Thinking of Upgrading Your Home? Read This Before You Start

Giving your home a fresh, new look can be a thrilling thought. But before you call suppliers, gather your tools, and get your palms dirty working on that long-awaited house makeover, you should take a step back and consider a few things beforehand.

As exciting as it is to imagine living in a revitalised home, know this: Upgrading your home isn’t a walk in the park. It’s also not something you can do without cost unless you have the parts beforehand.

In this guide, we’ll hit you with some vital considerations you should make before you start refreshing your home. Whether it’s renovating a room, adding a partition, or installing new utilities in areas around the house, you’ll want to pay attention to these things before proceeding with the project.

Let’s jump right into it.

1. Clearly Define Your Upgrade Goals

The first thing you should do before undertaking a home renovation is to have a clear idea of what you want to get out of the project. 

Home improvement upgrades can be small-scale, like painting over chipped or scratched walls; or large-scale, like turning a musty, unused basement into a cosy home bar and lounge. It’s important that you classify your project early on in one of these categories and get into the mindset of it before proceeding.

Get to the bottom of your motivation and clarify it clearly. Do you want to upgrade your home’s appliances to be more energy-efficient? Are you looking to increase the resale value of your home with aesthetic add-ons? Or perhaps you’re trying to fix or refurbish parts of the home that have been broken for a long time?

On top of that, you should also know exactly what you want to accomplish from the renovation project. Don’t try to make a heroic construction effort project with audacious goals beyond your capability, as this will just turn into a headache down the line.

Instead, focus on key zones in your areas for a start. For instance, consider compartmentalising your efforts to key regions like the bedrooms or the kitchen and dining spaces.

In any case, having a well-defined plan can make it easier for you to envision your project throughout the construction timeline. It’ll also make it easier for you to talk with designers and contractors about your vision, helping all of you be on the same page regarding your upgrade expectations.

2. Set a Budget That Matches Your Abilities

Now that you’re aware of the scale of the home upgrade you’re undertaking, the next step is to formalise a budget for the entire project.

Naturally, house renovation projects can be costly, especially the more complicated the scale of the project is. From securing materials to hiring extra labourers, you’ll likely encounter several financial setbacks throughout the renovation.

At the very least, it’s important to figure out an estimated cost of the project early on. This way, you can match it with your financial capacity and know from there whether undertaking the project is feasible at this time.

If your finances are not enough to cover the cost of the project, and if you’re using a redraw account, then you can consider withdrawing an excess portion of your housing loan to fund the project. This article from Westpac distinguishes the difference between this housing loan type and an offset account. If you can’t do both, you can continue saving or growing your cash flow to get by.

If you’re still short on cash, then you can consider undertaking the upgrade in phases. This way, you can still see and enjoy short bursts of improvement while still minimising financial strain to something you can actually afford.

3. Audit Your Existing Space

Another way to make the most of your upcoming upgrade is by performing a thorough audit of your current place. 

Ask yourself this: What works, what doesn’t? Are there inefficient configurations that could be made better from a complete makeover, like rooms with duplicate functions or areas with a cramped layout and impaired flow? If so, then note them down and consider making adjustments to them in your next upgrade project.

By performing a thorough audit of your home, you can identify areas in your space that may be lacking or suboptimal. This can only be done through conscious effort and questioning, so ensure that you give some time to process your future project to ensure that it actually adds value to your home and does not detract from its value.

4. Check if You Need Permits Beforehand

Most basic renovation projects can be done without external approval, but in Australia, there are some home upgrades that require you to secure permits before you can proceed with the project. 

Failure to secure the necessary permits can lead to fines or forced removal of your structural upgrades, so it’s absolutely critical to get the local council’s approval before you even consider starting.

As a rule of thumb, if the renovation project involves making structural changes to the building, then you’ll likely need to secure a permit for it. Some upgrades that would call for permits would include building an extension, replacing your roof, converting a garage, and adding a deck on your house above a certain height.

By reviewing whether you need a permit or not beforehand, you’ll avoid encountering a future problem that can cause you a lot of money or force you to delay your project at a later time. 

If you want to ensure that you’re abiding by local government regulations regarding your upcoming home project, consult with a local licensed builder or call the local council for advice.

5. Know Where to Source All Necessary Materials

Before recreating that one Pinterest board image, you should have a clear plan of action on how to source all the materials and supplies for your upcoming project. It’s unfortunately far too common for people to be halfway done with the project only to realise that they lack a crucial material or tool to finish it, causing delays or even a cancellation of the project altogether.

As such, be sure to prepare a list of materials you need beforehand and secure them as soon as you can from a local retail dealer, hardware store, or online shop. Ensure that they have enough of the item in stock to carry out your plan, and that the price aligns with your budget.

If you plan to buy things secondhand, make sure that the person you’re dealing with is not a scammer. Double-check the reputation of each supplier and read reviews on their ability to deliver things on time and of the quality expected of them. By doing this, you won’t encounter any logistical or supply shortage issues as you start your project.

6. Create a Realistic Timeline

Don’t let the outcome fool you: a home refurbishing project can be incredibly time-consuming work. For instance, it’s not uncommon for entire room rehauls to be done in over a year, especially if you’re the sole person carrying out the construction by yourself. 

Unless you’re hiring a fleet of expert construction workers, you’ll likely take a couple of months finishing a moderate to major-scale construction project. As such, it’s important to set your expectations properly by creating a proper timeline that you can realistically follow through from start to finish.

A good strategy to go about this is by breaking the project into six phases: planning, procurement, demolition, installation, finishing, and cleanup. These phases will have sub-categories that have their own timeline as well.

When creating the project timeline, be sure to allot a couple of weeks to serve as a buffer period. This will catch any potential delays in supply procurement or installation that may occur during the timeline.

By creating a timeline, you’re not only creating a checklist that you can follow through with, but you’ll also feel more in control of your upcoming project—making it all the more likely for you to see it through to the very end.

We hope you’ll carry these insights along with you before you undertake your upcoming home project. All the best in achieving your dream house!