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How a couple with a $65k renovation budget created a cosy environment in their Pinnacle@Duxton home, Lifestyle News

  • October 10, 2022

As a young couple, it’s always an incredibly exciting time when you’ve managed to secure your first home. 

But once you get through all the stress of finding the right home, you’d soon realise the next part of the journey can be equally, if not even more taxing. 

There’s a certain pressure to getting everything right during the renovation process, as once it’s built it’ll be hard to change. Or even if you could, it may just be really expensive to do so. 

For Bryan and Tiffany (@jingwensathome), they were fortunate to find their 4-room resale HDB at Pinnacle@Duxton which was somewhat already aligned with what they wanted. 

“The flat was excellently maintained,” Bryan said. “It had minimal built-ins and already had quite an open concept.”

They also love how breezy the house is since it’s located on a higher floor.

That’s not to say that they had an easy renovation journey, like almost everyone else during the pandemic – they had a few challenges they had to overcome. And now, together with their four cat bosses – August, Austin, Audi, and Auri, they are enjoying the fruits of their labour.

Let’s join them as they share how they turned their vision into reality.

How the renovation journey turned out

The couple was ready to shell out up to $65,000 for their renovation. “We were prepared for around $60,000 to $65,000 as the total number for the cost,” Bryan said. “And so, we wanted to cap the initial quotation to $55,000, before all the adjustments and additional costs for lighting and electricity works along the way.”

He said their final renovation cost was around $63,000. This excludes the aircon and cat grills which totalled about $8,000.

Their approach helped them to stick to the budget. It prevented adding

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Furniture on Rent in Bangalore, A New Way of Living

  • October 6, 2022
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Majority of Americans think home renovations take longer than planned: survey

  • July 27, 2022

More than half of Americans think their home improvement project will take longer than planned, according to a survey from Angi.  (iStock)

The majority of Americans (52%) believe that home improvement projects will take longer than expected, but many are still confident in their ability to do the projects themselves, according to a survey from Angi.

U.S. home improvement sales are projected to increase to more than $550 billion this year as more Americans choose to do their remodeling projects themselves, according to Statista.

When looking at cost, women were 10% more likely than men to believe that DIY renovations would save money over hiring a professional, the survey said. Separately, about 12% of millennials said they thought renovations wouldn’t break the bank. 

The survey also said that 74% of Americans have some confidence in their ability to oversee a home renovation project, but 20% have no idea about permit requirements for common home renovations

If you are considering doing a home renovation, a cash-out refinance is one option to help you fund the project. You can visit Credible to compare multiple mortgage lenders and find your personalized interest rate without affecting your credit score.

HOME PRICE GROWTH HIT AN ALL-TIME HIGH IN MARCH: THIS IS HOW HOMEOWNERS CAN CASH IN

Gen X believes home renovations add value

Many Americans believe their renovation projects will add value to their home, the Angi survey said. 

About 42% of Gen X, or those born between 1965 and 1981, are convinced that home value is added through renovations. This is compared to 31% of millennials and 32% of baby boomers.

Some home updates do seem to pay off, though. For example, a minor bathroom remodel has an average 102% return at resale, according to HGTV. Landscaping

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Despite Fewer Canadians Planning Home Renovations Over the Next 12 Months, Those That do Intend to Renovate are Likely to Spend Nearly Double, According to Home

  • July 20, 2022

TORONTO–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Despite national inflation, rising interest rates, and a volatile public market, a new survey from HomeStars reveals that Canadian homeowners have spent significantly more on renovations this year than in years past. On average, those who completed indoor renovations in the last 12 months spent $13,000, up from $8,300 last year. Although more Canadians have indicated an intention to pause home renovations in the coming year, and even with rising material and labour costs, it is estimated that Canadian homeowners on average, will double their total home reno spending this upcoming year.

