With more than 70 years combined experience in the field of home renovations in the Perth area, we have seen most of the good and bad of home renovating. We have had the honour of working with a lot of great people in “the business.” Most of them are professionals who live and breathe home renovation and home improvement. We feel this is extremely important.
While Australians love to renovate and TV shows make large jobs look easy, the harsh reality is that home renovation is hard work. And if you get it wrong, you may be paying for it the next twenty years. Here are some of the pitfalls of home renovations.
Mountains of Paperwork
There is a lot of paperwork to be done when you renovate. If your project is large enough, your local council may want you to file a Development Application and have it approved before you are allowed to start any work. There are numerous by-laws, conditions and regulations to follow. Even something as simple as a paint job or a new roof will often require permits.
Your local council will be able to tell you what you need, but beware of these sticking points:
- Body corporate requirements or estate covenants
- Heritage regulations
- Water-saving and energy-saving regulations
- Local building codes and Building Code of Australia (BCA)
If any agency tells you no, you won’t be able to build as originally intended. At any rate, you will need to draw up a contract in most cases.
DIY: the Owner-Builder
If you renovate your own home or hire and supervise sub-contractors to do the job, you are classified as an “owner-builder.” The main reasons cited for DIY are saving money, being your own boss and having more control over the project.
If you go the DIY route, you need to know about the special set of regulations set up for you. You also need to have an owner-builder certificate of consent and domestic building insurance.
Here are some of your responsibilities as an Owner-Builder:
- Organising permits
- Safety of your onsite workers
- Insurance
- Inspections
- Making sure sub-contractors are licensed and insured
- LIcensed tradies for jobs such as plumbing and electrical
Personal and Environmental Safety
Renovations have to be performed in a manner that is safe for you, your contractors and your neighbours. For example, if your home was built before 1990, it probably contains asbestos. This could be in walls, linings, eaves or roofs. Asbestos should always be removed by licensed asbestos-removal contractors.
If your home was built before the 1970’s, you might have lead-based paints. These will also require the work of a specialist.
Your home may have structural issues that require the work of an engineer or an architect, along with a builder. Rising damp and termites are two examples of situations that can create structural issues in your home.
Your Budget
You should always plan a home renovation budget. After you have come up with your most realistic budget, always add 10% to it for “wiggle room” and unexpected circumstances. If you are going to renovate your home, you should always make money off the renovation. This means you should increase the value of your home for more than you spend on it.
Why Use Professionals for Home Renovations?
As you can tell from reading this, it is nearly impossible to work a full time job and be a part time home renovations professional. This is why we always recommend finding professionals such as us here at Next Level Extensions.
At Next Level Extensions, we have an award-winning home renovations designer who is one of the most respected in Perth. We can help you design and plan your renovation so it looks great and provides you with years of enjoyment. We have an elite crew of tradies who have worked solely in the home renovations field for years. They know how to work quietly and make your renovation seamless.
We are experts at helping you get all of your permits in order. We also have access to numerous handlers of hazardous materials such as asbestos and lead paint who can get rid of it with no risk to you or your family.
To learn more, call Next Level Extensions today: 1300 948 094.
