Renovate Your Retirement

The podcast for women who want to create income and a life they love through renovating

Join serial renovator Bernadette Janson as she explores the ins and outs of renovating for profit!

Bernadette has over 30 years of experience in the renovating for profit business. She’s a registered nurse, a renovator, a mum, and a teacher.

207 – Renovate Your Retirement

Today, we have a special guest, Amali, who will be sharing her journey of renovating for retirement. Now, if you’re under forty and think this doesn’t apply to you, think again. It’s never too early to start planning for your future, and it’s certainly never too late.

Amali and her husband Richard discovered that they didn’t have enough money for retirement due to various challenges they faced. But instead of accepting a limited financial future, they decided to take matters into their own hands. They turned to the world of renovating, and that’s where Bernadette, comes into the picture.

Amali found Bernadette’s program and realized it was the missing piece she needed to renovate for profit. Together with Richard, they embarked on a journey of transforming properties and securing their financial future. They not only wanted to create a comfortable retirement for themselves but also pass down their knowledge to their family.

Amali and Richard wanted to teach their loved ones the power of renovating. And it’s not just about making money. It’s about having the freedom to travel, spend time with family, and live life on their terms. They didn’t want to rely solely on a pension. They wanted to create opportunities and share their success.

In this episode, Amali shares their experiences, from buying their first investment property to their recent downsizing strategy. She discusses how they used a structured approach to analyze the market, engage experts, and make informed decisions. Amali also delves into the importance of mindset and manifestation in achieving their goals.

As you’ll discover, Amali and Richard’s journey is an inspiring example of how renovating can transform your financial future and create the life you desire. So, whether you’re a seasoned renovator or just starting out, this episode will provide valuable insights and actionable strategies to help you renovate for profit and secure your retirement.

Stay tuned as we dive into the world of renovating with Amali and explore the exciting possibilities that lie ahead. Get ready to be inspired, educated, and motivated to take your renovation journey to new heights.

Watch the Episode on Video:

EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS:

00:00 Intro
02:10 Amali and her husband Richard decided to start renovating for retirement
04:20 Amali’s second property, and cottage on a 700-square-meter block of land in Berkeley Vale.
05:00 The importance of analyzing the numbers before purchasing.
08:40: Amali’s manifestation process
14:20: The importance of connecting with nature and using non-toxic paints in the renovation process.
15:10 – Planning the budget for the Granny Flat project
21:20 Future Renovation Plans
23:10 Comparison of Downsizing Options
25:40 Amali’s financial concerns and finding a solution.
27:20 Amali shares her manifestation magic with other renovators at a retreat.

“We love property and we love making things beautiful and creating beautiful spaces for family and friends, but also us. It's really important that we connect with nature and we paint with no toxic paints and we everything's done in a really natural way.”

Amali de Vos

Resources

Airbnb
https://www.airbnb.com/

The School Of Renovating
https://www.theschoolofrenovating.com/

273 – From “Just a Hobby” to Profitable Business: The Mindset Shift That Matters

April 17, 2026

Financial success in renovating isn’t limited by strategy it’s limited by the beliefs we hold about money, worth, and what’s possible for us. When women shift these unconscious stories, confidence grows, decisions become clearer, and profitable opportunities become far easier to act on.

272- Strata Reports: The Silent Deal Breaker Renovators Can’t Afford to Ignore

January 22, 2026

Ever wondered why a stunning renovation fails to attract strong offers?
Often, the answer isn’t the kitchen or bathroom it’s what buyers discover in the strata report.

271- 10 Tips for Clearer Trade Communication

November 5, 2025

Ever come home from a renovation trip to find something very different from what you imagined?
That’s exactly what happened to Bernadette — a tiling mix-up that left one of her bathrooms looking nothing like the plan.

Share it!

If you loved the episode, I would be so grateful if you shared it on social media or left a review!

“I have been listening to this Podcast for a few years now. I love how Bernadette freely shares her experiences and knowledge of renovating and how to create wealth through property. There are many people out there doing a similar things but Bernadette is the real deal. Her down to earth approach reasonates with me and I’ve learned lots from her. I’d highly recommend She Renovates!”

“I've been binge-listening to this podcast for the past week and it's absolutely brilliant. Bernadette has amassed so much knowledge and wisdom about renovating and she shares it generously and in a really easy to understand way that's inspired me to give it a go. Her advice is practical and I love that she approaches renovating in a really ethical and open-hearted way. Every episode honestly is gold. I also love that each episode is quite short and addresses a specific topic without any waffle. Thank you so much for this podcast!”

“Hands down best renovation podcast there is. There’s no scams or tricks here and Bernadette provides honest and practical advice that you can actually apply to your life. There’s also great insights into the property industry (not just renovating) and Bernadette’s simple approach gives you tools to mitigate risk and fuels confidence to start your own projects.”

“Bernadette is an inspiration. Warm, open and a fountain of wisdom and advice. I’ve learned so much about everything from renovating to selling to creating an independent future from this podcast. Look forward to every episode!”

“If you need to break through any of your limitations to find the joy and success in renovation, Bernadette is your inspiration and advisor with decades of experience. Her down to earth, practical style of sharing what works and how to keep control of any renovating project is worth tuning in for - week after week. I have done a few renovations in the (distant) past and now feel motivated to go again, this time for a change of pace and new horizons. This podcast shows the way. Thanks Bernadette, James Burgin”

“Just dropping by to show my support for your podcast Bernadette. I look forward to each episode and I am never disappointed with the content. It’s such a generous offering and compared to many of the other property podcasts I subscribe to, yours is the clear winner. Perfectly suited to people embarking on a new renovator journey but equally suited to more experienced folk like myself - there’s something for everyone. Keep up the great work. Your honesty is so refreshing! I look forward to future learning and hearing more student success stories. Best, David Michos (And yes... a bloke) 😉”

“If you have any interest at all in renovating, you would be crazy not to listen to every episode! As someone who has done many courses and a project manager by trade, i learn something every time. Bernadette is so genuine and generous and totally relatable. Do yourself a favour and subscribe now !”

Want more?

If you want to meet up with a group of savvy renovators. I would say come over and join She Renovates Facebook Group. It’s a completely FREE Facebook group and it is growing at the rate of knots. We hit over a thousand members just recently, and now it seems to have picked up momentum. They are all savvy renovating women and men working their little hearts out to live a better life through renovating.

The only membership you need to grow your renovation business…

Wonder Women is a combination of live sessions and pre-recorded content to help you get what you need, when you need it. I know that you’re the expert and you’ve got all of your subject knowledge nailed – now it’s time to build the business behind your renovation projects and stop being the worlds best kept secret.