With 80 per cent of respondents reporting to have cash on hand to fund planned home renovations, there was an average increase of 57 per cent in total spending for indoor renovations, demonstrating that Canadians want to reinvest where they’re living. Along with increased spending, HomeStars also saw the continued trend that Canadians want to stay put. Three-in-four (76 per cent) of those surveyed reported that they are not considering moving in the next 12 months, while 14 per cent are currently undecided.

“Given the unique climate that Canadians are currently living in, we were surprised to see the increase in home renovation investments made over the past 12 months,” says Shir Magen, CEO of HomeStars. “We’re seeing pandemic changes year-over-year; however, what’s interesting with this year’s data is that despite pandemic restrictions easing, Canadians aren’t reverting to their pre-pandemic tendencies. We’re seeing that homeowners are sticking to the renovation spending habits that they had at the height of the pandemic, and for the second year in a row, the extra funds that might have been used for travel or entertainment are instead being reinvested into their homes.”

Though most of Canada has eased out of many pandemic restrictions, the pandemic continued to motivate

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Most popular home decor styles around the world

  • July 19, 2022



Many people have drawn their inspiration for home décor from certain home renovation shows, Instagram, Pinterest and home renovation magazines.

Most popular home décor trends are followed all over the world, with places like New York, London, Paris and Stockholm, leading the pack.

Experts at Liberty investigated most searched for home décor styles.

YOU MAY ALSO LIKE: 10 décor items you need for the perfect boutique balcony

London decor

The searches show that Londoners most searched home décor style was modern with 21% of total clicks, followed by Scandinavia at 17%.

Paris decor

Parisians mostly researched for their own cultural décor, Parisian searches came at 27% of the total. The study findings found Parisian was the most searched décor inspiration every month. 

New York and Los Angeles

In the Big Apple, the farmhouse style came out at the top at 28% followed by Boho at 17%. There were similar findings in Los Angeles, which lived up to its Boho theme, with 22% of total searches and farmhouse style also at 22%.

Sydney

In Sydney, Australia, modern and boho ranked equally with 22% searches each, with industrial. 

ALSO READ: Take a virtual tour of these celebrity bathrooms for decor inspiration

Complied by Sandisiwe Mbhele

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Renovating During Inflation

  • July 16, 2022

With inflation at a 40-year high and mortgage rates more than 2% points higher than they were six months ago (and continuing to climb), you might find that now is not the right time to buy a new home. Instead, it might be time to love the one you already own.

Need a little help feeling good about staying put for the time being? Then perhaps, it’s time for a remodel project to turn your house into the home you’ve always dreamed about.

Before you run away screaming at the thought of renovating, hear us out.

A remodel could increase the overall value of your home, which would be beneficial if you consider selling in the future. (And maybe a home face-lift will make you want to stay put.)

“Renovation projects are a great way to retain the value of your money in a high-inflation environment,” says Rick Berres, owner of Honey-Doers, a Lakeville, MN–based company that provides residential remodeling services. “But you shouldn’t put yourself into debt doing so.”

While the prices for everything from lumber to labor might be higher, it’s still possible to embark on a home remodel project without draining your bank account. Here’s how.

Is a home improvement project worth it right now?

While the cost of renovating your home will depend on square footage, the region you live in, and what you’d like to get done, the average home remodel costs anywhere from $25,000 on the low end to $76,000 on the high end.

And the latest remodeling impact report from the National Association of Realtors® found that Americans spent about $420 billion in 2020 on home remodeling projects. The majority remodeled for the following reasons:

  • To upgrade worn-out surfaces, finishes, and materials
  • To add features and improve livability
  • To simply make a
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Average Cost of a Home Renovation (2022)

  • June 17, 2022
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Home renovations are more popular than ever, as people are spending more time at home and thinking about how to make their living spaces work for them.

The price tag for a typical home remodel can be in the tens of thousands of dollars, but rising home values have offered homeowners more opportunities to afford those costs. According to mortgage technology and data provider Black Knight, the average homeowner gained $48,000 in tappable equity in 2021, a 35% increase from 2020. That could be helping to drive the popularity of renovations, as homeowners often draw on home equity loans or lines of credit (HELOC) to finance renovation projects. 

