Renovations are huge undertakings, and sometimes people can get a bit carried away with what they want – or overlook something they don’t want. When we offer our quantity surveying services we see all types of people and can safely say that there are a handful of things that you should avoid when it comes to renovating your home. We’re going to take a look at six of them in today’s blog.
1. Trying to save money with DIY
Whilst there are absolutely some tasks you can tackle yourself, it’s generally our experience that if you take on a task with little to no prior experience then you could end up costing yourself more if issues arise down the track. Having a professional perform the task they’re paid to do every day is the best way to go – and when you utilise our quantity surveying service, you can rest assured knowing that we’ll help find the most premium, cost-effective approach. If you’re renovating to add value to your home, then you probably won’t achieve that with a DIY job either.
2. Not renovating for your audience
If you are renovating to add value – then you’ll want to do extensive research to see what the best trends are or what similar homes in the area are doing with certain rooms. You have to detach yourself from the property and do what’ll give you a better ROI rather than what you personally prefer. However, if you’re renovating your home so you can live in it then you should follow your heart and personal tastes because at the end of the day if you’re going to be putting so much money and effort into a renovation you’re going to want to make sure you’re happy with it in the end.
3. Going over budget
It’s frighteningly easy for you to go over budget. Sometimes you might get carried away when looking at flooring materials or picking appliances for the kitchen and before you know it your total is well over what you’d planned for. The wise thing to do here is not to borrow more money, but to take a step back and look at what you really need – as well as if there are any cost-effective alternatives. Your budget is initially put in place for a reason – so you can stick with it and not overspend.
4. Failing to pre-plan
Deciding what you want to be done to each room as you go along is one of the worst things you can do when renovating. It will end up costing you more and taking twice as long to complete. You must plan ahead, talk to an architect, organise all the tradesmen you’ll be needing and consult with them regarding labour and material costs. You must know what you want to do in each room before any renovation has actually begun. This is one of the crucial and key elements of a successful renovation.
5. Selecting the first professional you find
Picking the first tradie that comes up on Google is not the wisest idea – from both a financial and quality standpoint. You should shop around and gather quotes from various builders and also ask to see examples of their work to ensure they’ve done something similar to what you’re looking for. This will help you better gauge which builder is right for your project at a price you’re willing to pay.
6. Leaving new appliances until the end
If you’re remodelling your kitchen and purchasing new appliances – then this is something you should do first, or, at the very least know what exactly you’re going to purchase so you know the precise dimensions. Why is this important? You have the unique opportunity to build the appliance slots in your new kitchen to fit your new appliances precisely – otherwise you risk purchasing an appliance that is too small and will leave excess gaps or something that’s too big and won’t fit at all. In this scenario – you’ll either be forced to do further works or base your appliance purchase on size rather than your requirements.
Looking for quantity surveying services?
Section 94 can deliver premium and comprehensive quantity surveying services in Australia and will work with you to ensure your budget and all contracts are in order for your next renovation project. This includes handling progress claims and bills of quantities, so you don’t have to worry about the fine details.
Get in touch with our experts today to discuss our quantity surveying services by calling 0413 953 869.