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Starter story: Thalisa (25) bought a fix-upper in Mariahoeve

Thalisa (25) bought her first apartment in Mariahoeve at the beginning of this year. The apartment still needed a makeover, but that didn't stop her. We spoke to Thalisa about her experience over the past few months.

A twist of your own
‘I bought this apartment in January, the transfer took place in February and the renovation took a total of two and a half months. I've rebuilt almost everything, so it took quite a while. The kitchen, bathroom and toilet have been completely renovated and everything has been repainted. I did not consciously opt for a DIY home, but the asking prices of the homes that had already been refurbished were simply too high for me as a starter. In retrospect, I'm quite happy with it, because I've now been able to fix it all up the way I want.'

A good atmosphere
‘I thought this was a really nice house, because it has a super nice view of the greenery. In addition, I found the atmosphere very good when I first walked into the house. It felt very peaceful and for one person I thought it was quite spacious. I thought “I can make something fun out of this”. In addition, the location is centrally located, close to the shopping center, the gym, the Mall of the Netherlands, the center of The Hague and the highways.'

A look back
“In retrospect, I thought it was very hard. Finding a good contractor was very difficult and in the end everything took much longer than planned. I expected it to be ready within a month, but during the renovation we ran into some unforeseen things. Because this house is very old, all pipes had to be replaced, for example. In the bathroom the sink was in the shower, so I had to have the pipe rerouted completely. For that, the wall had to be drilled and I removed all the tiles together with my father. I am grateful for all the help I have received from my family and friends, because without them it would not have been possible! ’

'My tips for people who are going to renovate a house; make good agreements and put these down on paper. Also always keep in mind that things don't go as you expected (for example, deliveries that are incorrect or late). Also make sure you have enough savings!'