Where to Start a Home Renovation

If you’re renovating your home in Australia, it’s best to get organised first. Keep reading to find out what you should do before you begin your reno.

If you’re planning on renovating your home soon, it can be hard to know where to start. Whether you’re renovating to update your home, add rooms or to make profit, there are similar steps to take to organise and prepare to start your home renovation.

The renovation process is great to transform your home, but it requires careful planning to ensure you get the outcomes you want in a reasonable time frame. We’ve created these seven steps to help you plan your home renovation and have a better idea of what is involved in the process.

Photo by Hutomo Abrianto on Unsplash.

7 Easy Steps Before Starting Your Home Renovation

1. Determine your renovating goals.

Determining your renovation goals is important to help you plan your reno and have a clear idea of why you want to renovate your home and how you’re going to do this.

Consider how the renovations you invest in now will still be effective in two years time, or how particular renovations could increase your property value. It’s also a good idea to think about what features, like neutral toned colours, are appealing to buyers, if you are considering selling your home.

If you’re renovating an older building to ensure it has a long future, you may want to set aside an extra budget in case you come across any structural issues you may find.

2. Organise your development application.

Renovations or property extensions may require a Development Application/Assessment (DA), but it’s best to contact your local council, state planning authority or consultant town planner, which will be able to confirm requirements and may even be able to fast-track your approval.

3. Set a realistic budget.

Set a realistic budget to have a more transparent idea of what renovations you can truly achieve. Contact multiple builders for quotes to have an average idea of the cost, in addition to calculating the amount of council permits and other additional costs.

It may also be a good idea to talk to a financial advisor or your bank about loans, your mortgage, etc. to have a better idea of your options.

4. Hire the help.

Hire the help for your renovation in Australia by finding an architect, interior designer and other necessary professionals. This is a great idea if you need help with the design of your home, which can make the renovation process easier, saving you time and money. Homes To Love claims hiring an architect should take up about 10% of your budget.

Hiring these professionals can help you ensure your home renovation is done perfectly and you can plan it with their help to get the results you want.

It can be a good idea to check the credentials of any of these professionals via your local building authority or state architecture board.

5. Investigate material options and quality.

Investigating which materials you want to use in your home renovation and their quality is important for your home’s short and long-term longevity and value. High-quality materials will maintain or increase your home’s value and can save you money in the long term.

Other important factors to consider include the material’s environmental and sustainable impact, thermal performance, sound insulation and structural capability.

6. Determine the renovation’s design style.

Determining your design style should be done when determining your renovation goals, but it’s good to refer back to it to ensure the process stays cohesive.

Whether you’re renovating to extend your current home and want the renovation to blend in with your home’s look, or want to renovate to modernise certain rooms, determining the style beforehand can help you plan out the wall structure, windows, panelling and other features to have your desired style come to life.

7. Stay organised.

Renovations are excited and hectic at the same time, so make sure you keep all your payments and timelines documented so you stay organised. Keep all receipts, invoices, plans and contracts organised and keep a detailed calendar to ensure the project is on track and you know when payments are due. 

Thinking of renovating your home soon? You can find building and home renovators on Localsearch.com.au!

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      Chloe Thistle

      Junior Marketing Administrator

      Chloe Thistle is a Junior Marketing Administrator at Localsearch, bringing her talents and background in digital and social media marketing to her role. She has sharpened her marketing skills across many different industries, including entertainment, fashion and in the B2B field. In her spare time, Chloe can be found either lounging at the beach or five coffees deep at one of her favourite local cafés. No stranger to adventures, she’s trekked to Mt. Everest Base Camp — fueled by coffee of course — has completed the Kokoda Challenge and is always looking for the next mountain to climb! Chloe loves looking for ways to combine her passions for adventure, sustainability and marketing, always chasing the latest trends in both marketing and fashion. Now, she’s utilising her vast life and digital marketing experience to blog and assist in the content with the Localsearch Marketing Team.