She Renovates

On today’s episode, Bernadette is with Susie Guest and they are going to be talking about her achievements over the last months and how it improved her personal situation significantly that also benefited her clients. Susie started her Guest Property Projects with the intention of providing a range of services to ensure you get the most out of your investment, to attract the right tenant, maximize the return you get on that investment, or to best position your investment for a successful sale. Bernadette covers, How Susie started her renovating journey Susie's biggest project How Susie added value to improve her client's lifestyle and finances What are the renovation costs and profits for Susie's projects The Docklands renovation project that brought successful income What you can do on a low budget scenario How renovating impacted Susie's life Susie's 3 top tips for renovators   Resource materials: Where you can reach Susie Guest: https://guestpropertyprojects.com.au/ If you find this episode helpful, you

On today’s episode, Bernadette talks about how to properly install a flat pack kitchen so that it doesn't look like a flat pack. She shares tips and strategies that will help you in determining how a flat pack can help in creating a beautiful kitchen that will save you a huge amount of money. Bernadette covers, The tips and strategies to get a quality installation of your flat pack The various types of flat pack kitchens available The importance of looking for an installer that has extensive experience with flat packs How to make your flat pack modules work for the shape of your kitchen project Tips on finishing off the kitchen for a custom look How to marry floating floors in with the flat pack kitchen Where to get ideas for sourcing out tips on how to utilize your flat pack modules A guide to the cost of the installation of your flat pack. If you find this episode helpful, you can help support the show by leaving us a 5-star review in iTunes: She Renovates and subscribe to the podcast. Check out more reno

On today’s episode, I consider Michelle Lewis a renovating soul sister.  Her passion for property investing and renovating is infectious. She loves budget renovations, where she spend less in order to have more money in her pocket and more income for her family. Michelle has extensive experience in renovating, investing and joint ventures. In this episode, she talks about her journey and is very generous with her special brand of wisdom around mindset, renovating with a family and the importance of building a support structure. Bernadette covers, The key to success in renovating and property Why joint venture is an important strategy in creating an income through renovating Michelle's favourite strategy that helped her develop her skills in renovating How renovating and property has impacted her life and that of her family Michelle's motivation for starting her property business The most challenging aspect of renovating and investing Michelle's 3 tips for succeeding in renovating and property How to execute

On today’s episode, Bernadette is with husband, Stephen Janson to share with us the huge add value of determining if a wall in your property is load bearing. How to figure out the system of removing it without compromising the integrity of the property. Bernadette covers, How to tell if a wall in your property is load bearing The most common type of renovation is a cosmetic plus Outlining the technicalities that are involved in removing a wall Stephen explains how to determine if a wall is load bearing Who designs the support structure The considerations that you need to plan for before you make the decision of taking out a wall Important things to look for when you have an apartment building in determining how to put your beams in for your wall Why having a good builder can add great value when you are doing this project How to work through masonry walls in order to give a good finish The costs of removing a wall What to consider when dealing with old properties   If you find this episode helpful, you can

On today’s episode, Bernadette interviews Mary Benton, one of her students in The School Of Renovating. Mary has over 30 years of experience as a chartered accountant and has her own financial planning practice. Mary inspires us with her successful renovating story and shares with us valuable tips on creating an income to live a life you love. Bernadette covers, The reasons why Mary, as an accountant and financial planner, got started on renovating and property How Mary successfully renovated her 10-year old home with Bernadette's guidance The lessons Mary learned from starting a whole reno project and finish it just after Christmas How Mary used Airbnb as a way to generate income from her reno while waiting for the right time to sell the property What are Mary's key drivers for increasing the value on her property Mary's overall game plan to achieving her dream house and making it her lifelong project How working with the right buyer's agent can help get local opportunities for her projects and sell them on

On today’s episode, Bernadette discusses how joint ventures are a great way to fill the gaps in your resources when you are renovating. She gives us the details of the good, the bad and the ugly aspects when you are planning on taking joint ventures as a means of doing a project. Bernadette covers, What are joint ventures and why you should get into one The ideal traits you should look for in a joint venture partner How to make the right goals with your partner in your joint venture project Identifying both of your strengths and assigning the jobs that complement each other's skills What are the "what if's" of the project and how you can address them properly Why having independent professional advice is critical to creating the contract of the project Choosing to work with people who are aligned with your values Who are the professionals you need to be working with on your joint venture How to manage the money Getting clear as to what constitutes a project cost The most important attribute in a joint ventur

On today’s episode,   Bernadette is on the final day of the mini-series 14 Days To A New Bathroom! To wrap up the 14-Day mini-series, she will be talking about the time frames in terms of how you could actually renovate a bathroom in 14 days, what sort of renovation that would be, and how you would apportion the time to achieve your reno goal.   Bernadette covers, The importance of planning ahead of time and the essential things you should prepare for a smooth bathroom renovation The type of renovation her 14-day mini-series best relates to The first trade you should bring in and the importance of using a team The trade/s and their responsibilities for each day of your 14-day bathroom renovation What she recommends if you want your bathroom reno to be done in less than 14 days

