HONESTY BOX

+ Best lessons learned? Emma: Go with your gut.

+ What would you never do again? I would do it all again.

+ One thing you would change about your home if you could? Put an extra bedroom pod on now!

+ How did your budget forecast compare to your actual spend? Spot on! We ensured we had fixed quotes to work with.

+ What areas of your home did you save or splurge on? We saved by planning the rooms out and buying only to that plan. Then, once we were in, we added to the basics.

+ Do you tend to buy high-end homeware or seek out a bargain? Seek out a bargain. I definitely didn’t want the bach to feel precious (or to worry about something being ruined or damaged!).

+ Best advice when it comes to spending money on a home? Ask for advice.

+ How did you keep track of costs during the build? I love Excel spreadsheets!