Customer Profile - Margaret*

It’s said that renovating your home is one of the most stressful things you can do. And for good reason – there are a myriad of decisions to be made and unexpected issues that can arise. Careful planning and robust project management is also required to minimise the risk of timeline and budget blowouts.

The process is made even more difficult when you are renovating a property you already live in. In addition to the inevitable noise and dust, renovation works can be extremely disruptive to your lifestyle and daily routine. Depending on the upgrades you have planned, you may even need to move out while work is being complete.

This is something we’re very familiar with, having worked with many homeowners undertaking renovations, extensions, and knockdown rebuild projects. Margaret was one such client, as she needed to move out while her home was upgraded to meet her accessibility requirements. Feeling she already had enough to manage, she found YHH on Google, and engaged us to help find suitable temporary accommodation.

While Margaret’s expectations were very reasonable, her situation meant her search was a little more complex than usual. As she wanted to be as close as possible to her home, her search area was quite small. It was also focused around one of Canberra’s most popular areas, where quality properties consistently attract significant interest.

To minimise moving requirements, Margaret was also keen to find a fully furnished property. Ideally, she wanted to be in a newer apartment development and required parking that provided easy access. She also needed some flexibility on her lease term, just in case renovation works ran over schedule.

Working with our network, we were able to identify a few properties that seemed workable for Margaret. There were several she liked the look of, so we organised viewings so she could confirm their suitability. Where possible, we arranged private inspections to allow her the time to move through them at her own pace.

While she felt all of the places she inspected could work, there was one property Margaret particularly loved. So, we submitted her application and worked with the agent to make sure the owner understood her unique situation. The lease term required some negotiation but, after a little back-and-forth, we reached an agreement that worked for everyone involved.

We are so happy we were able to secure Margaret interim accommodation that truly meets her needs. She was an absolute delight to deal with and we wish her all the best with her renovations.

* Names have been changed to protect the privacy of the individuals involved.