Home renovations have the potential to become stressful and costly if you go in unprepared. The key to a successful home renovation is proper planning and preparation – from the budget to the wall colour and everything in between. With over 30 years’ experience, Duncan Thompson Extensions are Melbourne’s leading home extension company. If you are looking to renovate your home, here’s our top tips for how you can make a renovation less stressful and a much more pleasant experience.
Set a Realistic Budget
Not many people like doing budgets, but a budget and a realistic one at that, is an essential part of your renovation planning and management. Whether you have a little money or a lot to make improvements, you need to figure out the amount to be able to allocate it accordingly. A detailed budget that is continually monitored allows you to stick to any financial goals you have set for the project. Whether you have a fixed amount of money available, are borrowing from a bank, or you’re renovating to sell and don’t want to overcapitalise, a budget is the tool that will give you control and to help you achieve your financial target. Once you have determined how much you can afford to spend on your renovation, your builder will be able to tell you what is and isn’t possible and work with you to get you the home you want at your desired budget.
Get Inspired
Browse magazines, architectural blogs, home improvement websites and don’t forget social media platforms such as Instagram, Houzz and Pinterest. Make a file of images you like – this will be your starting point to get inspiration for your project. Use Instagram to follow builders and or home renovators in your local area, follow hashtags such as #renovationsmelbourne or #melbournebuilders if you are Melbourne local. Pinterest allows you to create boards and save images to them, so create a board and call it “Renovate Home” or whatever you like. You can then share your Pinterest boards with your builder down the track when you are discussing your home renovation ideas with them. Social media is a great starting point if you are unsure of your style direction, it will help you narrow down what designs, styles, colours, materials and fittings you like.
Create a “Must Have” List
Once you have started researching the things you like, write out a list of all of the ‘must have’ items you want in your home renovation or extension. The list could include such things as retaining period details and features, bi-fold doors to link the kitchen with your outdoor entertaining area, an additional bathroom or powder room, smart lighting, hydronic heating, hardwood flooring – everything you want in your home renovation should be included. Once you have your list sorted you may find that you need to narrow down to a realistic amount of must haves to stay within your budget. It is better to do this now, rather than get to the end of the renovation and not be able to afford to finish because you included absolutely everything on your wish list.
Find a Specialist Home Renovation Builder
Once you have your budget and your wish list prepared, you will be better equipped to discuss your renovation ideas with a builder. Consult with a Melbourne building company which specialises in home extensions and renovations from the beginning, this will help to prevent any cost blow outs, as they can design the renovation according to your requirements and they can suggest ways to reduce the cost of your home renovation design without sacrificing too many of your ‘must haves’. The builder you select will also manage the whole process from start to finish, ensuring a smooth and stress-free build.
As with most things in life, preparation and planning is one of the most important stages of the renovation process. If you are looking to renovate your home in Templestowe, Toorak or anywhere in Melbourne’s inner eastern or Bayside suburbs, contact the team at Duncan Thompson Extensions on (03) 9836 8655. We have over thirty years’ experience of working with families to find the best and most attractive options for their homes. Find out how we can transform your vision into your new home today.
