Top 5 things to consider when thinking of a building a home extension or renovation

Distinct Renovations have been building home renovations and extension for clients all over Perth for several years. We are specialist in home extensions and renovations and believe that we have a wealth of knowledge when it comes to how you should prepare and what to expect when going into you next renovation or home extension.

Below are the top 5 things to consider when thinking of your next build project

1. Have a clear idea on your home renovation or extension budget

This is the most important factor to consider in the initial stages. Having a clear idea on budget from the start allows you to work with your builder and architect to get the best build for what you can afford.

It is important to ensure you; your builder and your architect are all on the same page and understand what your build budget is.

It is no good to start with an extravagant design only to be let down at quote stage finding out you cannot afford it. We believe it is important to start with the renovation budget and then follow on with choosing your builder as they can help to assist along with the architect or draftsperson when it comes to building methods and materials to ensure you stick to budget.

So, go ahead and speak with your bank or mortgage broker or allocate your savings right, before going any further. As doing it the other way around could lead to disappointment before you even start building your renovation or home extension.

2. Chose the right builder for your renovation or home extension

This is the next step in the process, you need to ensure that you find the right builder for your project before you draw up your plans with your architect.

Working with your chosen builder from the initial stages means that they can help you and your architect design the best home renovation and or extension for you that is in line with your budget.

Choosing your builder is a vital step along the way that must be considered wisely and with extensive research.

Builders come in all shapes and sizes and you need to ensure you work along side a builder that shares the same values as you do.

It is evidently important to get this right before working on your plans as we have seen in the past with clients, they have come to us with their designs already sketched for their home renovation or extension. This has caused issues once the build is under way, the issues are mainly due to the builder having a more hands on approach and the architect having a more design focus and not being able to fully visualize or understand the work/cost involved for certain design features and elements.

Builders and architects work differently and think differently, when they collaborate  with you the owner the final product is the best you can afford with less issues down the track.

Therefore, chose your builder before you draw your plans, and chose your builder right!

 3.  Chose your construction method for your renovation or home extension

There are many types of construction methods available in Perth Western Australia. The most common is double brick however especially when doing a renovation or home extension we believe timber frame is the best option.

Timber frame construction is flexible, quick and can be cheaper. There are many benefits to building timber frame in fact we have written a FREE guide on this, feel free to get your copy here.

As well as building with double brick and timber frame construction you can also build using a steel frame as your structure. Each method has its own benefits and what you chose will depend on your budget, as well as wants and needs for the job. So, getting your budget, right choosing your builder and working with your builder and architect from the start will ensure that you chose the best method of construction suited to the renovation or home extension.

See our previous blog on timber frame vs double brick construction here.

There are a lot of other products on the market to gain a better energy rating that can be used namely when building with timber and steel. Such as Master Wall and SIPS. Also building with timber frame you have many options for what you clad the home extension with, whether it be brick veneer, James Hardie, Scyon products, BGC cladding products or a simple blue board with a texture coat finish. Each home is individual to the next as are you as the home owner, therefore choosing the right construction method for your job is important to get right, from the start.  

4. Have a clear vision of what you want from your home renovation or extension

This is important as it will help you communicate your vision to the builder and architect to ensure everyone is on the same page.

So, spend a lot of time on Pinterest, Google and Instagram to search for the fixtures, fittings and finishes you are after for your home.

Prepare your self an online scrap book or hard copy, if you prefer the old school method, and present all these ideas to your builder. Your builder will be able to advise on cheaper options or alternatives for what you are after.

Making sure you have a clear picture and being able visualize what you want, will speed up the build process. Also knowing what taps, sinks, bench tops, toilets and what materials you want to use will give the builder the ability to quote the job more accurately and will prevent budget surprises down the track when the build is under way. Building variation costs can blow out any budget during construction which is the number one complaint builders have.

Therefore, getting this right from the beginning and understanding what fixtures, fittings and materials you want to use at the start of the renovation will stop any budget hurdles latter on down the track.

5. Be prepared for time delays

Time delays in any build are the second biggest complaint most builders will deal with and unfortunately in some cases such as the weather these delays are unavoidable. So please be prepared for time delays and if you are renting a home in the meantime or moving in with family ensure you have a buffer on the timing of how long you are staying there.

Some time delays can be prevented if you follow the above 4 steps right. As they are all important to ensuring the job is completed in a timely fashion with no/little time delays and/or hiccups.

At Distinct Renovations we really try hard to focus on timing a job quickly this is our point of difference, the way that we can do so is by only taking on a select few jobs  at a time. When you work with bigger builders they tend to go from job to job each day and do not focus on your job as their priority. After all who can blame them they are in the business of making money and  therefore need to operate a lot of jobs at a time. This in turn leaves you behind with delays and avoidable mistakes had they focused more on your job alone.  

We are a true small builder and we try our hardest to prevent these hiccups and delays and, in most cases, we surprise our clients with how quick they can move back into their newly renovated or extended home.

 
If you are ready to speak with a builder now about your next home renovation or extension contact us to find out how we can help. If you have any questions around any of the above points, feel free to drop us an email we are always happy to help.