Renovating, it's not the bane of my existence. But it comes close. Make no mistake, I love the end result. The comments and compliments from friends and family, the sense of satisfaction. They all come together in a pleasant rush that melts away the hours of dust soaked toil.
Not that I like to get my hands too dirty. I'm the kind of guy that calls in the help. When I paint I follow the maxim that it's OK to go over the lines. They still teach that in kindy right?
Some of my friends are the exact opposite. They get renovating. Big time. It's in their blood. As a family they scrape and paint and get all messy and dirty. They stop to eat dinner with dusty hair and paint-spattered clothes. Then they start all over again. Late into the night they patch and paint and saw and chisel while their kids are sleeping and I'm happily enjoying a nice drop of red.
These friends amaze me. Their tenacity and grit are borne of the ANZAC spirit of courage, mateship and endurance. Maybe I've gone too far there but they are heartily committed.
But some people take renovating to a whole new level. They make even my friends look like amateurs.
These are the renovating masters, grand champions of the hammer and paintbrush. They're close to professionals. To these select few, renovation projects are tackled with the passion of an artist and the business acumen of a tycoon. They see opportunity where others see mess and beauty in bland.
They make makeovers look, well, easy, as if just anyone could do it.
Take Sasha deBretton-Gordon of Million Dollar Makeovers. Sasha started renovating homes at the ripe old age of 21. She has an uncanny knack of knowing what to do and when to do it. So good is Sasha she now makes a living out of organising other people's renovation. She's even started her own internet TV show! It's kind of like Renovation Rescue only more real.
Knowing that Sasha knows her stuff I just had to interview her. I wanted to get inside her head. To know what she knows. I wanted to know if I could become a renovation Grand Master, just like her.
I asked Sasha for her tips on preparing a home for sale. That's one of her specialities. She turns "tired and run down" into "sexy and cool". It takes her no time at all. It would take me a month of Sundays to do what she does in hours!
Here are Sasha's top tips.
- Create a point of difference. Appeal to the masses but use a feature wall or an amazing wallpaper to create some wow factor.
- Females make the decisions. Be prepared to spend a bit more to create a stunning kitchen and bathroom.
- Know your area. Don't do a cheap make-over in an upmarket area.
- Watch your budget. Most people spend more than they need. There are lots of finishes that create visual impact without breaking the bank.
Where was Sasha when we did our last renovation?!
Seriously though, I love renovating. Well I love the idea of it. But I know I'll never be a renovation guru of the ilk of Sasha deBretton-Gordon.
What I also know is this: if I were to sell my home I'd call a Sasha. Sasha and those other hammer-wielding Bunnings dwellers know their job. I build web sites, they renovate homes. They know what the market wants and they know how to get it done.
Something else I figured talking to Sasha and a myriad of agents over the years. Sometimes we're too close to our beloved family home to see things with clear eyes. The years of renovation and landscaping create an emotional investment that works against us when it's time to sell.
And that's the benefit of fresh eyes. Someone who can tell us that plum is to the nineties as mission brown was to the seventies. Or that clotted cream really is more than safe. It's boring.