On today’s episode,   Bernadette is on Day 13 of the mini-series 14 Days To A New Bathroom. She will be talking about the order of work you need to follow to achieve a successful bathroom renovation. The tips she will share with you will be for a bathroom reno that will not involve any significant changes to the layout therefore, no council approval required. Aside from that, Bernadette announces the "She Renovates" Facebook group and how you can join. Plus she reveals the bathroom competition to be launched after the mini-series!   Bernadette covers, Critical things you should prepare and coordinate with your trades in order before you start your bathroom renovation When you will need to render or sheet the walls When to build a false wall Why it's important for you to be onsite during the first fix How to you can determine the right height for putting your toilet cistern Why you should take photos of the bathroom walls while the finished wirings are still exposed Waterproofing Why she strongly recommends h

  On today’s episode,   Bernadette is now on Day 12 of the mini-series 14 Days To A New Bathroom! She will be talking about budgets and materials. Using her current joint venture renovation project as a case study, she will share with you her project's budget and mood board so you get a sense of the look and level of quality she's going for.   Bernadette covers, Her current project - a 1940's house with one bathroom in Wynnum, Queensland How she was able to add value to the old bathroom by bringing in a toilet which costs over $1000 on installation Why she chose to focus her renovation budget on the bathroom and kitchen How she and her joint venture partners lightened the house's Jarrah floors The materials they've chosen to bring those soft elements into the bathroom How you can get a 20% discount in National Tiles How much budget she allotted for each of her trades How having things custom made can significantly add to your costs   --- If you find this episode helpful, you can help support the show by lea

On today’s episode,   Bernadette is back with Day 11 of the mini-series 14 Days To A New Bathroom. She will discuss trades and making sure you get efficient quality of work that's both cost-effective and reliable. She will be breaking down each trade you need for your bathroom renovation and give her best tips for you to able to forge a good relationship with each of your trades.   Bernadette covers, Why she prefers breaking down each trade for your bathroom renovation How to cut down the costs by managing the project yourself and not rely on one company builder Preparing complete documentation to get quotes for your project and using it as reference What you need to include in your bathroom renovation checklist Making sure your quotes are competitive by getting 3 to 5 quotes per trade Getting decent trades by setting down the ground rules in your scope of work Her recent experience with an unreliable trade and how she dealt with it Why it is essential for you to teach your trade about how to treat you and n

On today’s episode,   Bernadette is now on Day 10 of the mini-series 14 Days To A New Bathroom. This episode will focus on tiling. And because it is the most expensive element of bathroom renovation representing a large portion of your bathroom and thus setting the tone of the room, Bernadette will provide valuable tips on choosing the right tiles for your reno by making sure of their longevity.   Bernadette covers, Tiles and their shape, colour, material, and how they're laid Why she prefers porcelain tile material over natural stone How the shape of your tiles and how they are laid affects the concept of space in your bathroom Why you should consider tiling up to the ceiling of your bathroom despite the added effort Her preferred type of tiles to use on bathroom walls and feature walls Compromises you can make to stay within your budget How to deal with external corners Which among the many variations of floor tiles she prefers and has been using for her recent reno projects Why it's essential to make sure

On today’s episode,   Bernadette is now on Day 9 of the mini-series 14 Days To A New Bathroom. She will discuss the electrical - lighting, heating, and power points - elements you will need for your bathroom renovation. Most importantly lighting, it's four main types, and how it forms part of the aesthetic as well as the function of the bathroom. You will learn which type of lighting is the most practical and which brings the WOW to your bathroom. Plus some practical tips on heating installation.   Bernadette covers, How to give more functionality to your bathroom than just for the basics of showering and washing Why she goes for downlights for ambient lighting and what you need to know when you're purchasing them yourself Task lighting and how they should be positioned to your best advantage How to use accent lighting to fully elevate your bathroom renovation Why she highly recommends using pendant lighting in your bathroom The ups and downs of using a specialist or functional lighting and tips on correct i

On today’s episode,   Bernadette's series 14 Days To A New Bathroom is now on Day 8! This part of the series will be a special one since Bernadette will both be showing and telling you her recommendations for your bathroom bling - tapware. And because tapware is really the jewelry of your bathroom since it brings the bathroom to life, Bernadette will help you choose the right tapware where it's really important.   Bernadette covers, The most important questions you should ask yourself when choosing tapware for your bathroom renovation Why she personally thinks mixer taps are a better choice The colours of tapware and how it affects the look of your bathroom Why achieving a timeless look is not a recommended look if you plan to sell your renovation project The importance of consistency and why it's okay to not be a slave to it The two types of tap configuration and how each type will affect the basin and vanity you choose for your taps Why it's important to have your taps ready by Day 1 Why you should make it

On today’s episode, Bernadette is now on Day 7 of the series 14 Days To A New Bathroom and will be discussing the shower. She will discuss the three main configurations of the shower and the main points to consider when choosing the best type of shower for your bathroom renovation. Bernadette covers, The walk-in shower and why it requires the whole floor of the bathroom to be waterproofed The different types of floor waste and the type of tiles fit for each The important element you should have in the transition from your bathroom to shower to make it much safer How to keep your costs down when choosing a shower screen The most important thing to remember to contain the water in your shower --- If you find this episode helpful, you can help support the show by leaving us a 5-star review on iTunes: She Renovates and subscribe to the podcast. Check out more renovating tips and inspiration at www.theschoolofrenovating.com

