Top tips on how to renovate your home from Northants expert
Katy Dodman has spent the last three years renovating an enormous Victorian end of terrace in Kettering
Alice Wilson
The family have a stunning home in Kettering after years of work (Image: Katy Dodman)
Heading into the New Year is often a time for reflection and resolutions.
For many Northamptonshire locals, this could mean getting fitter, giving up alcohol, or home improvements.
One silver lining of the coronavirus pandemic was that it gave us all more time at home to sort out little jobs, or even take on renovation projects.
READ MORE: Derelict Victorian shoe factory in Wellingborough to be converted into flats
Northants Live has been lucky enough to get to know the locals behind some of the best renovation stories in the county, like Frankie and Connor's two-year renovation of their home in Wellingborough, or Nathan Clarke's single-handed YouTube renovation of a cottage in Moulton just outside Northampton.
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The renovation took a lot of vision and perseverance (Image: Katy Dodman)
As we head into 2022, many Northamptonshire locals will be thinking about renovating their kitchen or doing up their bathroom, or perhaps you';re looking to buy a new house altogether.
No matter what your ambitions, taking on a renovation project can be a mammoth task, and it's important to know what you're letting yourself in for.
It's also important to ensure you have some guidance from someone who has experience, and Katy Dodman certainly has that.
Katy, along with her husband Simon and daughter Maisy, have been doing up their Victorian home in Kettering, North Northamptonshire, since they bought it in August 2018.
When the couple moved into the house, there was no heating upstairs and only one working toilet, which had no door. On top of all of this, they were burgled after two weeks of living there and the builder they had employed then went under.
It's safe to say that the Dodman family had their fair share of dramas and mishaps throughout their renovation journey, but it was all worth it in the end, and they now have a beautiful home, and more than 14,000 followers on Instagram.
"Renovation isn't for everybody, you have to be willing to sacrifice a lot before you reap the rewards," Katy said.
It's taken a long time, but the house is unrecognisable (Image: Katy Dodman)
"I am very aware that there are plenty of people in our area who would love to have the opportunity to renovate their own house, and we are very lucky.
"But we are proud of it, and we have worked really hard."
Katy's home is now totally unrecognisable from when she first bought it, and you can read all about their journey here.
But for now, Katy has some advice for those who are thinking about taking on a similar renovation.
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"I don't claim to be an expert on renovations or interiors," Katy said.
"I actually call myself a 'reluctant renovator'. but after four years of renovating our home, I do have some experience now I hope others can benefit from."
Here are Katy's top five tips for renovating your home.
1. Recommendations are important
"Recommendations and testimonials are key when selecting tradespeople to work with," Katy said.
"Good tradespeople are often not available straight away so be prepared to plan ahead and wait for great people. Ask to see previous work and speak to previous customers, and if they are hesitant to let you do this, question why.
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"I actually wouldn't be put off by one or two less favourable reviews as long as most are positive. I'd be looking to see that a trade professional shows up on time, finishes when they say they will and on budget, don't upset your neighbours and are respectful of your space (think clearing away their own litter and not using inappropriate language - respectable tradespeople will be mindful of this)."
2. Be clear on budget
"Be clear on exactly how much you have to spend and when funds will be available (if borrowing or waiting for other income)," Katy advised.
"Be Sure to have a healthy 10-20 per cet contingency, and even then, prioritise: what are the 'must have now' things, vs the 'can wait if we need to', vs the 'nice to haves'.
"In our case, we HAD to finish the rewiring and re plumbing of the house - half a job wasn't possible. However, when our builder went out of business and everything cost more than was originally planned, we then had to hold off on re-plastering and flooring, some of which we have still to get to. Be mindful of your 'critical path'."
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3. Prepare to roll up your sleeves
"We could never have afforded to pay professionals to strip walls, labour, caulk and decorate, so we got stuck in, and where possible accepted help from our family," Katy said.
"There's also a great sense of achievement from having tried new things and helped kept progress moving."
4. Keep focused on the end goal
"We had months (years?!) of feeling tired from all the work, there will be dust, there will be cross words," Katy advised.
"But stay focused on why you're doing it; whether that be to improve yours and your families living space, or for investment. It's a journey.
"I like to use scrapbooks, mood boards and Pinterest to help manifest and visualise the end result. And during the journey, take loads of photos, especially at the very beginning. To look back and reflect on how far you've come can help get you through the tougher days."
5. Be brave, be bold
"Whether it's taking on the project in the first place (brilliant life experience on hard work and resilience building for the whole family!) or making style decisions- just go for it!
"Don't be afraid to project your personality in your home - we all spend more time than ever before there after all."
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