Living Xtras

04/07/2025

Delighted to finally finish some parts of my recent home renovation, that I was unable to do before (trades and money don't come easy!).

So much storage inside in the study with room for 2 workspaces. Outside cabinetry completed with added privacy screen and space to add a fridge.

So happy with the finished look, seeing my vision come into reality 😍

20/05/2025

Today in a group I was asked "What are the reasons for selling a property"?

There are so many! But it made me pause to reflect on my own journey of why.

Here's my list of why I sold each property -

1. Took the IP profit to buy a PPOR
2. Took profit from PPOR unit with profit from IP to buy a PPOR house
3. Sold IP because bought at top of market and mortgage hurting us. Couldn't refinance
4. Sold PPOR house to upgrade to a waterfront and move interstate
5. Sold IP to pay off mortgage of PPOR
6. Sold waterfront PPOR divorce
7. Sold IP divorce
8. "Sold" IP to ex in division in divorce
9. Sold IP to myself to become my PPOR in divorce
10. Sold PPOR to upgrade PPOR and not retain as an IP as had no debt to deduct

Yes I have bought and sold quite a few over the years since buying our first home which was a unit in Sydney in 2002. I'm proud of my journey and where it's lead me to today, even if I no longer hold them. Do I have any regrets? Not really. Because I wouldn't know what I know today if I didn't go through all the lessons each property taught me about investing, renovating and myself.

Lesson - I couldn't have planned for any of these reasons to sell. Sometimes in life s**t happens. The the secret sauce is never stop trying to give it another shot. Noone can take away your knowledge. By selling and freeing up servicability and equity, this allowed for property upgrades that couldn't be done by just refinancing.

14/12/2024

It is done!

All the outdoor works on my renovation project are completed and I couldn't be more delighted with the outcome. Clean, simple yet elegant. Natural yet modern.

What was a tired old 1975 house with no flow to outdoor entertaining or security now flows seamlessly throughout and a high levelof privacyand security.

With the addition now of mature plants around the pool and artificial grass for visual appeal and easy maintenance, this home is now an entertaining space which is tranquil whether the sun is shining or in the rain.

Renovating isn't just about planning, budgets and selection of finishes. Its also about considering what your needs are to create a sanctuary that suits your lifestyle and budget. If you're needing assistance in getting ideas, insights or a plan for your next renovation, then please reach out to me 😊🏡💖

18/11/2024

Ready to swim!

Well after 10 weeks since excavation of the outside began, all the pool renovations have finally been completed!

There were unfortunate delays by the pool renovators to complete the tile coping, pebblecrete pool lining and then tiling of patio areas. But the result of the workmanship done, is delightful and so beautiful to see. Part of the scope of works was to lay percaline tiles and move all the pool pump and equipment to the rear of the pool behind the new feature wall. The wall includes silver stacked travertine tiles, water fountain and LED lighting. Then add to the night time mood is the addition of the main LED pool light which lights up the pool in different colours!!

Seamlessly surrounding the pool, an enormous composite timber deck was built with Ezy decking (colour Hobart Forest Oak 😊) and frameless glass pool fencing. To further enhance the aesthetics of the surrounds, fencing was painted white and Woodland Grey to compliment the house exterior colours.

I even repainted my outdoor furniture whilst I had covid! Not quite finished yet, but excited to hopefully finish all the works with landscaping by the end of this month. Big thank you to Chris from Renov8, Daryl from Alpha Lighting, Zac from GC Elite Carpentry and their contractors for making it all happen!!

17/10/2024

Yay the garage door was installed today! Together with the full brick wall rendered and painted, I'm loving the finished look. What do you think?

07/10/2024

Sometimes you just have to do things yourself. Either because its too expensive to pay someone else to do it or there's noone available to do it!!! 😩

Lucky I have a pressure washer. So 3 hours later...my fences are nice and clean ready for painting tomorrow 😍

14/09/2024

Kiss the Dirt!

Renovating is amazing to watch the transformation. But the dust, dirt and endless efforts to maintain some level of cleanliness whilst you live in a property can be challenging!

It is the transformation that I love best and the last 3 weeks of work has certainly created a phenomenal difference. Starting with excavation and removal of the existing cracked single brick wall, together with all the surrounding landscaping and excess dirt. Part of the wall removal included preserving the feature blocks in the wall. I wanted to retain something of the original features of the home. Also at $15 each for new feature blocks, recycling saves a whole lot of money! So much so, I got my own hands dirty removing the old mortar off the blocks so the bricklayer could relay them. What I thought would be relatively easy, was a painstaking process that took about 15 minutes each block and careful precision not to crack the blocks (unfortunately I did loose a couple). Three days and 42 blocks later I was done!! Pretty proud of my hammer skills, only hitting my thumb a few times!

