Tips to keep your reno on track

From blown-out budgets to delayed deadlines, home renovations and builds don’t always go to plan. In fact, more than a quarter of projects go over budget, and one-fifth take longer than expected1. But this doesn’t need to be the way, as illustrated by TV personality Deborah Hutton, who completed a renovation of her Hamptons-inspired home one month ahead of schedule, and on budget.

“Renovating my two-storey home on Sydney’s eastern beaches was a passion project that consumed my life for 18 months,” she says. “It wasn’t always easy, but it was definitely worth it and there are things I learnt that helped me take some of the stress out of it.”

Here, Deborah shares her top tips for fast-tracking your renovation without breaking the budget – because, while some variables are unavoidable (hello, bad weather!), others can be bypassed.

Extra tip: Reduce your unknowns

Don’t let (expensive) surprises creep up on you – consider all your costs in advance, from taps to tradies and layouts to landscaping. In your budget, it can be a good idea to allow a contingency of 10 per cent for simple renovations, and a greater percentage for more challenging projects.