It's been one of the toughest challenges they've ever faced. The three young couples who feature on TVNZ's Our First Home series knew that when they signed up to take part in the reality show, they'd be tackling big projects that would require a lot of time, effort and determination.
However, it took a while to realise that not only would they be tested when it came to their renovation skills, but they'd face the stresses that come with working closely alongside their parents - and having their every move caught on camera.
It's been a steep learning curve, but they say they're glad they've done it, and would do it again. If you haven't been following Our First Home, it features three older couples trying to help one of their kids and their partner get a foot on the property ladder.
Each family bought a do-up house with their own money and had 10 weeks to renovate it - thanks to support from the show. The finished houses will be auctioned on April 12, 13 and 14, and the team that adds the most value to their property gets $100,000 to put towards a deposit for the younger couple to buy their first home.
The show was inspired by the struggle many young Kiwi home buyers face when it comes to getting into the property market. Research shows that, in many cases, the only way they can afford a home of their own is to get some help from mum and dad.
THE SCHREUDERS
Mum Robyn, dad Tom, daughter Karen and her husband Jono.
Karen Schreuder admits there were times during the show when she wondered if she and her family had taken on more than they could handle.
"Our house was a huge project -- it wasn't a simple renovation. There is basically only one wall still there from the original house. It was a lot of work and a lot of stress, and what I found really hard was seeing mum and dad stressed because we had asked them to do this for us.
"But in the end they enjoyed it, and they said they would do it again."
The Schreuders bought a two-bedroom weatherboard home in Titirangi, and one of the first jobs they tackled was adding a third bedroom.
They also relocated the kitchen and transformed that space into a smart bathroom.
Their master bedroom, which features a wood-panelled wall, won them special praise. They transformed the basement into a storage room, and outside their landscaping included creating a striking European-style courtyard.
Image 1 of 4: They've laughed, cried and fought ... but finally the families of the hit DIY TV show have transformed three do-ups into smart 21st-century family pads.
"We were very happy with the way the house turned out, and we wouldn't change a thing. We knew that we weren't doing it for us to live in, but we would love to have been able to buy it ourselves."
Learning to budget was a challenge, says Karen. "I had never done that before and I found I had to be really organised. I also took on a lot of the design aspects, which was also new to me, but I enjoyed that and I feel like I learned a lot."
She also proved to be a dab hand at painting. "I had to ban Jono from doing it, though, only dad and I were allowed to do it."
One of the biggest lessons she learned was knowing when to compromise -- especially if there are three other people with differing opinions.
"We had our moments, but I think doing the renovation brought us closer together. It has been especially good for Jono because it gave him the opportunity to work closely with dad and get to know him better."
The public attention that has resulted from being on the show came as a bit of a shock, says Karen. "We were so focused on the competition that we didn't think too much about being on TV.
"It didn't take too long to get used to the cameras being there all the time, but it did seem a bit strange being recognised in public."
Mum Robyn in particular seems to get frequently recognised. "I think it's because she's quite a strong character and lots of fun. People have come up to her and asked her for selfies."
