How Much Does it Cost to Renovate my Home – How Long is a Piece of String?

You are currently considering your options for a home renovation, and you have no idea where to start, who to talk to and what to do next…
 
 Does this sound like you?
 
Well, do not worry, you are not alone. This is a widespread problem that most homeowners face that are in a similar situation to you.
 
We often get homeowners who phone us up and ask questions such as the below:

• How much will it cost to renovate my kitchen?
• How much will it cost to put a top storey extension on my home?
• How much will it cost to add a new alfresco area?

 
 Have you heard of the old saying: How long is a piece of string?
 
If you want to get inside a builders mind, that is precisely what they think when you come to them asking the above types of questions.

This blog post will help you uncover how you can better position the above questions to ensure you get a good rough ballpark figure of your potential home renovations.
 
The builder is essential to get on your side early in the picture to get these estimated prices on your potential renovation plans as they are ultimately the ones who will price your job.
Furthermore, builders are up to date on pricing for home renovation and building costs and therefore are the best people to talk to regarding this topic.
 

Preparation is Key 
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Preparation is key to any home renovation or new build; after all, you are potentially spending the most significant one-off spend that you may pay for in your life. So why rush into things from the get-go? You could suffer in the long term.
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Now do not get me wrong; builders will help you manipulate your specifications according to your budget, but as I say to all our homeowners, start at the top of the mountain and ski your way down.
 
 What do I mean by this? Start with your dream renovation and extension plans, and let your builder be the bearer of bad news if you need to “spec it back”. 

What Information to Have on Hand Pre Builder Discussion?
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For your builder to give you an accurate rough price on what your home renovations or new build may cost, you need to have a good idea of what you want or, more so, of what you envisage!

So you should be scrolling through Instagram, getting stuck down a Pinterest rabbit hole or browsing unique homes on HOUZZ, pre your call with your builder.

That way, you have plenty of inspo images to send your builder when asking for estimated figures initially.
As the design phase unfolds, the number of photos you may have will grow and then get curated and culled back as you start to fine-tune the budget and design.

As well as having a collection of images saved online, you will also need to have a good understanding of some or all of the below attributes:

Preparing these items in an email for your potential builder to read over is a great idea.

• What rooms will be renovated or added on

• What will be the estimated size of those rooms

• What materials do you prefer/ want to build with

• What construction type, e.g., timber frame, double brick or steel frame

• What flooring would you like and in what rooms

• What windows specification do you prefer- double glazed or single glazed glass, low e film

• What tapware, toilets, tiles, and other fixtures and fittings do you like/want

• Is there any work you would like to do yourself

• Is there any work to the exterior of the home

• What cabinetry do you like- images always help here

The list could go on with the number of things the builder may ask you in that initial cost conversation.  

​The more you understand the above attributes, the better prepared you will be for the builder to be then able to provide you with an accurate ballpark figure initially.

Conclusion
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 at Distinct Renovations The rough ballpark figure that you get from a builder from the initial point of planning your home renovations will help shape the design.

If you do not arm your builder with enough information from the initial brief, we often find that the budget blows as the initial design stage unfolds.  More and more aspects are added to the design by the homeowner above and beyond the initial brief, whether it be the size of rooms or higher spec materials and or fixtures and fittings. This leads to the builder giving you a more accurate estimate at the initial design stage that is well above that “rough ballpark”.
 
 
Therefore, preparing yourself at the beginning and researching what you like and what you want from your home renovations or new build will help with the starting price point and help prevent budget blowouts from the outset.
 
Your builder should tell you from the start whether your budget is accurate and provide ways to “spec back” to reach your budget.
 
If you are considering a renovation or new build and not sure where to start, reach out to us, we at Distinct Renovations are happy to direct you into ways to prepare better or get your renovation planning off to a great start.