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Over recent years, high property costs have led more first-time homebuyers than ever to purchase properties that are, well…a little less than inhabitable. And, this new generation of homeowners is taking to Instagram to share the renovation process in inspiring reels and wonderful before and after home shots.
If you’re also renovating a major project, following accounts like @restoringnumberfour over on Instagram could prove transformative. Unfortunately, these renovation accounts also run the risk of leaving your project a little flatter in the water than it would have been otherwise.
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Why? Because social media is a highlight reel, and there’s a lot about the niggly parts of renovating that these accounts miss out altogether. That can leave you feeling like you’re doing way more waiting around and boring work. But, it simply isn’t true. Everyone goes through that stuff, and to prove it, we’re going to consider three key things that Instagram renovators almost always leave off-screen.
# 1 – True project costs
An average full-home renovation now costs between £76,900 and £138,800 for a three-bed house. That’s a steep price tag, and it’s one that very few renovation profiles will actually talk about. After all, figures like these don’t make great viewing, but they’re still vital to bear in mind if you’re embarking on a project of your own.
Luckily, this doesn’t make a total renovation project unreachable. In fact, if you can secure that money, you’re sure to see significant returns in the long run. But, don’t make the mistake of assuming that many of these so-called ‘DIY renovations’ are happening without that same expense. Sure, some homeowners will be able to take care of things like wall removal and even basic building work themselves. But, there are also usually professionals behind the scenes, and you need to make that professional investment if you want your property to last.
# 2 – Everything that needs replacing
A total renovation property will be little more than a shell, and almost everything inside will need replacing. As Instagram often shows, this can be exciting because it provides the opportunity to truly create your dream home vision. But, what’s less apparent on the gram is the amount of work, and deliberation, involved in these replacements.
Older homes, in particular, will require notable overhauls to bring them up to modern standards. Any asbestos floor tiles or wall panels will need immediate replacement by a properly licensed company. And, of course, things like flooring, door frames, and so on are unlikely to be salvageable in their original form. Equally, there aren’t many homeowners who would be happy to replace an old fossil fuel boiler like-for-like, meaning that even a boiler replacement here will require you to look into options like the Boiler Upgrade BUS Scheme to bring a heat pump into your old home. None of this is very glamorous. In fact, it can involve difficult decisions, messy work, and a whole load of paperwork. Preparing for these battles is key, even if Instagram would have you believe differently!
# 3 – The time things really take
As a short-form social media platform, Instagram is all about speed. But a quick ‘kitchen renovation’ reel doesn’t exactly convey the sheer time that whole house renovations can take. In reality, the average timeframe for a complete three-bed house renovation is around 1-3 years. Yes, really! We’re sorry to say it, but that reel which took you ten seconds to watch was significantly longer in real life.
In fairness to these accounts, there are now more people capturing the renovation process from start to finish. But, renovations involve intense hard work, and few people would be able to track the full day-to-day ins, outs, and setbacks that they encounter along the way. Equally, the need for decent lighting means that your favourite reno accounts probably don’t show things like the late nights and early mornings that make up the bulk of lengthy projects like these. Even once your renovation is done, taking on an old house that’s been left to its own devices is an ongoing labour of love, and will likely require yearly checklists, ongoing expenses, and more. It’s a small price to pay for a lifetime in your ideal property, but understanding the time and effort required is key to achieving that goal.
Following your favourite renovation Instagram accounts can provide you with great tips, tricks, and reno inspiration. But make sure it doesn’t leave you with unrealistic renovation expectations by keeping these behind-the-scenes realities in mind!