Have you decided on a home renovation? Perhaps it’s something you’ve been planning for a long time or falling property prices meant buying a larger home is no longer an option? Hey, even if you have been in your home for 30 years and it’s time for a makeover; whatever your motivation one thing holds true for any major renovation… You need to have a plan.

The following tips can help you maintain your sanity during a major renovation:

Be Prepared – Fair bit of common sense in that one you say! But you need to be prepared to supervise the renovation work you have commissioned, be prepared to hold contractors accountable for what they promised to deliver and unless you are an expert in building, plumbing, electrical etc… be prepared to ask for help. At the end of the day to make sure you get what you’re paying for there is no harm in performing independent building checks during construction before you pay your builder.

Embrace Change – Depending on your situation and time-frames, your completed renovation may be a long way off, and something you may not have planned for is how you will adjust to the renovation? For extensive renovations you may have to vacate your home for a period of time, this could be a week or even a couple of months. If you choose to renovate one area at a time while you continue living in your home then you will need to give consideration to accessing facilities and amenities during this time, the prevention of dust and debris spreading throughout your living and sleeping areas and the impact on daily routines. Make sure have a sound strategy for living without a kitchen or perhaps a bathroom for a period of time.

Where can you save? Remember when I said ‘be prepared to ask for help’; right from the very beginning you should decide which projects you want to do yourself. With the help of friends and family, light work can be made of small jobs that can help save on hiring a contractor. With this said there are plenty of homeowners who have ended up costing themselves more taking on renovation projects that are too difficult for them (this could be true for plumbing and electrical work). If in doubt hire a professional.

Correct License and Permits – If you have a contractor managing your renovation then make sure they have a Building Services Authority (BSA) License. In addition there are many restrictions and regulations that can affect renovations e.g. your property may be fairly modern but if you are surrounded by older neighboring properties may result in your property being listed in a demolition control precinct (DCP). The rules and regulations regarding building permits vary from state to state and should be covered by your planning professional or licensed builder, but you may want to verify that all paperwork is completed and submitted on time.

For more information on design and renovation plans for your Brisbane home visit call the team at SEQ Building Design on 07 3257 7224.