Earlier this week I was interviewed about The Renovator’s Survival Guide by Geoff and Andrew from Perth’s 720 ABC local radio. After bidding good morning to Geoff and a mythical Graham, I then suggested to Andrew that if I’d been there in studio, I would have been giving him a little slap. Good moments in radio? You decide.
Oh - I must mention this. What I thought would be a 5 minute interview turned into a 45minute+ talkfest. Andrew is apparently leaving the little big smoke of Perth (sorry guys but it IS much much smaller than Sydney - and some may say this is a good thing), and moving to a country abode that sounds little more than a shed. He is set for a lot of renovating but appears to be relishing the prospect. I did get the feeling that his wife was in the wings a little uncertain as to just how long this project may take…
In any case we heard a little about the shed, a little from me, and a little from a stream of talkback callers who shared their disasters - and one good news story. Without wanting to throw cold water on that however, the woman concerned was only in the early stages - I just hope that honeymoon with her builder goes on and on.
Because I didn’t think that the interview would go on for quite as long as it did (but I’m not complaining - I had a load of fun), I accidentally chopped off the last 5 or so minutes which was where Reuben and Eric called in to suggest really useful things like to focus on the non-glamour products like insulation. In any case, that part is lost to the radio ether, but the preceding 40 minutes or so is right here!
This morning Sunrise’s Kochie and Mel decided to focus on how best to survive a home renovation. As Kochie said, “it can be a minefield”. I was a guest on the program, offering up my top tips. The interview is below!
Play the interview here or go to Channel 7’s Sunrise website for the factsheet!
Experts agree: it’s a good year for renovating. This morning Hilary Harper talked to Archicentre General Manager David Hallett and me, about things that can go wrong with renovations and how prepared you need to be.
“When everything else around us seems to be turning turtle, the renovation market does seem to be on the rise,” Hallett told ABC Radio’s Harper this morning. “The property market’s in strife but with that has been a general downturn in domestic construction. New home starts are down, apartment construction is down and all of those builders and tradespeople - people who’ve been frantically busy over the last several years - are all of a sudden looking for their next job.”
Hallett also went on to say that even if you’ve renovated before, say three, four, five years ago, a lot will have changed. “It’s a moving feast,” he said. Hallett agreed that preparation is the key. I joined Hallett and Harper on the programme and you can listen to my interview here.
Author, journalist and founder of the Sydney Writers’ Centre Valerie Khoo reviewed The Renovator’s Survival Guide on her blog this week. She agreed with the Herald’s Domain that it was a book not to miss if you’re about to start renovating. (Although she is a little biased as she admits!)
In case you don’t reach page 257 of my book where I acknowledge Valerie for her tough advice at the beginning of my writing project, let me tell you that my courses at the Sydney Writer’s Centre definitely helped me along the way to completing and pitching this book. In addition, Valerie’s own guidance definitely helped also - hence the bias I guess! Here’s part of what she had to say (and you can read more here):
“If you are undergoing a renovation - or know someone who is - this is a fabulous book that is PACKED with tips and stories that will help you get the best out of your renovation. Even though I am not renovating, I was glued to every page. Amanda has a no-nonsense style and a unique sense of humour.”
The ABC’s Unleashed website presents “diverse and robust opinion about politics, society, belief and behaviour”. Its editor recently asked me to contribute a piece on RENOVATION HELL.
When I sat down to write about renovation hell I decided to take a legal tack. The failure of Home Owner’s Warranty Insurance and the case of Rob Siebert and his family was top of mind. Of course renovation hell is a subject that draws lots of experienced (and novice) advice-givers out of the woodwork.
Read the article if you like and track the amusing banter between commenters RAWPRAWN, EMMJAY and HELENDAMNATION!
When you begin your renovation, be prepared for it to take over your life - for months. For some of us however, it’s taken over our lives for YEARS.
OK as I finished my renovation a few years ago (although did I mention I’m adding on one last little bit in the new year??), strictly speaking my life today isn’t all about renovating. It just seems that way because not only did my renovation go on for years, my legal action also went on for years, my book about renovating took a while to write and then about another year to come out…
Even as we speak I am living the renovation branding experience - that’s me below holding an advance copy of my book - The Renovator’s Survival Guide - which I received today.
Next year I can look forward to lots of reliving my renovation tales … (As if they weren’t bad enough the first time around!)
Recently I was asked to write an opinion-piece on renovation hell. I haven’t written it yet, so this isn’t it, but it did start me thinking … what do you think it is??
Today I had my first car-generated query. (For those who haven’t caught up with the car advertising, here it is again.)
When I took Alfy and Mondoe for a walk by the water this morning - that’s them below, ah knackered - I was approached by two women who were staring as I parked the car. (My car makes people stare at the best of times - it’s so un-car-like and has such a happy-day-chuckle-factor. Now of course, with me splattered all over it, people stare even more.)
In any case, one of the women asked me: “What do you offer as renovation survivor?” I was tempted to say salvation but you know the cliche - under promise and over deliver. So what I did say was that, well, it’s a website for my book. Out soon.
They promised to look it up - so in case they did, “hi there, you two!”
This week I received a very special Christmas gift - the DIY DOLLY Diamonte Hammer.
Now as cute as this little hammer is, I happen to know that for serious hammering business you can’t go past the Maxi-Strike (with the curved neck). I was just researching a short story on the Maxi-Strike - developed by Australian Jake Tyson - when I came across this. I couldn’t resist.
More on Jake another time, but here’s the very short story, as heard on ABC radio in March 2005:
As an 18-year-old apprentice carpenter, Jake Tyson didn’t think his hammer was up to scratch. It didn’t hit nails on the head properly and the shock of the blow reverberated uncomfortably up his arm. Finding no other option in the market place, Jake started playing around with different design ideas for a better hammer. Compensation from a motorbike accident when he was 21 gave him the money to start making prototypes and fund international patents for his new hammer - the Maxi-Strike.
Are your friends tired of listening to your renovation tales? Want to ask questions but not sure where to go? Then why not join the free RENOVATION COMMUNITY
Oh - I must mention this. What I thought would be a 5 minute interview turned into a 45minute+ talkfest. Andrew is apparently leaving the little big smoke of Perth (sorry guys but it IS much much smaller than Sydney - and some may say this is a good thing), and moving to a country abode that sounds little more than a shed. He is set for a lot of renovating but appears to be relishing the prospect. I did get the feeling that his wife was in the wings a little uncertain as to just how long this project may take…
