Choosing A Builder
Do you plan to build your own home? Perhaps
you’re looking to renovate or extend your existing home. Either way, there are
many ways to make the right and wrong decisions when choosing a builder.
Get some advice
When choosing a builder, a good place to
start is by asking any family and friends that have hired a builder to
construct their home or renovate.
Licences and insurance
Whether you’re going through a home builder
or you’re designing your own home or renovation works with help from an
architect, it’s important that you choose a builder that is licenced,
registered and insured.
You should be wary of builders that either
refuse or don’t make it clear upfront that they are legally permitted to be
involved in building and construction. Some builders’ licences or registrations
may have simply expired or some may have had their licences revoked but are
still involved in the building industry.
Experience and skills
Really question whether they have the
skills you need. If they only have experience in renovations and extensions,
they’re not the right choice for your home.
How To Choose The Best Home Renovation
Loan?
Setting up your new home or redecorating an
old one can be as daunting a task as it is exciting. Especially when it comes
to managing finances. Bigger tasks such as renovation, remodelling, complete
furnishing, require higher funds. Also, you can use it to enhance your home in
many ways such as tiling and flooring, internal & external plaster and
painting, etc. However, this should not cause any hindrance when setting up
your dream house.
However, before taking a decision, make
sure you consider some essential factors:
Need – First and foremost is deciding what
you will use the loan amount for. List down all the activities and purchases
you wish you carry out for your house. This will help you set a fixed budget.
Eligibility – Once you have decided on a
budget, you should check the loan amount you are eligible for. Depending on
your credit score, you can also get suitable interest rates.
Interest rates – Apart from your credit
score, the loan amount as well as loan tenure also makes a difference to your
interest rate. You can also opt for a fixed or floating interest rate,
depending on your capability of repayment.
Fee – Along with the interest rates, also
compare the fee being charged. Different repayment plans have different fee. A
high fee can significantly increase the repayment amount.
Repayment option – Choose a repayment
option and amount most suitable to your needs and abilities. You would want to
go for an option that doesn’t create a hole in your pocket in the longer run.
expert renovating tips to remember
From choosing tradies to setting a budget
and nailing your floorplan, our tips from those in the know will set you on the
path to a successful renovation
KNOW WHAT TO LOOK OUT FOR
“When shopping for a property to
renovate, look for large spaces, lots of natural light and a back garden that
faces north. Always have a building inspection done to confirm that the
existing house is in good condition, and check that access for tradespeople is
not too difficult.”
BEFORE YOU START
“Before starting a renovation, always
check that the plumbing and electricals are up to scratch, and if there are any
structural remedial works that need to be done, such as rectifying water damage
or rising damp. They’re not the most exciting things to invest in, but it will
help avoid costly repairs down the track.”
GETTING PLANS APPROVED
“To get plans approved quickly by
council, make sure you know the rules and rationale for their existence. Design
to meet that rationale and, if necessary, work the rules in favour of the right
design.”
DIY DEMOLITION
“If this is a home you plan on selling
in the future, look at recent sales and comparable renovations in the area to
ensure you’re not overcapitalising.”
HOW TO CHOOSE THE BEST RENOVATION
SPECIALIST FOR YOUR HOME RENOVATION
Your home renovation will be the biggest
project that you are likely to undertake in your life. Choosing the best renovation specialist for
your home renovation is a crucial decision. In this article we will take a
quick look at the criteria you should consider when picking a renovation
specialist for your home renovation.
Extensive Experience.
Browse through a renovation specialists
website, have a look at the projects that they have previously completed. Are
there a reasonable amount of completed projects or only a few that have many
highlighted pictures? Make sure that the
renovation specialist has successfully completed a variety of projects in the
past. How long has the company been in business for? Do they have a long and
proven track record of completing projects on time and on budget? Are they a
reputable renovation specialist? Have a look at the reviews that mention their
name. Are the reviewers happy about every aspect of the renovation? An
established company with extensive positive reviews will be able to deliver the
home renovation that you will love.
Compare Pricing.
Once you have a short list of home
renovation specialist builders you will want to compare the prices that they
quote. The temptation may be to go for the cheapest quote. However this is
rarely the best thing to do. Calculator: The home renovation specialist that
works with you on your budget is an ideal choice. The best renovation experts
will be able to suggest cost saving measures and give advice as to where
spending some extra cash for those special features will get you the desired
outcome. An expert renovation builder will know how best to plan your home
renovation to fit with your budget. If you want a champagne build, don’t go to
a builder with a beer budget. Be realistic with your budgeting. Know what
features are not negotiable and which ones you could do without.
Planning Time Frames
Having a clear plan of how your renovation
will proceed is essential to remaining sane during a renovation. You will have
a good idea when the kitchen or bathroom will be occupied and be able to plan
around these eventualities. Have your renovator work on a plan with you. The
best renovation specialists will have other jobs on too so you will have to
negotiate a schedule that works for you both. Also remember that the weather
may (will) affect your plans, so be prepared to be flexible.
Personality Match.
The last and possibly most important aspect
of choosing a home renovations builder Brisbane is whether you can relate to
one another. It is a little like choosing a partner. This person is going to be in your life for
an extended period of time and you will have to communicate about a wide
variety of topics. Some of those discussions may be difficult. You should
choose someone that you feel that you can trust on top of meeting all the other
criteria. If you have a good clear relationship and you have been upfront about
all of your expectations then you should expect the same from your renovations
specialist
How to choose the right builder
When building a new home or undertaking a
renovation, the most important decision you’ll make is picking the right
builder. Choose well and the builder will bring your dream home to life, settle
for less and you may regret it for years to come
Where to start
Brian Seidler, Master Builders Association
NSW executive director, stresses how important it is to spend time doing
research when selecting the right builder for a home building or renovation
project.
“What builders want is detailed information
about what has to be done. This is the most important thing for them to be able
to accurately quote work and price. For example, engineering details and
specifications for the concrete slab or footings are needed. An extra
centimetre or two in thickness, or a different type of waterproofing product
and process can add a significant chunk to the bottom line.”
Seidler also suggests going to the NSW Fair
Trading website to see what information it has about your preferred builder.
“See whether your builder has a licence to do home warranty work, that’s
anything over $20,000. And whether they have any black marks, or a pattern of
disputes with clients.”
What to look for
“Experience makes all the difference.
Renovators should find out how and when the contractor got into business and
how long the company has been around.”