Renovating your home sounds exciting, right? Design moodboards, fresh tiles, maybe even a brand-new kitchen.
But here’s the reality no one tells you until you’re in the thick of it: renovation is part chaos, part cost, part emotional breakdown.
We’ve just come through a major project on our cottage — a single-storey L-shaped extension with a boot room, utility, study and new entrance. Here’s what I wish someone had told me before we even picked up a sledgehammer.
Whether you’re planning a light refresh or a full extension, these 10 hard-learned lessons might just save your sanity.
1. Budget at least 20% extra — and then some
The quote is never the final cost. Unexpected issues (like rotten joists or outdated electrics) will come up. Budgeting an extra 20–30% from the start isn’t pessimistic — it’s realistic.
Evidence: According to Checkatrade, over 60% of homeowners exceed their renovation budget in the UK.
👉 Related post: How I Built a Permanent BBQ Area That Actually Holds Weight — another project where the final cost crept up.
2. Planning permission isn’t always straightforward
Even if your plans seem permitted, delays can happen — especially in conservation areas or with unusual rooflines. Speak to your council early and get their guidance in writing.
In our case, a window we wanted moved triggered weeks of back and forth.
3. Don’t just rely on one quote
We were shocked by the range of estimates. Our top quote was double the lowest — for the same work.
Get 3–5 detailed quotes, and ask for a breakdown of materials vs. labour. It helps you compare apples to apples.
4. Choose your builder like you’re hiring a key employee
You’re trusting them with your home, time, and money. Ask for recent references. Speak to past clients. Check photos of recent jobs — not just their portfolio.
And chemistry matters. If they don’t communicate well early on, that won’t magically improve.
5. Expect dust. Everywhere.
Even with plastic sheeting and closed doors, dust finds its way into every drawer, socket and toddler’s toy box. Pack things away or relocate to spare rooms where possible.
Tip: Rent or borrow an air purifier. It helped reduce the grit in our lungs (and food!).
6. Make every decision before the first brick is laid
Tiles, taps, sockets, light switches, wall colours — make all those choices early. Otherwise, you’ll end up panic-ordering on your phone at 10pm, and it won’t be what you wanted.
It also helps your builder schedule efficiently.
7. Think about how you’ll live through the renovation
We had a toddler, no kitchen for 5 weeks, and lived in 2 rooms. It was brutal.
Create a plan for meals (slow cooker, camping hob), laundry, and sleeping arrangements. A little prep saves a lot of arguments.
👉 Parenting through chaos? See 25 Brutally Honest Parenting Hacks That Actually Work.
8. The finish line is always further than you think
Even after the main work finishes, there’s snagging, painting, fixing trades’ mistakes, and the emotional comedown of “should we have just moved instead?”
It helps to expect a long tail — and build in a break before you tackle decorating.
9. Spend money where it matters
Not everything needs to be top-end. We splurged on quality tiles and door handles — things you see and touch daily — and saved on lighting and internal doors.
Prioritise things that are hard to replace later.
10. You’ll forget the mess, but not the stress
The dust will settle (literally), the walls will look great, and you’ll love the space. But if you overextend your budget or rush decisions, that stress lingers.
Renovation doesn’t have to break you. It just needs clear expectations, extra budget, and — let’s be honest — a lot of tea.
Final Thoughts
Renovating is tough, but it’s also deeply rewarding. The pride of saying we made this doesn’t wear off.
Give yourself grace. Plan more than you think you need to. And if things go wrong, you’re not alone — you’re just mid-renovation.
Want more down-to-earth home advice? Stay tuned for upcoming posts like “How to Paint Like a Pro (Even If You’re Clueless)” and “DIY Mistakes I’ll Never Make Again.”
Got your own renovation survival tip? Drop it in the comments or message me on Instagram.
You’re not failing — you’re building.
You’ve got this.
The Sorted Dad 
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