On today’s episode, It is Day 6 of the series 14 Days To A New Bathroom and Bernadette's topic will be toilets. She will talk about your choice of whether installing a new toilet or replacing an existing toilet for your bathroom renovation. She then discusses the ins and outs of each. Bernadette covers, Making a decision between a standard cistern or an in-wall or concealed cistern Why you should reconsider choosing an in-wall cistern even if it is a big space saver The parts of steel in-wall cistern, how it is installed and the difference from one without a steel frame Why it's best to choose a closed coupled version of a standard toilet suite What are the two configurations of toilet pans The importance of working with a professional plumber to get the right pan The correct positioning of a new toilet installed in your bathroom The best choice for a toilet seat What you need to do to ensure you have a well-grounded toilet --- If you find this episode helpful, you can help support the show by leaving us a

On today’s episode, Bernadette is on Day 5 of the series 14 Days To A New Bathroom focusing mainly on hand basins. She will discuss the important things you need to plan for before choosing your basins and the different types of basins you need to know about to help you plan for a look you want to achieve for your bathroom renovation. Bernadette covers, Making space the most important thing to consider when selecting hand basins How having double basins can add a wow factor to your bathroom Making sure you have your mirrors in their most useful place near the hand basins Establishing enough storage and counter space for easy access to the items you need when using your hand basins The four main types of hand basins and their unique characteristics and usage How to choose the correct type of hand basin to achieve the look you want for your bathroom --- If you find this episode helpful, you can help support the show by leaving us a 5-star review on iTunes: She Renovates and subscribe to the podcast. Check out

On today’s episode, Bernadette will be talking about bathtubs on Day 4 of the series 14 Days To A New Bathroom. She will be expanding on the various components in a bathroom to give you some tips and insights into the things you need to think about when purchasing and installing these items in your bathroom. Bernadette covers,   Determining whether a bathtub will be necessary for your bathroom Why it is important to consider the type of property and residents before adding a bathtub to your bathroom reno The differences between the 3 types of bathtubs -  freestanding, inset and steel How the type and strength for your bathroom floor will determine the appropriate type and bathtub weight Choosing the correct spout that will work with your water outlet How to make sure you have enough space and landing spots in your bathroom  ---If you find this episode helpful, you can help support the show by leaving us a 5-star review on iTunes: She Renovates and subscribe to the podcast. Check out more renovating tips an

On today’s episode, Bernadette is on Day 3 of the series 14 Days To A New Bathroom on doing a quick low-cost bathroom makeover. She discusses resurfacing at length - tips on finishes and colors, time frame and cost - and its advantages as opposed to a complete renovation. Bernadette covers, What resurfacing and why it’s different from paint 3 reasons you should choose to resurface instead of painting Parts of the bathroom you can resurface Colors for resurfacing How resurfacing can greatly improve your timeframe The only thing you can’t resurface “Nu Again”, a franchise of Resurfacing Australia owned by her students --- Resources mentioned in this episode: Resurfacing Australia: https://www.resurfacingaustralia.com.au/   Download Show Notes here: FREE! ---If you find this episode helpful, you can help support the show by leaving us a 5-star review on iTunes: She Renovates and subscribe to the podcast. Check out more renovating tips and inspiration at The School Of Renovating and listen to other episodes o

On today’s episode, Bernadette is discussing the planning stage for your bathroom renovation. This is Day 2 of the mini-series: 14 Days To A New Bathroom and she will be talking about a few of the common problems in bathrooms that you need to make sure that you've got covered. Bernadette covers, Simple tricks for increasing the size of your bathroom without costing you a fortune Why you should consider reworking the dining room to add more space to your bathroom Joining a shower and a bathtub without crowding the bathroom Why it's important to avoid the use of bulky furniture and keeping it all compact What it means for the bathroom to not be considered a habitable room according to the national construction code The secret to avoiding black mold marching across all your new walls and ceilings Tips for a landlocked bathroom When to get council approval Do you need owners corporation approval to renovate an apartment's bathroom? Making alternate arrangements for your bathroom renovation   --- If you find th

On today’s episode, Bernadette goes in-depth with renovating one of the most important parts of a home, bathrooms. And because the bathroom takes a long time to complete because of all the wet traits, she will discuss how you can be most proficient at bathroom renovations to help with your timeframes. This episode is a part of a 14-Day series on Bathroom Renovations. Bernadette covers, The importance of considering how bathrooms are usually being used   Knowing the certain elements that need to be added for functionality   Making sure there is enough comfortable space for the different parts of the bathroom   How to ensure that the bathroom renovation will significantly increase the value of your property   How to make sure that your bathroom style will remain timeless --- Get and download your FREE show notes of the episode here. EPISODE SHOWNOTES --- If you find this episode helpful, you can help support the show by leaving us a 5-star review in iTunes: She Renovates and subscribe to the podcast. Check o