Hey everyone! I'm curious if anyone has taken on a major home renovation knowing it wasn't the best financial decision, but did it anyway to meet personal or lifestyle needs. I've been living in my home for about five years with my two dogs, and they've managed to ruin a lot of my nicer furniture and rugs, so I've been keeping things pretty minimal lately. Now that my girlfriend has moved in, we're both feeling the pressure to renovate. She's hoping to turn our basic bungalow into a chalet-style place with an extra upper floor for more personal space. I want to add a garage and remove the back terrace to create a better environment for the dogs, including separate rooms and a wash station among other amenities. However, our accountant advised against the renovation since it wouldn't significantly increase our home's resale value, suggesting we temporarily move to a smaller place instead. We've also thought about renovating in stages over time to manage costs. So, I have a couple of questions: Has anyone lived in an unfinished home for a while? How did that affect your mental well-being? And if you've done renovations mainly for personal reasons—did you regret it or are you happy you did it? I'd love to hear your experiences or advice! Thanks!
4 Answers
You won't regret making upgrades that add comfort to your life. Sure, renovations can get chaotic, but keep your plans clearly defined. It's all about choosing projects that bring joy rather than purely focusing on value—your home should be a sanctuary first!
Just be cautious with renovations that mainly reflect your girlfriend's wishes. If you're both on board, that's great. But if this is primarily her desire, think carefully about what resources you're committing. Relationships can change, but your house is yours to manage.
If you're not planning to sell soon, I say go for it! It's your home, after all. Living in an unfinished space isn’t an option for everyone (especially with kids around who get into everything), but I’m really glad we did our renovations. For us, it’s all about creating a space we can enjoy for years to come.
I've done some renovation projects without resale value in mind. It's really about making my space enjoyable and comfortable, and I don't regret any changes! Living with unfinished spaces has been okay for me. Sure, it's a little dusty and disorganized, but as long as you know what to expect, it can be perfectly manageable.