I am not saying that we will go ahead with any of this and even if we do get some money from the tax man we probably couldn’t afford any of it and besides, we are probably going to save any money but here’s a hypothetical for you:
I love my house and although it isn’t inhabitable or in complete disrepair, there is so much that we can do to improve it. BUT WHERE TO START?
The walls are stained with crayon, children’s “washable” paint and scuff marks. There are chips on the corners where the boys’ bikes have bumped and they’ve been banned from riding in the house now. The walls are a dull, boring and a very clinical grey.
The carpets are stained beyond belief and it’s very embarrassing when I have guests. I want plush, stainfree carpets or better yet, hardwood floors or maybe even the new eco-friendly (dislike this term by the way) bamboo floors.
I would love to breakfast outdoors on a brand new deck but we have to fix the backyard’s atrocious drainage else along with my cup of tea, I will need gumboots.
So dear readers..what would you do? You are completely within your rights to add your own suggestion even if it’s to tell me I am being precious and spoilt and that all the money needs to be donated to charity and an Islamic one at that!
« Bliss Child Free »
Do the biggest and the cheapest thing first. Here, it would be painting the house (cheap is a relative term, hahaha)
Garden… er, later.
I’d do the carpets next…
and then the garden
Walls come first!
zOMG Squeeeeeeeeeeeee! I LOVE THIS SORT OF THING! No doubt because we are renters (gah) and so never get to ponder such fun things. We are stuck with white (once – our two kids plus the two kids who lived here before us have rendered it spotty and grey) carpet, white walls and ugly beige venetians that are straight from an office. With CUBICLES. Also, why would we invest stacks into a garden we can’t take with us? Boo.
Okay! *brisk, excited clapping* Here’s what I’d suggest, in order:
1. If you can afford it, do the floors. Getting all the floors done would make a HUGE diff to any house. You would not believe it.
2. If you don’t have that much cash to splash around, I’d paint the internal walls – yourselves. Actually not nearly as hard as you’d think (if you’re hanging wall paper, however, i’d call in the experts), and will save you $$$$$. It’s also a good excuse to palm the kids off to the parents. Win-win. Again, all the walls having a fresh coat of paint will make a huge difference to the overall look of the house. It just screams freshness. And happiness. And success. And lots of influential friends.
3. Garden. And I say this as someone who loves the garden and gardening. I think you’d get faster happiness doing the floors or walls, plus visitors more likely to see that. Whatever is left, put into the garden, and do as much yourselves as you can (obvs, don’t RE-DO THE PLUMBING YOURSELVES) , but if you’ve only got $100 leftover, invest it in some lovely plants (seedlings, or even better – SEEDS! – cheaper and will grow fast) to at least pretty up some parts of the front or back yard. Keep an eye out for sales at places like Kmart and Bunnings (I often get seedlings at Kmart at 30% off for a couple of bucks and buy heaps – instant flower bed or border). In the interest of cost cutting and work minimalisation, by perennials as opposed to annuals.
I DEMAND BEFORE AND AFTERS ALSO TRY TO GET JAMIE DURIE TO DO IT FOR FREE THERE ARE TV SHOWS THAT DO THIS SORT OF THING IF YOU CAN CONCOCT A STORY OF WOE
Thanks for advice! I wasn’t sure what I wanted to start with but I think we will start with the painting – maybe do a room at a time to save money. Then the floors – i still have my heart set on hardwood flooring but woah – too exxy.
Might have to wait a few years for the floors but yes, before and after photos are a great idea.
Do they still have Backyard blitz on tv? I could so go for a weekend away and have my back yard done. I will have to think of a sob story to get Jamie Durie here STAT!
I was going to stay start with the floors, that would make a huge difference. However, I applaud your decision to start with the walls. In fact, I see you have decided to do what I was telling you guys to do all along – PAINT IT YOURSELVES! You can always get a professional to fill in the holes and sort out the corners once the kids are all growed up.
Re: carpets – what about just getting something for the lounge/dining area for now, where people are most going to notice it? That isn’t a huge area, you might be able to get a cheap remnant-y thing (is that what they call it for carpets? Remnants?). Then later on you can do hardwood floors, or re-carpet the house.
Please include me in the sob story for Jamie, so they can fly me back home as a “surprise” for you and the kiddoes. Just as you arrive back from Port Douglas (ideal holiday destination for Mozlamics *cough* why do they always send people to the BEACH?!), Jamie will hide me in the spa (again, perfect for Mozlamics, and something tacky never goes astray in the backyard “reno”).
And then Jamie can say “But wait Tas, there’s one more thing… take a look in here!”. And then you will open the door and see me and there will be much tears and laughter, and we’ll have a barbecue with the crew of Backyard Blitz, on the brand new barbie Scott put together for us.
*sigh* Ain’t “reality” TV grand?
Oh. My. God. DSIE – genius! I shall start work on my sob story ASAP.
“Dear Jamie Durie,
I hope this letter finds you in health and good spirits because actually, I’m not.”
And I won’t say anything about how you non-TV watching person knows all their names.