While homeowners have more equity to help pay for the work, costs have also gone up, driven by increased labor costs and supply chain issues affecting building materials.

Whether you’re using a home equity loan, home renovation loan, or your own savings to update your house, it’s important to estimate costs upfront before you dive in. 

How Much Does It Cost to Renovate a House?

Home renovations can involve anything from repainting kitchen cabinets to refinishing hardwood floors to replacing old windows with new ones. Even small changes, such as painting a room or replacing light fixtures, can make a big difference to the look and feel of a room. 

While some homeowners remodel for their own aesthetic enjoyment, others choose to renovate to increase the resale value of their home. Renovating bathrooms and kitchens tend to have the best return on investment, says Allie Weiss

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15 Best Home Improvement Shows

  • June 13, 2022

We’ve all been there: You look around your home and can’t help but notice all the little—or big—things that need to be fixed, renovated, or refreshed. Maybe you’d like some new kitchen decor, or you still need to make those bathroom organization ideas a reality. Or perhaps you’d love to add value to your home with a DIY coffee station or home library.

Well, if you need a little extra motivation to take that first step, look no further than the best home improvement shows on TV. The friendly hosts and genius tips will inspire you to finally tackle that DIY project you’ve been daydreaming about (but putting off) for months.

Many of the series on this list are HGTV classics like Flip or Flop and Good Bones. But there are plenty of other shows out there making a name for themselves. Tidying Up with Marie Kondo took social media by storm when it first aired on Netflix in 2019.

Even if you aren’t ready to demo a wall or refurbish furniture on your own, these home renovation shows are still wildly entertaining and, honestly, downright soothing, too. Take a look at the list below, and then tell us which one is your favorite in the comments!

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This mother-daughter duo has taken the world of home renovation by storm with their super popular HGTV show. Their ability to remodel rundown homes into jaw-dropping works of art is unmatched.

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This show brings a whole new meaning to the phrase cabin fever! It follows a handy group as they travel around Maine to revamp old and abandoned cabins.

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Tidying Up with Marie Kondo

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Marie Kondo just might be the queen of organization. Watch her as she helps homeowners reclaim their

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How Much Are Home Renovation Costs? Home Remodeling and Renovation Costs Explained

  • June 13, 2022
Home Renovation Costs

Photo: istockphoto.com

  • Typical Range: $18,161 to $76,367
  • National Average: $46,748

The housing market can be a dog-eat-dog world, and finding a home that fits your needs is challenging. Rather than dealing with the hassle of moving, consider a home renovation project to update your home’s appearance. Not to be confused with a remodel, home renovation usually keeps existing structures in place but updates the materials and surfaces.

The size of the room (or rooms) being renovated, underlying repairs, scope, materials, and labor make up the bulk of home renovation costs. There’s a wide price range of $18,161 to $76,367, with an average of $46,748. Estimating a home renovation cost can be complex, but here are the top factors to determine how much it might cost you to renovate your home.

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Factors in Calculating Home Renovation Costs

Home Renovation Costs Factors in Calculating the Cost

Photo: istockphoto.com

The complexity of the room being renovated affects the price range. Repairs and updates to kitchens, bathrooms, or mechanical equipment are costlier home renovations. A kitchen renovation averages $25,000, but a bathroom is $10,000. Basements usually cost around $20,000. Other factors like permits and labor, site preparation, and materials also influence the price.

Permits and Labor

Almost any renovation project that includes additions, electrical or plumbing work, or a major overhaul will require permits, so be sure to check with local authorities. Permits cost $400 to $1,800, on average.

Depending on the scope, a renovation requires multiple different subcontractors. The average hourly cost of any laborer on a construction project ranges between $20 and $150—sometimes more. General contractor fees usually account for 10 to 20 percent of the total budget.

Location

Costs can vary up to 40 percent

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