I live with the worlds worst home renovator. Really, there is no one worse. I know it. Lets start with the steps for renos.'

The first thing a home renovator should do - have a plan. Yes, this would be ideal but, my worlds worst home renovator - just picks a spot and begins. A hole in the bathroom wall that stayed for - oh, about two years. My worlds worst renovator, wasn't sure how to fix it. Instead of admitting it, she got busy on - the guest bedroom closets. Yes, closet removal was easy - putting it back together was, a totally different story though. You guessed, another whole in the wall. A plan would have been so sweet.

The second thing every renovator should have is, a budget. My worlds worst home renovator - thought she might just, fill in as she could afford to - using, garage sale finds and sometimes - 'new' things that caught her eye in the hardware store.

Supplies. Every home renovator will agree that, having the necessary tools and supplies handy to complete the job - is essential. Using a finger nail as a screwdriver - isn't quite the same. It doesn't really, do the same job. Every home renovator will also agree, I'm sure, that - cutting the hole in the wall and then, trying to find something to fit the hole - is not good. There may be allot of patching a filling involved.

A 'guide' picture would be handy to have, for those finishing details - like color. Shopping for color at, garage sales and the toxic waste management depot - could have ramifications. It could be limiting - to say the least.

Getting 'professional' help, for those renovations that may be - ahem, 'out of her realm of knowledge' - is a good thing but, not in the picture for my worlds worst home renovator. When the water burst out of the tap in the bathtub, steadily hitting the opposite wall - the professional, would have been quite handy.

My worlds worst renovator, tried to build a frame outside - then put it in place - inside. At first, the rectangle had different angled corners. She persisted. Finally, about a month later (and many, many two by fours later) - the corners were straight. Upon trying to get it in the house and into its 'place', it was discovered - it was too big. It needed to be shortened. Another month to get it shorter and straight.

In short, before starting any renovation - professional help would have been the better solution - all the way around. Happily, she got it fixed up enough and , we now live elsewhere. My worlds worst home renovator - is me.

I have learned allot since then.

Learn more about this author, Francesca Collins.
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