Drop that hammer! Before you start fixing up that fixer-upper, there are a
few traps for the unwary that you should know about. To avoid your renovator's
dream turning into a renovator's nightmare, paste these basic Don'ts to the lid
of your toolbox.
Don't do it yourself unless you have the skill and the time. It has been the
ruin of too many happy homes and, even worse, of high-quality tools.
According to various studies, at least half of all DIY renovations are
disasters and 35 per cent of those disasters spark domestic spats. Most DIY
renovators are men and many frankly have themselves on, overestimating their
ability to do the job and underestimating the amount of work and time involved.
In fact, there are so many bunglers blundering about that there is a growing
industry in repairing botched renovations. For the same reason, DIY renovation
injuries are on the rise, mostly involving ladders. So if you're willing to
admit you're not all that handy, the best time to quit is before you even start.
Don't guess. If you're unsure whether renovation, selling or demolition makes
the best financial sense, have your property valued by an expert and check on
the prices for similar properties in your area.
Don't overcapitalise. Keeping in mind you'll spend an average of $200,000,
work out where it can best be spent to maximise the value of your property.
While extensions that add significantly more space can boost the value of a
house by up to 15pc, some improvements add more value than others. New kitchens
and bathrooms top the list, while money spent installing a home office or
tarting up a laundry can be money down the drain.
Don't stand out from the crowd. You might want to sell one day, and a house
renovated in a style out of character with neighbouring houses can be hard to
shift.
Don't design it yourself. You might have firm ideas about what you want, but
translating dreams into bricks and mortar is no mean feat. Call in an architect.
After all, you wouldn't take out your own appendix.
Don't get stuck on a particular design. Nothing is as certain to blow the
budget as emotion overriding practicality. Some things may look good on paper
but simply won't work and, during the job, complications sometimes mean
compromises. So be prepared to adapt.
Don't simply choose the builder with the lowest quote. Too often, contractors
quote low to get the job then bung on additional costs. Let reputation and
recommendation guide your choice.
Don't rush in without the red tape. Too many renovators, champing at the bit
to get started, forget to check with their local councils first. Specifications
vary widely and after you've finished is too late to discover you needed
development approval. Yes, they can make you knock it down and start again.
Don't order new kitchen benches and cupboards based on your own measurements.
The spaces are often out of square, making it easy to get it wrong, and even a
slight error can mean the new units won't fit. For most jobs, custom-built
rather than stock units are the way to go, so get the manufacturer to do the
measuring. The same goes for blinds and replacement windows.
Don't order a new kitchen sink, bath or bathroom basin without first checking
how many holes it needs and where the holes need to go. Before removing the old
unit, measure the distance between the centres of the holes where the taps fit.
Don't order the exact number of tiles you need to cover an area. To allow for
breakage and Don't kid yourself, there will be breakage add 10pc, and 15pc if
the job requires a lot of tile cutting.
Don't pay more for materials than you need to. For example, Don't buy nails
or screws in tiny blister packs at the local hardware store when you can get
them cheaper by the handful. And many hardware retailers charge so much for
timber you'd think they carve it out of the log with a penknife. Shop around for
bulk deals.
Don't get carried away when choosing cosmetic materials. Before ordering
those imported marble or granite benchtops, for example, ask yourself if you
really need a $30,000 kitchen when a $10,000 kitchen would do.
Don't waste time. If you're doing it yourself, be aware that renovating will
take up most, if not all, of your spare time. So set target completion dates for
each stage of the job and avoid frittering away time. If "Where did the day
go?" syndrome sets in, a renovation can last forever.
Don't take your eyes off the subbies. If you hire sub-contractors for any
part of the job, make sure they stick to completion dates, and keep tabs on the
quality of their work and on what they're charging for materials and labour.
Left unchecked, these costs can get a little, shall we say, creative.
Don't forget the future. Your needs will change as time goes by, so keep it
flexible. If today's playroom will be tomorrow's study, for example, installing
the necessary wiring now will save money in the long run.
