Lifestyle

We saved £80,000 by renovating our house ourselves – now it’s unrecognisable

David Benjamin
Buying a property these days is pricey, and renovating it can leave an even bigger hole in your wallet. But one enterprising couple took matters into their own hands when they bought their dream home last year. Georgia Goulden-Page, 30, and 33-year-old Josh Gill spent £715,000 on a barn conversion in Warwickshire. However, the property needed a full makeover, including a new kitchen, internal reconfiguration and extensive repairs. (Picture: Georgia Goulden-Page / SWNS)
Initially, the couple sought a contractor but quickly realised they couldn’t afford the £120,000 they were being quoted for the work. Which is when they decided, instead of putting the project on hold, to take on the intimidating project themselves. (Picture: Georgia Goulden-Page / SWNS)
And in doing so, the pair – who began work on the house in March 2025 – have spent just £40,000, saving themselves a massive £80,000. The renovation has seen them fit a new kitchen, knock down walls and move doorways, creating their ideal home in the process. (Picture: Georgia Goulden-Page / SWNS)
Georgia, a jewellery buyer in Warwickshire, said: ‘It’s been a lot of hard work but it’s totally worth it in the end. ‘I think the work first feels impossible but most people are totally capable. You just need someone telling you that.’ The couple have form when it comes to renovating homes, as they did the same when they bought their first property in April 2019. (Picture: Georgia Goulden-Page / SWNS)
In that instance, they renovated the house and garden, converted the garage and even added in a kitchen extension – adding £165,000 to the value by the time they sold it. And the DIY skills they picked up in the process proved invaluable when it came to the barn conversion, which was a far bigger task. (Picture: Georgia Goulden-Page / SWNS)
‘The fact that we worked on a house prior to this really helped us through,’ Georgia explained. ‘It feels crazy to think back to all the work we did. But I grew up with parents who were very handy so having their support made it feel possible.’ The couple spent more on the barn than they originally planned when they bought it, leaving them with no choice but to take on the work themselves when the renovation quotes came in. (Picture: Georgia Goulden-Page / SWNS)
They’ve subsequently worked evenings and weekends to transform the ground floor of the property, with Georgia describing the project as ‘overwhelming’. She added: ‘We spent six months saving after buying the house and then we felt more prepared. We had to get some specialists in like a builder, an electrician, a plumber, a plasterer and a structural engineer.’ (Picture: Georgia Goulden-Page / SWNS)
She went on: ‘We needed the electrician and plumber as we changed the electric board and switched to a smart heating system. We brought in the structural engineer as we wanted to remove a 5.5m wall, so needed their expertise on that. We worked with all the trades on the design as the structural engineer suggested a steel beam but we chose to use oak, which was a fraction of the price and more in keeping with the barn. Outside of that, most bits were done by us.’ So, just what does the end result look like? (Picture: Georgia Goulden-Page / SWNS)
The amazing transformation saw the couple take on a variety of projects, from converting the downstairs toilet into a walk-in pantry and fitting an entirely new kitchen. They saved £650 by taking on tasks such as paneling, priming, and building and painting the pantry walls and shelves. They also completed an arch doorway for £500 – half the price they were quoted. They ordered pre-made kitchen units from DIY Kitchens for £11,500 and fitted them on their own – saving a significant amount of cash on labour costs. (Picture: Georgia Goulden-Page / SWNS)
‘It still feels expensive because as much as we’re cutting costs, we’re still investing in really good quality materials to ensure that the barn is converted to a high standard,’ Georgia explained. ‘But we know we’re saving so much in labour costs and we’re aiming to get the home up to a value of £885,000 from the £715,000 we initially bought it for in the next two years. So that’s a good motivator!’ (Picture: Georgia Goulden-Page / SWNS)
So far the pair have spent £39,140 and they’re expecting to finish within the next month with only small tasks, such as installing a countertop in the pantry and organizing the utility room remaining. ‘It’s all coming together now and feels so good to see our hard work pay off,’ Georgia said. (Picture: Georgia Goulden-Page / SWNS)
‘There were days where we would get home from work and be up until midnight sorting and fixing things. But it’s worth it to invest in your home like this and it just shows what can be achieved with DIY.’ (Picture: Georgia Goulden-Page / SWNS)

List of costs and savings on the house

Alcove units – spent £460 and saved £3.9k from quoted price
Pantry interior – spent £500 and saved £650 by doing small jobs
Pantry archway – spent £500 and saved £500 from quoted price
Kitchen – spent £20k and saved £9k based on national average
Plasterer – £2,900
Plumber – £4, 406
Electrician – £1,300
Saved on all three above by doing all prep work and waste removal, approx. £500 on each worker
New toilet and sink – £1,115
New appliances in kitchen – £3,000

(Picture: Georgia Goulden-Page / SWNS)

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