Successful renovating – it’s all in the timing

By:
Often, the question in most potential renovators’ minds is, will we or won’t we. It’s a big decision to make but once you’ve chosen to start, another fundamental question needs careful consideration. That is - when?

Getting the timing right on when to begin renovating is crucial. It can impact significantly on the outcome of your project and your satisfaction with the end result. If you time it right, you’ll save yourself money, time and frustration and you’ll most likely avoid many of the common pitfalls. To help you make the right decisions on timing, here are a few tips to guide you towards a renovation that’s as painless as possible:

• Firstly, let’s get real. If you think you’ll be sitting pretty in your newly renovated home in a few weeks, you’re pitching your expectations way too high and setting yourself up for some serious headaches.

On an average size domestic renovation (eg. a new living area and kitchen extension with upgrade works to the original part of the house including a bathroom.), once the design process is complete, you’ve lodged your planning application, received approvals and the building process is complete, you’re looking at a start to finish period of 9 to 12 months.

• Start now and you’ll be complete by the end of the year. The cut off point for end of year completion is usually around May, so if you’d like your renovation finished by the end of the year, you need to get the design process started now.

• If year end completion isn’t necessary… start researching for an architect now, then begin the design process in the next few months, lodge your planning application, receive planning approval later this year, receive costings from builders in the latter half of the year (but not December – see below!) and appoint your builder by year’s end. Once you’ve put everything in place for construction to start, have a well-earned break over Christmas, knowing that your builder is ready to begin at the start of the new year.

• Avoid requesting costings from builders in December
Builders (like everyone) tend to be rushed in the lead up to Christmas, and instead of taking the time to understand your project fully, will often cost a project to cover themselves, which usually means it’ll be more expensive that it needs to be. If it’s December and you’re at the costings stage, it’s always better to leave it until the new year.

• Avoid being under construction over Christmas
There are many reasons to avoid being under construction during the holiday season. Builders will usually close down for 2-3 weeks over Christmas, so if you’ve moved out of your home during the construction phase of your renovation and are paying rent elsewhere, you’ll effectively be paying rent during that period with little or no work continuing on your renovation. Building supplies are also often more difficult to find at this time, as usual suppliers can be closed, causing delays in the building schedule. Time it right, of course, and you’ll avoid these pitfalls and associated costs completely!