‘Renovating old homes is not about making them look new, it is about making new unnecessary.’
– founder of Preservan Wood Repair, Ty McBride
Everyone dreams of having their own home, a sanctuary where they can feel secure and comfortable.
A home is more than just a physical structure; it is a place where memories are made, where families gather, and where one can retreat from the stresses of the outside world.
It is a personal haven that reflects one’s tastes and lifestyle, providing a sense of belonging and stability.
For many, the dream of homeownership symbolises achievement, independence and the ability to create a space uniquely their own.
The desire for a home is a universal aspiration that is driven by the innate need for a place to call one’s own, a foundation from which to build a life and future.
My husband and I are currently embarking on a fixer-upper project on my parents’ first house, which they have generously given to us.
It is a charming one-and-a-half-storey house located in an area near Medan Hamidah, a house my parents purchased in 1995.
They stayed there for nine years before purchasing our current house and decided to rent out their first property.
I know most people would prefer living in a big double-storey semi-detached or terraced house, but I have always liked the idea of tiny living.
What attracted me most about the house, although small, is the large attic on the second floor with a high ceiling and plenty of natural light.
This is something that you do not see or get in new houses, especially not in an apartment or a condominium.
I envision turning it into an entertainment space with a large television and a comfortable L-shaped sofa.
With enough space to also fit the essentials for a small home office, I can say that my husband and I would spend most of our time there.
I have always been fascinated by fixer-upper projects of old houses, and this interest is often fuelled by videos I have seen on my social media feed.
Our fixer-upper project began last month when I engaged my uncles, who are quite the handymen, to help make some minor improvements to the house.
These included building a new kitchen countertop, converting the separate bathroom and shower room into one, changing the toilets and shower, and improving the makeshift laundry area, which was constructed as a DIY project by a previous tenant.
We also decided to get rid of the over-20-year-old car porch tiles and gate, as they were no longer in good condition, and repaint the entire house inside and out.
With the major works almost done, we have been busy engaging with contractors to replace the old windows, gates, and roof.
At the same time, we have been window shopping for essential electrical appliances and taking notes on the different prices offered by various outlets.
We embarked on this project knowing it would incur some costs, as the previous tenant left it in quite a bad state.
However, we agreed that it would be a good investment and decided to use our savings to turn the house into our dream home.
Over the last weekend, we met with a contractor who came to measure and see what needed to be done to the roof.
The current roof has been there since the house was first built and has weathered countless harsh conditions.
Naturally, there are bound to be some parts of the roof that cause leaking problems, especially when it pours cats and dogs.
The contractor was attentive to our concerns and had prior experience working on a house nearby.
We were optimistic that we had connected with the right person to prevent us from needing to put out buckets around the house if it rains.
We were taken aback when we received the quotation for the roofing work — it costs more than my annual salary.
This unexpected expense has forced us to reconsider our plans.
We are now exploring alternative solutions, such as seeking multiple quotes from different contractors or possibly delaying the project until we can secure additional funds.
This setback weighs heavily on both of us, seeing as we had set our hearts on moving there before the end of this year.
As much as we realise and understand the importance of getting the roof changed, we must ensure any decision we make aligns with our budget without compromising the quality of the work.
After all, we must consider allocating part of our budget to furnish the house with essential furniture, kitchen cabinets and electrical appliances.
There is a part of me that daydreams about winning the lottery or coming into unexpected money, allowing us to go all out in creating our dream home.
Of course, this is just wishful thinking, as life is not a fairy tale with wish-granting godmothers.
Instead, we have to rely on careful planning, hard work and prudent financial decisions to achieve our goals.
Despite the challenges and occasional setbacks, the process of renovating and improving the house has been incredibly rewarding.
Each small improvement brings us closer to realising our vision, and the sense of accomplishment we feel with every completed task is immeasurable.
We are learning to appreciate the journey, knowing that our efforts and sacrifices will ultimately lead to a home filled with personal touches and cherished memories.
The views expressed here are those of the writer and do not necessarily represent the views of the Sarawak Tribune.
