Home Renovation Can Test Marriages, Expert Warns

Extensive home renovations, particularly those involving older properties, can be financially draining, time-consuming, and put significant strain on relationships, according to one homeowner's firsthand experience.

Serena Dobson, 45, has been renovating a Georgian farmhouse in Lincolnshire with her husband Michael, 46, since purchasing it in 2023 for £825,000. The couple, who work in executive search, initially estimated a five-year completion timeline, but three years into the project, they are still working on the upstairs rooms.

"We don't have an enormous pot of money, so that has meant doing much of the work ourselves, which has been a huge learning curve," Dobson explained. "We rolled up our sleeves and there are so many resources available, such as YouTube, that over the three years we've been here we've learned far more than we expected."

Their renovation efforts have impacted their family life, including their children, Finn, now 12, and Beth, now 10. Dobson shared that their daughter found the move difficult, reacting with "lots and lots of tears and a fair bit of anger" after leaving her old room, friends, and school.

The Dobsons have encountered unexpected challenges, such as suspected asbestos in their loft and the need for a costly bat survey, which they estimate could range from £3,000 to £6,000 and is currently holding up plans to convert barns on their property. To date, their spend has reached £50,000.

"Our experience of taking on and renovating a period home has been a slow and considered one," Dobson said. "We bought the property directly from the estate. We viewed it for just 15 minutes and put in a cheeky offer £25,000 below the asking price, not really thinking anything would come of it."

Dobson advises that patience is key and that rushing the process is ill-advised. "This is not a first-to-the-finish-line scenario - the house has stood here for over a century and will stand here for centuries more," she stated.

While their initial plan was to complete the top floor before moving onto the downstairs living areas, three years in, the bedrooms are still unfinished, and Serena and Michael are residing in the spare room. Their current project is the master bedroom suite, intended to combine three rooms into a sanctuary.

During the renovation, they have uncovered original fireplaces in bedrooms and wooden shutters in the reception rooms, which they plan to restore. They have also sanded and treated the wooden floors hidden beneath carpets.

The Dobsons also tackled the exterior, opting for DIY solutions for landscaping after receiving a £60,000 quote to turf a dilapidated tennis court. They hired a digger to remove tarmac and sowed grass seed themselves. They also built a seating area and three pergolas, and dug a flower bed using bricks reclaimed from the house.

To manage costs and the unexpected nature of renovating an old property, Dobson recommends building a financial cushion of at least 15-20% on top of the initial renovation budget. She also stresses the importance of finding tradespeople who understand the age and specific needs of period properties.

"My advice to anyone embarking on a project like this is to live with the house, understand what makes it special, repair what can be saved and make changes that feel as though they belong," Dobson concluded. "An old house doesn't have to be transformed overnight to feel like home."