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Home Renovation Planning

• 1. Visualise your renovated home

  It is important that you have an idea of what you intend to achieve before calling in home renovation builders. Collecting ideas on designs you find appealing would help guide the direction of the project. Gathering images from existing examples is an ideal method to not only create inspiration, but also keep track of the latest trends and styles that are on the market.

  A perfect source of inspiration, remodelling ideas can be easily collected by searching relevant keywords on Google. You could also flick through home and design magazines or follow social media pages to determine what your preferences may be, and more importantly, what you don’t like. This could mean looking for inspiration on product selection, style, colour and scale.

• 2. Choose a suitable designer

  Following your concept design, it now time to select a designer. Go about by researching the existing work and specialisations of reputable companies on the net or by speaking to friends and family who have had recent work done to their homes. After you have narrowed down your search to a few names, work out which company would be best suited for your project type and budget.

  With some companies specialising in luxury homes and some focusing primarily on renovations, selecting a compatible designer would ensure the project stays true to your vision, all the while sticking to a budget.

• 3. Create a brief or outline for your contractors

  Considered the most important aspect of the concept stage, your brief acts as a guideline to the scope of the project, encompassing everything from the estimated timeline of completion to budgeting details.

  This allows both you and your contractor to know and understand the expectations of the project, from simple operational requirements to the aspirations your visions.

• 4. Plan your budget
  

  Budget and financing are one of the more critical aspects to highlight in your brief. Even if you are not familiar with the building costs, it is essential to determine how much you are able to spend from your end. This would also be dependent on the purpose of renovating – are you planning on selling the home or living in it?

  Then, review the current value of your home to determine cost estimates if you plan to under of overcapitalise it. For instance, projects like new roofing and new wood flooring are known to earn renovators 6 to 7% more at resale than they spent on the projects.

  To avoid budget blow outs, it is essential to engage in in-depth conceptualisation. This would allow you to identify the project costs early on and determine if it’s within an affordable range.

  To build your budget:

  • Finalise financing early on the project and make sure to stick to the budget. Set aside at least 10% of your budget for unexpected costs (E.g., unknown leakages, possible rotting, subsidence, etc.)
  • Request cost estimates from your contractor following the refinement of drawing plans and remove project elements that are on the lower end of your priority list.

  Include costs of permits, building materials, labour costs, and the expenses of décor.

• 5. Acquire concept drawings

  Contrary to popular belief, cheaper doesn’t mean better – especially in this industry. Weigh the costs of your project by emphasising on factors such as reliability and quality. In order to best do this, you might need some help to plan and visualise the space.

  Employ the services of your designer in producing concept drawings, also known as freehand sketches, that outline the vision for a landscaping project. This would include specific details such as the form, function, colour and even style of your preference. The more realistic the design, the more room it gives you to explore, critique and improve it. While procuring concept drawings may be a little expensive, you reap more benefits in the long run with superior spatial dynamics that include lighting, materials and product specification.

  At this point, it’s also recommended to investigate local zoning regulations and permits which can be done by visiting you council’s website – some things to look out for are height to boundary, land coverage and heritage zones. This would ensure your concept drawings are well within the laws of the local governing bodies.

• 6. Begin your renovation project

  Once your plans have been designed and council approved, you can now hire a contractor to undertake your house renovation in Adelaide. When researching on potential builders, make sure to consider:

  Years of experience:
  An experienced contractor is a safer bet than one who is new to the business.

  Contract license:
  Ensure your contractor has all the appropriate credentials and certifications specific to their line of work.

  Certificate of insurance:
  Your contractor should have workers’ compensation and liability insurance to protect you from potential lawsuits or financial loss.

  References:
  Request for three references from the past 5 years.