Renovations

The good, the bad & the ugly

You are probably reading this article because you believe your home needs improvement.   But have you looked at all the issues surrounding renovations like cost, time and inconvenience (not to mention other factors)?

Costs

Did you know that on a per square metre basis renovations can, and often do, cost more than double what it costs to knock down and rebuild? This is true because it is usually impossible to predict the complications that inevitably occur. A good example is the discovery of unseen structural problems which can be hidden by gyprock or plaster. These structural problems can be caused by termites, moisture damage or shoddy workmanship inherited from previous owners.

The problems listed above are just some of the reasons it is often worthwhile hiring a bulldozer and demolishing the existing structure. But please note: extensions do not cost as much as renovations. Extensions cost the same, on a per square meter basis, as a new home. Our construction cost calculator can help you estimate the cost of any renovation or extension you are contemplating.

Time & inconvenience

Almost all building projects take longer than originally estimated. Wet weather might cause delays, or it could be scheduling problems with tradespeople; it is impossible to predict all the complications that will occur. So make plans to move out and live somewhere else or make sure you have access to an alternative facilities if it just the bathroom or kitchen you are renovating.

Other factors to consider when renovating

1. Renovations rarely add additional value to your house. What you put in is what you get out. So make sure you enjoy the fruits of your labour before you sell. The exception to this is when you do-it-yourself (DIY). If you're handy then you should recoup the cost of your labour, at a minimum.
2. On the positive side (and at the risk of being corny) renovations can turn a house into a home. They add a touch that is uniquely your own. Just make sure that you watch that bottom line. Buying a house in Australia is already far more expensive than in other rich countries like Canada and the United States.

Home renovation case study

Article: Aussie renovations: A case study. Excerpt: We found an old original fibro house for sale, a typically Australian "fisherman's" cottage- one of many originally built in the thirties with additions and alterations added over the subsequent decades. It was a run down assemblage of small boxy room, but it had an awesome aspect facing due north with 180 degree bay views. It was cheap because the land and surrounds were statistically flood prone (every 100 years) due to a creek than ran from an escarpment nearby. No DAs were allowed in that area until a flood study had been done. Knowing the dismal speed at which the local council operated, that would take years, if not decades.

Because of the small size and close proximity of the escarpment we knew that any flooding would actually be quite minimal. The house was also on peers and the floor almost a meter of the ground. So even if there was a 1:100 year flood, it still wouldn't affect the house. Really there was no problem but still the council refused to consider a DA in that area.

The house needed a complete renovation. However we saw that the footprint actually would remain the same and the doors and windows, while needing replacement, would stay in the same position. Hmm. Maybe we didn't need a DA. The bathroom and kitchen however needed to be swapped around. That meant a change in plumbing which required a DA and local council inspections for plumbing (and the 149 Certificate).

Most significantly there was no record of the interior floor plan on the original plumbing diagram. So when renovations were complete and a council inspection for a 149 certificate was done, no one would in fact know what the house was like before our renovation. (In fact the detail on a plumbing diagram, which is often the only official document of the house footprint, layout and services, is often the most important consideration in how much you can do without a DA.)

Click this link: for the complete renovation case study article.

Other renovation web sites worth exploring

• Renovating tips. A long list of renovation tips written by someone who speaks from experience.
• Complete home. A great set of renovation articles with high quality photographs.
• Renovation planning. Not a bad set articles and tips.
• Renovate.realestate.com.au. Formerly known as homesite.com.au this web site has enough substance to keep you busy reading for some time.
• DIY bathroom renovation. How to renovate the humble Aussie dunny.
• DIY kitchen design. How to renovate or design your new kitchen.
• Home improvement: Wikipedia. This article is not really that informative or helpful, but its on Wikipedia so we had to include it. (And Wikipedia articles are often updated, so its worth seeing if the article has been improved recently.)
• DIY network. A comprehensive American web site for the DIY renovation enthusiast.

Renovation books from amazon.com

It is our experience that if you buy more than one book it is often cheaper to by from amazon.com than from bookstores in Australia, even when you factor in the USD/AUD exchange rate and the cost of shipping. Amazon also has a much better selection than any book store.