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Tools & Resources to Help You Build or Renovate Your Dream Home

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The Homeowner's Renovation Planning Starter Kit

    Most people don't realize that when they go directly to an architect or contractor as the first step in their home renovation project, they are setting themselves up for stress and disappointment.

    Homeowners who don't plan their own renovations feel:

    Before Construction — confused and intimidated 🤯

    • Do I need a permit? How do I get one? What's the right renovation process?
    • These contractor quotes are all over the map. Should I just go with the cheapest?
    • How do I know what I'm getting? These quotes aren't broken down.

    During Construction — stressed and overwhelmed 😖

    • When will I need to start discussing layout and finishes with my contractor? He keeps saying everything is fine for now...and then more crickets.
    • I can't decide what flooring and colours to pick. I can't visualize if they will go together well or not.
    • My contractor just said the flooring I spent three weeks picking out isn't in stock. Now what?

    After Construction — disappointed and regretful 😩

    • Darn. I wish I knew to think about xxx before I started this reno. I would have done things differently.
    • I hate this bulkhead but my contractor said it had to go here and if I wanted to move it, I would be delaying the schedule and it would cost more money. Now I'm stuck with this.
    • My contractor only quoted me for $2/sq foot floors and now I don't have the wide planks I dreamed of.
    • OR — I overspent $25,000 to get the wide plank floors and semi-custom cabinets I needed because my contractor never specified what he quoted me for.

    Let me show you a better way to renovate your home.

    I know exactly what it feels like to be overwhelmed and confused at the start a home renovation, so I know my simple process for planning your reno can:

    Save Money

    When you understand what everything costs, you can save or splurge based on your priorities.

    Squash Overwhelm

    When you're guided through my simple step-by-step planning process, you'll make the right decisions with the right information.

    Eliminate Regret

    When you anticipate the questions and make decisions in advance, construction is the easy part.

    You already know you want to renovate. You just need to know how.


    Here at Barn Cat Renovations, I provide the most comprehensive self-directed program for scoping, budgeting, planning and designing your home renovation. Renovation Planning Academy is the only action-based roadmap of its kind that not only teaches you the strategy behind major renovation decisions for your home, but also the exact steps to follow for making your renovation dreams become reality without overwhelm, budget blowouts, or regret.


    Highlights:

    • Identify and prioritize your unique requirements so that you'll get exactly what you want, not just a generic reno that doesn't actually work for you.
    • Understand the breadth of options available to you so you can make tough decisions with clarity and never wonder if you've done enough research or forgotten to consider something.
    • Learn how to choose products and suppliers based on important features that matter (not just colour) so that you'll have confidence about every supplier or material you're bringing into your home.
    • Speak confidently about your scope, schedule and budget so that you are on a level playing field with contractors and trades, never feel like you're being oversold, and know exactly where your hard-earned dollars are going.
    • Visualize your renovation using scaled 2D layouts and 3D renders so that you never have to wonder if your design decisions are going to look good together. You'll know it.


    Learn How Barn Cat Renovations Can Help You Plan Your Reno >

    How The Program Works

    Enroll in Renovation Planning Academy

    Jump into my step-by-step program that will guide and support you through 6 modules of renovation planning bliss so that you can turn your dreams and ideas into a concrete action plan.
    Sign Up Now

    Work through RPA with ALL the support

    My team and I will be by your side during your entire renovation planning journey through weekly live Q&As, dictionary, vault, and more cheering than you can imagine. You can't go wrong with this much support behind you!

    Dive Into Your Construction Phase with Confidence

    By the end of the course, you'll have your permit, drawings and contractor lined up so the only thing left to do is start demolition, knowing you've already answered the tough questions and know exactly what to expect. Is it too soon for margaritas?

    Career in Project Management + Passion for Renovations

    Learn how Barn Cat Renovations was born, where the name came from, and how a busy mum of two is living her best life in Toronto.

    Photo credit: Shawn Hughes

    Get started the right way

    10 Questions You Need to Answer Before You Start Planning Your Renovation

      Get the inside scoop on renovation planning

      The Blog

      I share my knowledge, examples and mini guides on everything related to home renovation planning—from layouts to project management to how to make those tough reno decisions—all tied together by my mission to help you renovate your dream home while saving you money, overwhelm, and regret.

      Plus I share a few behind-the-scenes snapshots of my life with kids including my favourite recipes, blending parenting and work, and everything in between.

      EXPLORE ARTICLES

        Stay in the Loop

        I'll keep you posted on important news and updates.

        The Home Renovation Industry Needs a Shake-Up

        And It's My Mission to Lead the Charge 💪🏻

        At Barn Cat Renovations, I know you are the kind of person who wants to enjoy life at home with friends and family. You busted your butt to finally afford a home in a crazy market, and you deserve to make it awesome! In order to do that, you need a custom home renovation built around your needs. The problem is, you don't know how to get it. You don't know where to start, who to talk to, and how to avoid being another horror story being whispered around the neighbourhood—and it's making you feel nervous and overwhelmed.

        I get it. I was once in your non-steel-toed shoes—so excited to renovate my first house and having no clue where to turn. I had witnessed friends and neighbours go through their renovations directly with a contractor, and face-palmed at every single one. One friend was choosing between two ugly tiles from Home Depot just because they were in stock and she needed to pick something up that day. Another friend had an hour to decide between a herringbone marble tile or solid quartz slab for her kitchen backsplash so did a poll amongst our group and just went with the winning vote. As a project manager, I just couldn't understand why the home renovation industry was like this. Why on earth weren't these decisions made months ago?

        Then when it was my turn, I started calling design build companies, contractors and architects like a diligent worker bee 🐝, asking all kinds of questions and getting mostly annoyed grunts and inflated ballpark prices in return (no joke—one quote was 350k). I just couldn't understand why it was so difficult to figure out how to get my main floor renovated well for a reasonable price and avoid the crazy pitfalls that I kept witnessing with friends and neighbours. I knew that the only way to truly get what I wanted was to put in the hours of research to figure out every permutation for layout and finishes.

        That's why I started Barn Cat Renovations. I realized that the home renovation industry was broken, and that a proper planning phase, done by the homeowner, was the secret to fixing the issues. When you plan your own renovation, you're in control of your scope and budget, which means you can get exactly what you want based on what you want to spend.

        Here's how it works.

        ☝️ First, sign up for Renovation Planning Academy, my industry-shifting, game-changing online course today.

        ✌️ Next, get ready to take advantage of my comprehensive, step-by-step program that will walk you through everything you need to know for scoping, budgeting, planning and designing your dream home renovation.

        🙌 Finally, get ready to enjoy a well-planned & organized renovation that will have your story being spread around the neighbourhood for being such a raging success.

        So sign up today and avoid the stress, overwhelm, budget blowouts, and regret that inevitably come when you don't plan your own home renovation and set yourself up for a lifetime of happiness and memories in your own perfect home.