I just put down laminate floating floor in my rental property and love it. However, I don't know how it's going to wear in the long run, and would imagine that tiles would be longer lasting. However, the laminate flooring is definitely the cheaper option, and so much quicker to lay than tiles.

Good luck!

Jess

Hey Karen – here it is http://propertyinvestingmummy.blogspot.com/ !!!

Have quickly entered a couple of posts… sorry, name of blog is similar to yours… I'm trying to think of something else!!!

I hadn't thought of blogging about it before, but, as I said you've inspired me!

Anyway, check it out…

by the way, I have a friend in Mackay who is a real estate photographer, so if you need any shoots of your houses done you should check her out. Let me know if you want her details.

Cheers
Jess
xxx

Hi there Renos – feel free to shoot me an email – [email protected]

Cheers,
Jess

Hi guys – sorry to those I haven't replied to on this thread… i've been very busy – holidaying, and yes, renovating!

Alex – I have just begun my first reno, and am now in the full swing of it…. I knew it wouldn't all be smooth sailing, but I didn't think it would be soooooo frustrating! It's only a small reno really. It's a small 2 bedroom plus sleep-out Cal Bungalow style house. It had this ridiculous bathroom right in the centre of the house that you could hardly even turn around in, yet a massive laundry out the back. So I have ripped out the old bathroom which has opened up the kitchen to one of the bedrooms, so I'm turning this space into an open-plan kitchen/dining/living, which looks fantastic… so much more space.

The bathroom I am relocating to what was the laundry, and it will be a really good size bathroom now, able to accommodate a separate bath and shower, plus vanity and toilet. The laundry is going in what was the sort of porch area at the back of the house which will work really well.

Anyway, the design of the house now will be way more user friendly and better use of space.

But I am so frustrated as I am doing a lot of it myself (I do have a chippy who is helping with the "big" stuff). Now I may be naive, but I thought that a bit of wall paper removal, painting, removing old air con/heaters, would be simple stuff… NO! I touch one simple thing and it turns into a huge job – which I am totally unskilled for!

And of course, the constant battle of watching where the $ are going, and trying to do it as cheaply as possible without making it look cheap, it also time consuming and draining (yep, caught me at a bad time I think…. I'm tired!!)

But, having said all that, it is still exciting to watch it all slowly come together. Doing Steve & Cherie's workshop has certainly given me the confidence to get in there and give it a go. I would recommend doing it for sure.

Danviv1 – Sorry I've taken so long to get back on here and reply to you – the Financial Feasibility is basically just an Excel spreadsheet, but it is quite comprehensive. It doesn't include predetermined figures as you suggested, I guess because there could be a huge difference in the price of certain items. But it lists all the items you may need, room by room, with a spot for your estimation, so you can go through and estimate what the job will cost, and then a spot for the actual cost after the job is done.

Suburb due-diligence is basically as you have suggested… manual data collection with the help of websites such as RP Data. But Steve & Cherie do give you a strategy  to follow when doing your data collection.

Hope that helps!

Stargazer –  Again, apologies for taking so long to get back to you. As you may have read above I am out there in the midst of my first project, so yes, it has certainly given me the confidence to do it. I think that if you are lacking direction and confidence than doing a workshop like Steve & Cherie's is certainly a great idea.  $5k is pretty steep, I agree, and if you can't afford it, don't do it! But if it's not going to break the bank than go for it – it will get you motivated and ready!

Cheers everyone! I'll try to get on here more regularly – I'll start a thread with pics of my reno shortly!!

Jess

Looking great Brian – would love to see some more photos!

Cheers
Jess

Hi Cassie – yep they certainly do cover how to obtain finance, they have a finance broker and an accountant who speaks at the workshop, and you get a chance to have a one-on-one chat with these specialists if you like. Cherie talks about ways that you could possibly cut down your day job and work less hours whilst doing your first couple of projects. Then hopefully you might have some money behind you to quit work altogether.

Even though Steve & Cherie now only do the 'high-end' projects, they certainly know that everyone needs to start at the bottom, and give you the tools to be able to do that.

Hope that helps!
Cheers
Jess

Hey Mav – I agree with Jason – i would imagine it would be far too expensive to try to restore it. Restoration and Renovation are two very different things. And at the crux of it – restoration is more expensive! You're probably better off to bring it up to a light, bright, modern standard that will appeal to all types of different people.

Anyway – that's just my opinion!

Cheers
Jess

Hi everyone – well I have just had my weekend workshop with Stephen & Cherie, and it was great! Really comprehensive… Cherie is like this crazy woman who covers absolutely every single detail you can think of! And Steve – well he's just funny!!

No seriously, it was very full-on, loads of information, their Due Diligence System is very comprehensive and detailed, and makes you really get to know your target market, do thorough research, and therefore only buy the properties that are going to make you a buck. They talk about structural and cosmetic renovations – but you don't learn how to paint, or replace kitchen cupboards – you learn how to project manage and work with tradies etc.

The main topics that they cover are:
Setting up your property business; companies / trusts etc.; Finding the right team i.e. broker, solicitor, accountant; Doing your due diligence; dealing with agents; how to make an offer; getting the right finance; creative finance ideas; settlement periods and early access; managing your reno; dressing your property for resale etc.

Cherie & Steve obviously know their stuff.

I would highly recommend the course if you are considering doing either structural or cosmetic reno's, or if you want to learn how to really get to know the real estate market. The things they are teaching you certainly aren't rocket science, it's just common sense. But it's the way they go about their research, and the "tight ship" they run within their property business that you can really learn from.

Plus, they are very generous with their knowledge and time, ask any question and they'll answer you. Part of the course is you receive 12 months of mentoring. So I can now ring Cherie or Steve anytime (you can call them directly) with any questions I have. Plus of course you get the Trade Card that gives you some great discounts. 

I really enjoyed it, and I'm glad I did it – yes, a lot of money, but worth it in my opinion!!

If anyone has any questions please ask me!

Cheers
Jess

Hi Tina – I haven't heard of  "Women in Property" either so I just checked out the website. Can't seem to find when their next meeting is though – do you know? Might be good….

Cheers
Jess