'I was quoted 120k for home renovation but ended up spending £80k doing it myself'

A couple who were quoted a whopping £120,000 for their barn conversion managed to save an impressive £80,000 by doing most of the work themselves. Georgia Goulden-Page, 30, and Josh Gill, 33, purchased their dream barn conversion in Warwickshire in August last year for a hefty £715,000.

The property required a complete overhaul, including a new kitchen, internal reconfiguration and extensive repairs. Initially, the couple sought a contractor, but after being quoted £120,000 for the work, they realised it wasn't financially feasible. Rather than putting the project on hold, they decided to roll up their sleeves and tackle it themselves.

They embarked on the renovation in March 2025 and, as they approach completion, have spent just £40,000 - saving a staggering £80,000.

Over the past six months, Georgia and Josh have fitted a new kitchen, knocked down walls and moved doorways to create their dream home.

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."

Josh and Georgia bought their first home in April 2019, where they renovated the house and garden, converted the garage and added a kitchen extension, selling it for £165,000 more than they bought it.

The DIY skills they acquired during that project proved invaluable when it came to tackling the much larger challenge of their new barn conversion.

Georgia revealed, "The fact that we worked on a house prior to this really helped us through. 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."

When they purchased the barn a year ago, the couple found themselves spending more on the property than they had initially anticipated. So, when the renovation quotes came in, they realised the only way forward was to undertake the work themselves.

Since then, they've been working tirelessly during evenings and weekends to revamp the ground floor, creating a new living area and kitchen.

Georgia admitted: "It was all a bit overwhelming but we spent six months saving after buying the house and then we felt more prepared. We had to bring in some specialists like a builder, an electrician, a plumber, a plasterer and a structural engineer.

"But we hired them all individually for specific jobs and ensured we did all the prep work for them and removed all waste ourselves. This cut down on smaller costs but in the end they all pile up into something more substantial.

"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 of 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 other bits were done by us."

The pair took on both minor and major jobs, including transforming the downstairs loo into a walk-in pantry - Georgia's lifelong aspiration - and installing a completely new kitchen.

By handling smaller jobs themselves, including panelling, priming, and constructing and decorating the pantry walls and shelving, they saved £650.

They also installed bespoke alcove units in the lounge area, which they constructed for £400 after receiving a quote of £4,300. For an arched doorway, they were quoted £1,000 but managed to finish it themselves for £500.

The pair ordered ready-made kitchen units from DIY Kitchens for £11,500 and installed them independently, saving considerably on labour expenses.

Georgia said: "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.

"But we know we're saving so much in labour costs and we're aiming to get the home up to a value of £885k from the £715k we initially bought for in the next two years. So that's a good motivator!"

Thus far, the couple's total expenses have reached £39,140 ($52,582), and they anticipate completing within the next month. The only tasks remaining are minor ones, such as fitting a countertop in the pantry and organising the utility room.

Georgia expressed: "It's all coming together now and feels so good to see our hard work pays off. 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."

List of costs and savings:

• 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 for each worker
• New toilet and sink - £1,115
• New appliances in the kitchen - £3k.