How to Plan a House Renovation
Renovating your home is a challenge, even if the actual project seems small. Even remodelling a closet can end up being a rather large production if you aren’t properly prepared. Long before you even start the project, it’s essential that you have a solid plan to follow. This allows you to fall back on it when things go poorly and to ensure you’re always on the right path for the desired end result.
Plan the End
Before anything else, consider what you want your home renovation to look like at the end. Do you want more space? More elegant finishes? Are you planning to add on to the house or take away walls? You should have a very clear idea of what the end result is.
Once you know the final goal, it’s time to reverse engineer it. What do you need to do in order to get to that point? For example, if you’re adding a pergola to your home, you might have to choose the pergola design and either have it built or purchased, then remove the wall on the side of the home you plan to install it. There are also foundations to lay and doors to add.
This is the easiest method of determining the early stages of the plan. From here, you can begin the actual process of doing the renovation.
Budgeting Your House Renovation Cost
How much money will you spend on a renovation? That depends on who you hire to do it and how extensive the project is. Obviously, putting a window in a wall that didn’t have one will be much less money than adding a room onto a house. You should always ask for quotes to determine which building company to hire, as this will give you a good overall idea of how much you will pay for the home renovation.
However, there are some general rules. For example, a bathroom renovation should cost 3-7% of your home value, while a kitchen renovation should be roughly 5-15% of your home value. Keep in mind that if you plan very well, you have less likelihood of coming in over budget. You should expect labour to make up around a third of the budget.
Unexpected costs always come up when you’re renovating. From discovering dry rot or woodworm to finding that the electricity isn’t up to regulations, something unexpected should, in fact, be expected. Add an extra 10% or so to your budget for these surprises. By planning for contingencies, you avoid being surprised and struggling with the budget later.
To save money, you can do parts of the project yourself. Many people opt to do their own painting or demolition to reduce the end price. Another area to reduce money on is the materials used. If a specific tile is too much, you may be able to get a similar option for less. You should never reduce the payment to labour since this is the most valuable part of the entire project. Low-cost labour will usually result in poor work being done, or it may even be left incomplete.
Choosing a Building Company
The next step in your renovation plan is to select a company to handle the build for you. This requires choosing the right construction company for your needs.
Local: It’s best if your construction company is somewhat local so they don’t need to travel that far to work on your home. Local builders will also be familiar with the conditions and regulations in your area and can conform to them while building.
Experience: Not only should you look for a construction company that has years of experience in building, but also one that has completed renovations previously. Renovating your home is rather different from straight-up construction and requires more care, particularly when taking out walls and preserving elements of the home.
Price: The right price is also important, but you should avoid going with a contractor that doesn’t quite fit your needs - even if their services are cheaper. You get what you pay for, so while price matters, it should not be the determining factor.
It’s best to contact multiple contractors or building companies to find the best one for your needs. Reach out to several companies and then meet with at least two. You’ll get a better idea of what the entire project will cost and the company can walk you through everything that needs to happen.
When you find a building company that you feel quite comfortable with, you can discuss the payment terms and timeline with them. Be sure to let them know of any potential complications, such as an event coming up, whether you will be living in the home during the renovations, or any budget restrictions. This will help ensure everyone is on the same page and you can move forward with the project.
It’s also essential to maintain communication throughout the project. You should be checking in on the progress fairly frequently so you can correct anything necessary before it has been completed. It’s far more expensive to change things later if you don’t like the way they turned out.
Building Services You Need Before You Start Renovating
Before you actually start the renovation, there are a few things you need to get done. These will make your renovation go smoother and ensure that you won’t have legal issues once you start in on the project.
Building Inspection
Before you start tearing down walls, it’s important to know exactly where the load-bearing beams and walls are. Having a home inspection will help you with this, so if you are DIYing any part of the renovation, you really need to call in an expert and have them check for wiring issues, load-bearing information and other important structural issues.
Planning Application
If you are changing things up inside your home, you don’t need to worry about this. However, if your renovation involves expanding your home, tearing parts down and rebuilding them, or adding a new building, you may need to submit a planning application. Again, your building company will be able to advise you on this, as they have the experience needed.
Professional Survey
A land survey isn’t necessary when you’re only renovating within your existing house walls. However, you should certainly have one conducted if you are adding a fence, expansion, or outbuilding. Any type of construction near a property line or easement requires a land survey, just to be certain you are indeed on your own property.
Things to Consider When Renovating Your Home
Even once you have a plan for your home renovation, you should consider the following points.
Insurance
Your current home insurance may not cover any damages that may occur when you are renovating or doing any type of building work. Check your insurance first, then go ahead and plan to get special insurance for renovations and/or extensions. Check what is covered, as well, since each type of insurance will have its own specifications and may not cover everything you need.
Renovation insurance can help you recoup costs if you are a victim of theft, structural failure, elemental damage, or damage caused by the building company.
When NOT to DIY
Planning a home renovation that you will do partially on your own is fine, but you do need to know when to bring in the experts. There are many areas where it’s simply not worth doing it on your own if you aren’t already good at the task. Look at the list of things you can easily do and then plan to bring in a building company for the rest of it.
Timelines
While it would be wonderful to finish your renovation in record time, chances are, it will take a few months, particularly for a larger project. Anything extra that is found during the home renovation process can stretch the timeline a little longer, so take the suggested timeline for your project and add a fortnight for unforeseen issues.
Period Features
Just because you’re renovating, it doesn’t mean you should tear everything out. Many older homes have unique period features that you’ll want to keep. They can raise the value of your home when properly restored and should be kept. If your home was built during Georgian or Victorian times, watch for unique trims and mouldings. These were used to decorate the home but also served to hold pieces together, such as windows, cupboards, fireplaces and even doors.
Some of the more common period features include:
● Architraves
● Ceiling roses
● Corbels
● Cornices
● Dado rails
● Skirting boards
● Tiled floors.
If you’re not certain if what you have is valuable, ask the experts. The building company you hire should be able to let you know if the pieces are useful and if they can incorporate them into the renovation for you.
Are you planning a home renovation? B & D Roofing and Building is here to help, no matter how big or small your project is. Contact us today for a quote.
