In episode one of our first-time buyer series, we met Shannon from Dublin who recently bought a house with her boyfriend Dan. They found their new place in Dun Laoghaire, in the same town where they had their first date seven years ago! Their home needed a lot of work, so the pair decided to do a complete renovation. Shannon sat down with us to share three things to know before you start your home renovation.
Episode two showed us Shannon’s three tips for when you’re knee-deep in construction.
Our third episode saw Shannon giving her three tips for when you come across the unexpected during your renovation.
In our final episode, we hear Shannon’s top three things to know about yourself before you begin your first-time buyer journey.
Watch episode four of Shannon’s story.
Transcript
00:00:00 Shannon speaking
I’m Shannon and I’m from Dublin and I’ve just finished renovating our first home in Dun Laoghaire with my boyfriend Dan. I ended up learning absolutely loads. I hadn’t a clue about support beams and architraves and all that.
If you’re about to renovate a fixer upper here’s three things I want you to learn about yourself.
00:00:17 On screen: Tip one – Your relationship will be strengthened
00:00:17 Shannon continues
One thing’s for sure is your relationship will be tested but it will also be strengthened. Myself and Dan are quite different and we had quite different tastes but as time went on we found a taste that I suppose was our taste.
If I had a house on my own it would be a bit mad but Dan is a lot more subtle. In the bathroom we played it quite safe by putting white and grey tiles on the wall but I brought in my touch of quirk by putting in the Moroccan tiles on the floor and some quirky prints on the wall.
00:00:46 On screen: Tip two – Trust your instinct
00:00:46 Shannon continues
Secondly, you’ll change your mind but trust your instinct. There was a moment where I was like oh my God I hate that paint but as soon as the light was turned on I realised I absolutely loved it.
Going into the tile showroom we picked the tiles but it was very hard to visualise them in the space and we were really unsure of what they were going to look like. In the end we have a great bathroom and it looks brilliant. So, it’s all about trusting your instincts.
00:01:08 On screen: Tip three – You can do it, so don’t give up
00:01:08 Shannon continues
Lastly, I want you to know you can do it, so don’t give up. When getting a fixer upper it can be a long road but at the end of the day it’ll be worth it.
There was moments were I thought maybe I would’ve been better off just buying a brand spanking new house but at the end of the day when you put your own personal twist on a house it really feels great and I wouldn’t change it for the world.
A home is about making memories and you’ll make plenty during this process and I can’t wait to make more in this home.
00:01:41 Video ends
Tip one - Your relationship will be tested, but also strengthened
Shannon and Dan had very different tastes when it came to decorating their home. Dan prefers subtlety, whereas Shannon’s style is more eclectic. Although they both had their own preferences, they learned to compromise with each other and find a taste which was uniquely theirs. In their bathroom they played it safe with white and grey but added in a more exotic feel with strong Moroccan tiles and some quirky prints to make it their own.
Shannon and Dan were able to bring both styles together to create the perfect mix for their home. Using neutral colour palettes is the perfect way to off-set stronger patterns or shades. If you’re looking to add some life to your home, consider decorating with white first to provide a clean and fresh background for your statement decoration.
Tip two - You’ll change your mind, but trust your instinct
Shannon advises to always trust your gut. She and Dan found it hard to visualise how everything would look in their home from paint colours to bathroom tiles, but they relied on their instinct and were thrilled with how it turned out.
Deciding on your paint colour and finish is never an easy decision when decorating your home. Once you’ve picked out your colours, make sure you properly prepare both yourself and your walls before you begin – check out our painting 101.
Tip three - Don’t panic
There were moments where Shannon wished she’d chosen to buy a house that was ready to move into – but patience pays off! Every time she and Dan overcame another obstacle in their home renovation journey, they felt a great sense of accomplishment. At the end of the process, they knew that all the hard work was worth it. They moved in with a wealth of memories that had already been made in their home and ready to make many more!
Find all of our first-time buyer series videos and articles here.
At Aviva, we understand that just like Shannon and Dan, you work hard to make your house a home. We work hard to protect homes around Ireland. Buy Aviva home insurance online and get 20% off. Get your quote today.1
