Things You Need To Decide Before Renovating

  1. Why are you doing this renovation?

It is vital that you know the objective of the renovation before you start as this will help you keep on track and make the appropriate decisions once the work has started. The objective may be any one of the following:

  • increase rental return; improve capital value
  • own enjoyment
  • keep up with the next door neighbours
  • provide an income when property is flipped (ie: purchased, renovated and then sold in a short period of time)
  • or something else which is important to you.

Top Renovation Blunders To Avoid

5.    Don’t renovate without permits. Most renovations will need at least one permit prior to construction. Apart from being illegal, building without getting them can be a recipe for disaster when the time comes to sell.

Top Renovation Blunders To Avoid

4.    Don’t renovate without consideration of sustainable design. Panoramic views of the garden are lovely, but if the windows face west they need to be considered carefully to avoid the house becoming a hot-house.

Top Renovation Blunders To Avoid

3.    Don’t renovate without an eye to re-sale. A darkroom, a home theatre or a sound-proofed music room might be perfect for you, but they may not appeal to anyone else when you list your home for sale. The classic? Converting the third bedroom of a three-bedroom home into a lavish en-suite and dressing room. Sounds lovely, but a house with two bedrooms and two bathrooms won’t suit many buyers.

Top Renovation Blunders To Avoid

2.    Don’t renovate without a master-plan. Short-term thinking will come back to haunt you in a few years when you realise that the near-new kitchen or bathroom is in exactly the wrong location to suit a well-planned, well-functioning home.

Top Renovation Blunders To Avoid

1.    Don’t renovate without first fixing faults. If the house needs re-stumping, re-wiring or re-roofing do this first. Putting time and money into cosmetic improvements without first making sure the building is sound is like putting lipstick on a gorilla.

Do’s And Don’t In DIY Rennos

Don’t:
Try and do plumbing yourself

I am a big believer in DIY renovations – it can save a lot of money. However, don’t try and take on tasks which are too complex – such as plumbing. A lot of people try this, and end up causing damage to their homes and creating more costs. Changing taps is fine, but leave the underground plumbing to the professionals!

Do’s And Don’t In DIY Rennos

Do:
Undertake remodels to the kitchen
Similar to the front entrance, the kitchen is often a focal point of the home. Updating the kitchen could be something as minor as re-laminating the cupboard doors or installing new taps. You can also bring in a new benchtop, which you can put on yourself. Again, small changes can alter the look of this area in a big way, and create a great deal of value as well.

Do’s And Don’t In DIY Rennos

Do:
Change lighting fixtures
It seems so minor, but changing light fixtures in your home can really transform its look and feel. It is a simple, inexpensive task that can create value.
 

Do’s And Don’t In DIY Rennos

Do:
Undertake small remodels to the bathroom
A dated, unattractive bathroom is enough to turn anyone off buying a home. Little changes can make a big difference in this area, and can be relatively inexpensive. Getting a new vanity, tiles, toilet, as well as features and faucets can update the bathroom without costing too much. Many of the changes can be done yourself, saving on costs.