When you plan to renovate, you might browse Pinterest, consider a new pantry, or maybe you want to add some extra space in your kitchen. There are many possibilities to create a space that works for you and your family through home renovations. However, it may also be somewhat difficult to figure out how to plan a home renovation.
How do you even start? A solid strategy is the only thing that can make a renovation project successful. A well considered strategy provides your road map, keeping you on schedule and within your means. This guide breaks down the important home renovation steps for planning a successful home renovation from the start.
Define Why You Need a Renovation
You must first clearly define the purpose of your renovation. What is the main issue that you are trying to resolve? Are you making extra room for your expanding family? Want to update an outdated and useless kitchen? Or are you making renovations to raise the value of your home when you sell it? Your ‘why’ will guide all of your choices. You can then specify your scope after you have that. A detailed scope (if you are renovating a kitchen) looks something like this:
- Demolish the wall between the kitchen and dining room.
- Install a 2.4 metre island bench with stone benchtops and power outlets.
- Relocate the sink to under the window.
- Install new cabinetry, a gas cooktop, an electric oven, and a dishwasher.
- Add two pendant lights over the island and six downlights.
- Replace the flooring with hybrid timber look planks.
Be Clear About the Budget
You need to discuss the budget. Although this is frequently the most difficult aspect of any step by step renovation plan, it is necessary to face it head on. Start by figuring out how much you can afford. It could come from building loans, house loan refinances, or savings. Once you have the final amount, you are ready to use the most fundamental renovation budgeting rule:
The 15-20% Reserve Fund
Your spending budget is separate from your total project budget. Your actual building budget, if you have $100,000, is between $80,000 and $85,000. Your reserve is the remaining $15,000 to $20,000. This is used for the surprises, like discovering termite damage, asbestos, in the walls, or an unforeseen requirement for structural steel, not “spare cash.” These findings could ruin your entire project if you don’t have a backup plan.
Add extra expenses for things other than the actual build:
- Permits and application costs for the council.
- Fees for architects or designers.
- The price of renting or short term housing if you need to vacate the house.
- The price of eating out more frequently when your kitchen isn’t working.
Create a Design Concept Using Samples and Mood Boards
- Make Mood Boards: Make physical boards or use websites like Pinterest when you start to gather design ideas for home renovation. Gather pictures of the designs, colours, materials, fixtures, and lighting that you like.
- Put Utility First: An appealing kitchen is meaningless if the workflow is poor. Consider the ‘work triangle’: the refrigerator, stove, and sink. Take into account storage requirements and your actual living arrangements.
- Obtain Samples: Do not rely on screen colours. Obtain tangible samples of paint, benchtops, flooring, and tiles. Examine their appearance at various times of the day in the natural light of your house. You can even think about hiring a professional, such as an architect or building designer, to build designs as per Australian building regulations.
Get the Best Team
The next step is to find qualified, trusted, and insured professionals and the best quotation. You need in your team the following professionals:
- A licenced builder is necessary for the majority of major renovations. In addition to coordinating trades and making sure everything is constructed to code, they will oversee the entire process.
- Architects and building designers are responsible for producing complex plans and navigating the approval procedure.
- Professionals in trades such as plumbers, electricians, tilers, carpenters, etc. A good builder will have a team of highly skilled workers.
How Can You Verify the Professionals You Have Hired?
- Check Licences and Insurance: The Fair Trading website in New South Wales allows you to verify licences. If the project exceeds a specific amount, they must have insurance for both public liability and the Home Building Compensation (HBC) Fund (see the state specific regulations).
- Get Multiple Quotes: Get a minimum of three quotes. Real quotes are more than simply a figure written on paper; they are detailed documents that break down labour and material expenses. Line by line, compare them. If one is much less expensive, find out why. What are they missing?
- Check the References: Request the contact information of their most recent two or three customers. Ask targeted questions. Did they stay within the allocated budget? How did they respond to different issues? Was the message understood? Was the site cleaned up?
- Get a Local Expert: If you are looking for the best home renovation companies Central Coast, a local builder, like GTG Constructions, will be familiar with the weather conditions, soil types, and council regulations.
Documentation and Council Approvals
In Australia, most structural improvements must be approved by your local government. If not done correctly, this procedure could be one of the leading causes of delays. Typically, you will be considering one of these two options:
- Complying Development Certificate (CDC): This speedy approval process is suitable for simple projects that adhere to certain statewide requirements.
- Development Application (DA): It is a more thorough procedure for complicated projects that don’t meet the requirements of the CDC. It may take several months and is evaluated by your local council.
Finalise the Plan and Sign the Contract
It is time for you to have a formal contract. Never proceed with a handshake transaction. Make use of a typical industry contract, like those offered by Master Builders Australia or the Housing Industry Association (HIA). Make sure you carefully read every word before you sign it. It should specify in detail:
- The complete scope of work, with reference to the authorised plans.
- A fixed price or a clear explanation of how costs will be calculated.
- A detailed payment plan that is segmented by project stages, such as frame up, lock up, and slab down.
- The expected start and end dates.
- A procedure for managing modifications (plan modifications).
Convert Your Home into a Construction Zone
- Pack and Protect: Remove your personal belongings and furnishings from the area being renovated. If anything cannot be moved, cover it with drop cloths and plastic sheeting to keep it safe.
- Create a Temporary Space: If your kitchen is being renovated, create a temporary kitchen in a different room that includes cooking essentials, a microwave, and a portable hotplate.
- Share Information: Discuss the disruption with your family. Communicate with your builder on a daily or weekly basis to discuss progress and solve problems.
Final Phase | Inspection and Handover
You need to be attentive, as this is your last chance to every detail right. Wait until everything on your list has been finished to your satisfaction before making the last payment. Your builder should give you the keys to your new facility, all required warranties, and certifications of compliance (particularly for electrical and plumbing) when the project is finished.
It takes a lot of patience, research, careful preparation, proper budgeting, and professional guidance when you are planning a successful home renovation. The trick to planning a successful home renovation is knowing each step before you start, and a thorough strategy avoids subpar results. If you follow the home renovation steps discussed above, you will not just be building a new space; you will be investing in a process and a final result you will love for years to come.
