Renovating a home is a very appealing prospect for a lot of people. You can’t avoid the various videos of people transforming derelict shells of properties into incredible homes (and seemingly in the blink of an eye!), so it’s natural to wonder, ‘Can I do it too?’

And while the results of home renovations are impressive, they often hide the reality of what it took to get there. To complete a successful renovation, you need to be prepared to dedicate a lot of work and a lot of money to see this kind of result. 

So if you’re still wondering if a renovation is for you, check out these 4 reasons why renovations aren’t for the faint-hearted – it could help you save a lot of heartbreak.

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1. The cost

Home renovations cost money. That’s a simple fact you can’t avoid. Even if you bought the existing property cheaply, you will still need to invest significant amounts of money to get the result you want. You will need to factor in every single possible cost before you consider taking it on, and with plenty of unknowns to factor in, including roofing repairs and the possibility of needing to completely change your electricity and plumbing, the amount can start to feel endless.

And while end results like this can make it worth it in the end, you need to make sure you’re truly committed to the cost of your renovation dream.

@ourcountryacre $250k later… #houserenovation #housebuild #newbuild #houseupdate #housesoftiktok #oldhouse #countryhome ♬ оригинальный звук  – Freezy18

2. The amount of time it takes

Renovations don’t happen overnight. For a lot of people, they take YEARS. And most people, will need to live in the mess or face moving in with family to make it work. So if you’re expecting to see some quick results, you may want to take on a project that takes less work and focus on improvements that will increase your home’s value instead.

3. You lack experience

A lot of people are novices when they take on a renovation project, but that doesn’t mean it’s right for everyone. You’re going to need a lot of experienced people behind you to help you succeed, so if there are people behind you who can and are willing to help, you need to be prepared to ask for a lot of favours if you’re going to get the work done.

4. You don’t handle stress well

If you’re someone who doesn’t handle stress well, then putting yourself in an extremely stressful situation like a home renovation may not be the right move for you. However, if you’re willing to challenge yourself and your drive is enough to help you see it through, it could end up being the making of you. The good news is that a lot of people have been in this situation before, and will have some great advice to help you survive renovation stress.

Of course, there will always be reasons not to do something. But if you want to do something magnificent and build your dream home, then the above shouldn’t stop you from going for it. While knowing some of the negatives can give you some food for thought, at least you’ll be prepared for some of the challenges that come your way.