Renovation Planning Guide (Step-By-Step)

If you’re new at it, kickstarting projects like building a new kitchen or a full home renovation is humongous. It involves hours of research and a whole lot of money.

Whether renovating to enhance the house’s resale value or building your dream home, you must ensure proper and meticulous planning. Attention to detail is the key to a successful house renovation.

It would help if you planned everything- from hiring professional experts to getting suitable materials. Everything has to be in place so the construction work can go on without a hitch. Sounds a bit hectic, right?

We’re here to help you through the entire renovation process. Our step-by-step planning guide will help you develop a clear renovation plan to avoid significant obstacles and save money.

So, without further ado, let’s get started!

A Step-By-Step Renovation Planning Guide

Step 1: Set Out Renovating Goals

The first question you must ask is why you are undertaking home renovation projects. There must be a reason that motivated you to take on an average cost of the complete home renovation project, so it’s always best to set out those renovating goals.

If you want to expand your home renovations or require a major project, you can avoid moving to a new place in the near future. In that case, think about expanding your existing bedrooms and consider living room renovation for a refreshing feel. Also, consider the amount of living room space while renovating the house, especially if you have kids in the family.

In contrast, if your aim for home renovations is to enhance your property’s value to sell, it’s best to discuss the remodelling details with a professional real estate agent.

When renovating a house for profit, you need to know what’s trending in the local real estate market and plan the renovation budget accordingly.

On the other hand, if you’re renovating to restore any old property, it’s best to address the significant structural drawbacks of the house and consider structural renovations. Hence, you must invest a large portion of the house renovation cost to rectify structural issues.

Step 2: Keep Your Development Application In Order

Depending on your house’s renovation and expansion work, you’ll need to submit a Development Application (DA) to the local council so that they can approve the renovation projects. Without due approval from the authorities, you cannot commence any property renovation work.

You can speed up the approval process by keeping your DA well-organised and contacting the local authorities as soon as possible. Reach out to the personnel responsible for approving your DA and follow all the necessary rules and regulations to submit the application and get it approved in time.

Step 3: Feasible Budget Estimation

Proper budgeting is an integral part of the renovation plan that helps you keep the home renovation costs in check, ensuring no blowout in expenditure.

It’s best to get written quotes from professional builders that highlight the services included within your price range. And avoid unexpected expenses.

Also, the home renovation cost will include expenses on materials, labour costs, GST, taxes, and levies. Not only that, but you also need to keep track of all the additional expenses, including council permits and storage.

Once the full renovation cost estimation is done, you can apply for financial aid if renovation costs exceed your budget. You can also hire an expert to work on your renovation budget.

Step 4: Bring In The Experts

You may need to hire qualified architects to help you design the house without hassle using high-quality materials. Hiring an architect can considerably cut down the renovation time and cost for the entire house. So, with the help of a professional architect, you can develop a renovation design by following all the local building regulations - an essential requirement for hassle-free house renovations.

You’ll also need to hire a contractor to oversee the renovation, from sourcing materials to construction. Plus, your contractor will help you connect with electricians and plumbers during the house renovation.

On top of this, you can also bring in an interior designer who’ll handle the entire interior decor of the house if you have enough budget. But, if you’re willing to visit all the home decor shops to keep the budget limited, you can avoid hiring a building designer altogether.

Step 5: Avoid Overcapitalisation

Consider the number of family members and the bedrooms or the bathroom renovations you must undertake. Also, suppose you’re planning to expand the house by adding new bedrooms. In that case, it’s better to consider how long you want to stay in the house to avoid overcapitalisation on your bathroom renovation.

If you end up adding more rooms that you need, it will increase the renovation and maintenance costs of the house. So, if you plan to live there for a limited time, try not to overcapitalise on the renovation.

Step 6: Add Value To The House

A renovation that wisely utilises per square foot of space can significantly help increase your house’s value. The sparkling bathroom fixtures, cosy bedrooms, expensive countertops, and kitchen cabinets make your home an attractive property to buyers.

Even though you may not be interested in selling the house immediately, a complete renovation will add value to the property, especially with a full renovation. So, you’ll earn a good profit if you ever decide to sell the house.

Step 7: Choose High-Quality Materials

High-quality materials can enhance the house’s lifespan and prevent you from wasting extra money on repairs and remodelling. Consider structural integrity, durability, environmental impact and sustainability, thermal performance, and moisture resistance while choosing the materials for your house renovation.

For instance, using timber or steel for a lightweight frame construction can reduce the environmental impact of your house. You can also use recyclable materials like bricks and timber beams to enhance the quality and sustainability of your home.

Step 8: Finalise The Interior Design

Depending on the interior design of your house, you need to select all the external and internal materials, including doors, windows, walls, roofs, floors, and even furniture. Whether you want a modern or farmhouse-style house will decide the entire renovation design.

You’ll need some holistic interior design planning for the end result if the house has a cohesive and well-coordinated look.

Step 9: Keep Track Of The Paperwork

Closely monitor your expenses, especially for cosmetic renovations and the project timeline throughout the renovation building process to stay on top. Avoid payment delays and strictly stick to your budget to avoid poor quality work or hidden expenses.

Also, carefully store all the bills, receipts, and other paperwork to keep track of all the renovation work. You can avoid any major setback or financial crisis and complete the project on time.

The Time Has Come For You To Renovate!

It’s impossible to undertake a major renovation project without proper planning. But even then, you’ll need to hire the best professional experts to carry out your house renovation perfectly.

We hope our step-by-step planning guide can help you develop a feasible and practical renovation plan that fits your budget and requirements. For home improvement advice, take one step at a time and try not to get too overwhelmed by the renovation process.

Call the team at Final Touch if you want to speak to a professional Sydney builder about your renovation project. We are licenced and experienced builders, specialising in commercial and residential remodelling.

And on that note, happy renovation, and we’ll see you next time!