Once excavation was done to level all the surrounds and a 600mm deep trench dug for the footings of the new brick wall, concrete was poured for the footings including steel rods to secure the new blockwork. The brick layers were amazing in how quickly they were able to build the 2 metre high wall including fitting my new feature blocks and letterbox. They also laid blocks for the patio kitchen and pool water feature. To complete the job, concrete had to be poured to core fill the block wall for stability and concrete slabs laid for a new path, driveway edge, pool pump enclosure and base for a new shed.

Next came rendering of it all. Five renderers all working together in harmony to create a beautiful smooth finish. Two coats of render including a sand base and acrylic top coat pigmented with white. Painting to come soon. New garage door, pedestrian gate and shed have been ordered (takes about 4 weeks for production).

Next week the pool restoration begins...

26/08/2024

Let the Reno's Begin! 💥

I'm excited to be starting part 2 of major renovations on my home this week. The outside. After taking time out the last 3 months, to do my homework with various trades for finishes on landscaping, fencing and pool rejuvenation, I have culminated all the advice, tips and ideas to create what I hope will be a beautiful transformation but on a limited budget (I spent way too much on the inside of the house 😂). Rather than use a landscaper, I will be project managing trades myself (saving a lot of $$).

Last week I had stump grinding done to make it easier for the excavator to dig up the garden (thanks Steve at All Access Stump Grinding). Today had the front patio tiles removed and concrete grinded (thanks Steve at Absolute Floor Stripping). Then the pool emptied of lots of water! (thanks Chris at Renov8).

Later this week, the big works begin! 💪 🤩😁

23/05/2024

Internal renovations on my current project are finally coming to an end. It certainly hasn’t been easy. A lot of challenges, delays and tradies not completing work as they should have, unfortunately meant unfinished works prior to moving in.

But this week, finally the centerpiece of the house has been completed! The kitchen featuring the stunning Bianco Molasa by Smartstone on the splashback and waterfall island, really is everything I had imagined and more! Added Smeg induction cooktop, pyrolytic oven and ducted rangehood, make this kitchen so functional and a pleasure to use.

The kitchen compliments the natural white walls and cabinetry, beach coloured wood look vinyl flooring, charcoal carpets, blinds and bathroom floor tiles and black accent lighting. There is still some final interior decorating finishes to come. But they will come in time once I settle in and have some money available.

Yes the cost of renovations certainly exceeded the budget. But on reflection, there was limited choice to cut back anywhere. The renovation was a complete house make over with reconfiguration of rooms and walls, new windows and doors, all new plumbing and electrical, ducted and zoned air conditioning, repair and paint of roof with new guttering and facias, render and paint of external walls. All completed from concept drawings and demo to completion in less than 4 months.

Now time to start work on the exterior of the house and pool makeover. But definitely a nice new outlook to call home 😍🏠

15/05/2024

The time has come to say goodbye to my home of 6 years. Listed today for sale. Amazing what a good clean and furniture staging can do to transform a place! 🏠💖

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10/04/2024

SEEING IS BELIEVING
Now I am 2 months into this renovation, the changes inside and outside are really starting to make a real difference to the eye. There is certainly a sense of achievement when you see the changes take place, especially when everything doesn’t always go to plan!! At times, trades or deliveries don’t show up on time, rubbish gets left behind and minor things get overlooked which could potentially cause big issues is not picked up earlier. But luckily in the end, with good communication and regularly checking the changes, these issues get resolved quickly. The scope of works is definitely over the anticipated budget but I am grateful to have the works running on time. So many tradies doing their thing and working well together to make my vision a reality!

RENDERING
This has been the most significant difference to the house overall (other than the roof and guttering). Rendering the orange brick walls and bonus the renderer added a white pigment so the walls look white. This doesn’t take away for the need to undercoat and paint. But wow, I know I’m loving it

TILING
The bathroom and ensuite tiling is done! The 2 tone anthracite and white gloss create a stunning contrast. Fixtures installed like bath and vanity. Once stone tops installed, the plumber will come to fit off basins, toilet and tapware

PAINTING
Primer and first coat of painting sprayed throughout internally. The difference is amazing! Wall colour Dulux half narural white

GARAGE
What was once the garage is actually too small to fit a medium sized car. So I am fitting it out as a multi purpose room. You can never have too much space! But by enclosing the garage doors and resheeting the walls with new plaster, half the work is done should I choose to make this area into additional bedrooms in future
(subject to Council approval and something I don’t need for myself for now)

FLOOR GINDING AND LEVELLING
Part of the preparation for laying vinyl flooring is ensuring that any old concrete is grinded down. After the builder jackhammered up 2 layers of tiles where the old kitchen / bathroom was, there were parts that needed grinding to ensure a smooth finish for a 4-5mm coat of self leveling compound. Unfortunately big dips in the floor meant more leveling compound required unexpectedly. But now all is ready for the kitchen, other cabinetry and vinyl

Stay tuned for more changes to come this month. All should be completed by the end of the month!