Finally settled 2 days ago. Began demo/clean up today – a big old green house, old pavers, carpets, lino, curtains etc. The boards under the covering are in awesome nic. One truckload down ..???? to go.

Crashy – did look at kitchen options you mentioned but still came out more expensive from Ikea

Been busy getting quotes and costing the renos. An idea of the plans so far:

Kitchen – L-shaped kitchen, including benchtops and wall cabinets $1850

Tiler – best quote (not necessarily cheapest) $800 to tile the bathroom – need to work on this one I think but a lot of the tilers are fully booked until well after new year

Painter – ~$5500 to do…[Read more]

Still waiting for banks to get get going and set up my supposedly preapproved loan. I almost think our first bank wants to make the sale fall thru because we got 2nd mortgage thru diff bank. With less than 2 weeks b4 settlement, the first bank has rung today to say they have to do a driveby valuation b4 will agree other bank being 2nd mortgage. A…[Read more]

More like $1250 – first guy has included asbestos removal (diff company) and other guy wants me to do on top of that amt.

Rang to discuss with preferred builder and recommends beneath celing as (a) extra costs incurred to get beams into ceiling – remove some of aluminium roof and (b) doesn’t feel could get adequate support.

Ho, Just thought i’d say hi as I am just startng my first reno in East Ipswich. My hb did agree to me buying the house but did not actually get around to looking at it until 3 weeks into settlement. Thankfully he too was ok with my purchase.

Melanie

Got quotes back from builders for removing and supporting walls between kitchen and living room – $2450 (extra support put within celiling) + get asbestos remoed first and $2300 with beam below ceiling – bulkhead style. Think will go for latter.

Already allocated nearly $15000 of budget and still need to cost bathroom, laundry and outdoor…[Read more]

Thanks Crashy. I will definitely take a visit to Ikea.

Re: using tiles for a bench top, I have seen that suggested before but doesn’t it then look like tiles on a bench top or do you not notice the joins?

Also spent a fair bit of time trying to organise tradesmen today. Agent says is happy for me to access house as often as need which makes…[Read more]

Thanks Grace, REALLY appreciate the advice. Your comments are also very much along the line of what we are planning, so that is heartening.

We are getting quotes on opening up between the kitchen and main bed, which will become the living. The current living will become main bed.

Hadn’t considered making the front room a bedroom – will have…[Read more]

Forgot to add – dimensions in bath and bed 3 – hall not accurate ie bathroom is wider than that, but small

Measured up the house as is no existing plan.

Counted the little things (thtat I think will add up quick) – power points, light fittings, light switches, door handles, cupboard handles etc

Had a builder in for a quote to get remove 2 walls. Debating whether really need to remove cupboard in bathroom as it really is small room. Problem is would…[Read more]

Today: debated paved area vs decked: paving doesn’t need railings and would come up nice and keep open feel in smallish yard?

Planned kitchen design.

Contacted carpenter/builders re removing walls between kitchen/hall/living area.
Contacted asbestos removalists to get idea cost as one wall asbestos. Less than expected.
Showed house to hb to get…[Read more]

I bought the house in the first week of school holidays and, having young children, asked for a 6 week settlement to allow 2 weeks holidays, 4 weeks organising. Well hiccup no 1 has been hand and mouth disease – so after an extra week and a half of settlement time at home with the boys sick, I decided they’d just have to come with me.

2 slushies…[Read more]

Thanks for the ideas guys. People like you are what make this such a great resource.

thankyou. will give it a go.

Main problem is that there is a laundry extension and a 2nd bathroom extension off rear of house from the kitchen, (the kitchen window looks into the bath extension!!!) and both are on diff levels to each other and to the rest of house. We think it is the ‘problem” that makes the house undervalued. There is a gorgeous back yard with no windows…[Read more]

Bathroom ok size but kitchen big eat in style. Thanks for helping.

It's fibro outer. That would have to be easier than brick i imagine.Thanks for the advice.