MY EXPERIENCE

After living in a series of rented flats, I was determined to buy something so I saved up for a deposit. Both my parents wanted an investment opportunity, so we went in together to buy the flat. It has nice big rooms, but it had been rented out and was dated, with original fittings from the 1980s, which all needed replacing. I was excited about putting my own stamp on things, rather than having to adapt existing fittings that weren’t to my taste.

I’m eco-minded, so I don’t think I’d have been able to get rid of a perfectly good bathroom, but I didn’t have that problem. The shower was just a hose attachment, a lot of the tiles were cracked, and the bath was badly scratched and discoloured. So it was all systems go. My parents are big DIYers, so I’ve picked up some of the skills along the way and dad has contacts in the trades for the bits we couldn’t do, such as the plumbing and electrical work for the fabulous new shower.

I had £2,000 earmarked for everything, including labour, and I just about made it. Keeping an eye out for end-of-line bargains and special offers helped. I also saved money by doing jobs myself, such as painting, helping my Dad do the tiling, and even a little bit of rough plastering to prepare the walls for the new tiles. I’m so thrilled with how it’s come together.