
Positive Geared Share Investing

Hi Kathlynv

You may like to hear a little background to this Cottage purchase.

My husband and I own a few properties but he is not interested in renovating just buying properties that are ready to go.

I enjoy the renovating side so about 5 years ago I bought a house and then he helped me renovate it.  It looked great once we finished but we didnt really have a budget so I just go what ever we needed.

We sold it 5 years later as it was on a main rd and we did make a profit.

I saw this cottage which is in  a great suburb and just couldn't wait to renovate it.  Its on a small block and I then decided I want to concentrate on small blocks in good suburbs IE Worst house in the best street.

I then decided I would only spend $10,000 on this reno and I think all the time how to renovate the property under budget.

My husband helps me but I try to think of ways to get professional help at a good price.
Cheers

Hello Crashy
I'm curious why did these people have a IKEA voucher for $10,000? Did they win it ?

I would be so worried paying the money for a voucher from Ebay in case IKEA didn't accept it.

IKEA are very funny sometimes like that with returns purchases etc

Bathroom makeover

they won it, first purchase at grand opening.

I met them there & verified it was transferable & had $10k balance.

heres another way to save on renos:

use 600mm x 600mm gloss black tiles on kitchen benchtops instead of granite. costs $40/m which means about $250 if you also use them for splashbacks, but recently Ive started using stainless instead for splashbacks. Its even cheaper & quicker, also gives more light & looks more modern. try it on kickboards too. I did all kickboards & splashbacks for $160. I also just repainted cupboard doors in gloss white enamel & replaced handles. total cost for kitchen was about $400 but it looked new.

www.posigear.com.au
Positive Geared Share Investing

Hello Crashy

I'm so surprised IKEA allowed it to be transferable.
 
I wish I could have a card like that I would just shop every day at IKEA

That was a good purchase of yours

New muli coloured gravel path

We have just finished the gravel path and think it came up well.

BEFORE

AFTER

Timber slats.
 
I think they look nice painted white.  These hide the louvres which can be replaced one day. .