There’s so much to think about when you undertake a renovation project. We hope that the following tips help in getting the right outcome for you and your builder.

The importance of pre-planning

The time you spend up front planning will save you even more time and money later. It’s better to invest more time at this stage rather than rushing things towards the end and then having regrets. Try to be as thorough as possible in your planning – you’ll certainly thank yourself later!

Agree on a budget between yourselves and your builder

Before you even start any designs, make sure your dreams and your budget are compatible. And be sure and have each builder who prices the job specify clearly what has and has not been included. Comparing apples with apples is one of the hardest parts of the renovation process when you try to compare builder’s quotes side by side.

Build what you want to build, not what you think you should build

Renovation trends come and go. We find that most people are renovating as this is to be their “forever” house – or the place they will be at least till the kids leave home! Timeless, contemporary finishes will always stand the test of time – just remember that face brick and orange laminex were once all the rage!

Visit your renovation every day once building starts

There will always be some things that go awry during a renovation. A daily visit by you, whether you are living there or not during the renovation, will save you many headaches along the way. Don’t be frightened to ask your builder if you think something is wrong. Chances are all is AOK, but mistakes do happen and are much more easily fixed at the time, rather than several weeks or months later.

Enjoy the process

We talk to so many people who have had terrible building or renovation experiences. But it doesn’t need to be like that. You are spending a lot of money – enjoy it, as it may be one of the biggest investments you ever make. Here are some recent examples of renovations completed by just some of our many happy clients.