Planning a big renovation project but not sure where to start? Well, like anything in life – your renovation process needs a plan. Because without one, home improvement projects can quickly experience blown budgets, increased timeframes, and drama a-plenty.
From setting your objectives, budgeting, organising your development application (DA), and finding the right team, here are our practical planning tips for your next reno.
You would be surprised how many homeowners take on a large reno without so much as a spreadsheet in sight. Not having a plan is a definite no-no and can lead to budget blow-outs, miscommunications with contractors, and might even mean you don’t achieve your desired outcomes.
Although the plan will likely change along the way due to unforeseen circumstances like bad weather or rising material costs, a detailed plan will help you stay focussed on what you want to achieve for your home.
Think carefully about what you want to achieve and compare it to what already exists. Discuss it with your family or partner to ensure you’re all on the same page right from the start.
Write down the scope of your works and think about any ‘knock on’ effects like moving powerpoints, plumbing or cabinetry. This way you can reduce the chance of any surprises down the track. Careful planning at every step.
Get tradies involved early so that you can go over your scope of work. Ask them about what you have planned, and if there is anything you have not thought about. They’ve done this plenty of times so can point out anything you’ve not thought about.
When you are researching materials and appliances for your home renovation, be sure to measure three times or more, to avoid making costly mistakes. Think about the details and plan for them at all time.
If there’s an aspect that needs to be prioritised for your next home renovation it’s the project budget. Not spending time working out a sensible, realistic budget has been the downfall of many a renovator. Don’t be one of them.
Ask yourself questions such as, how much do I want to spend? How much can we afford? How are we going to finance this? You may find once you crunch the numbers that you have a champagne taste on a beer budget, and may have to rein in some of your more extravagant choices.
You may also want to think about what you should be paying for your house reno, and not just want you could pay. Some experts say you shouldn’t spend more than 10% of your home’s value on renovating. Although, if you’re planning on staying for quite a few more years it could be worth overcapitalising to ensure your family has the space it needs to grow and be happy.
As a guide to the breakdown of your total costs for a major renovation or building project, expect to pay 50% for materials, 35% for labour, and 15% for council fees and permits.
It may come as a surprise what your project could cost after doing some preliminary research and you’ll also need to add 10-20% for contingencies too. A clear budget with a buffer for unexpected costs is one of the three most important factors for a drama-free project.
Speak with your builders about when payment is expected. It’s recommended that an agreed payment plan, connected to achieving renovation/project milestones, can help keep a project on time and budget
Almost all property extensions require planning permissions (known as Development Application/Assessment (DA)) and some renovations do too. Speak directly to your local council to find out what planning permissions you need.
It’s better to be safe than sorry and the last thing you want is to complete works that aren’t compliant. Each state has a different processing time, so think about this early (your builder can offer advice) so you don’t lose time. Your home renovation DAs are one of the most important steps.
Like any team effort you need the right players to make a major home renovation a success, and hiring the right trades is crucial for this. The bigger and more exxy your job, the more due diligence you should do.
If you’re looking at hiring a local builder, take the time to check their qualifications and licences, read reviews to speak to past customers and see their workmanship.
No matter the size and scope of your renovation, take the time to understand the order everything happens in. This will help you have a realistic expectation for the timeline of the project, and know why there is a delay.
For a larger non-cosmetic home renovation you can expect planning, works, and trades in the following order:
Whether it’s an odd job you’ve been putting off for forever, or a larger renovation that requires expert help, we’ve got the right, trusted tradies for every job you need done. Simply post a job and up to three tradies will contact you. The best thing? It’s free.
Not ready yet? Download the app to see how easy and fast it is to post a job when you’re ready.
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