BUILDERS TIPS

We would like to ask you to take a few moments of your time to read a Builders view on different aspects of the process of Renovating and Extending your existing home. There are some points to consider before undertaking your renovation & extension.These points play a major role during the process, so lets get started from the beginning.

• Make sure that there are no Town Planning issues that need to be addressed before undertaking your Building Application refer to your local authourity for advice.[I always carry this out before I engage a Building Designer to draw plans]
• Visit http://www.brisbane.qld.gov.au/masterview/masterplan/enquirer/default.aspx for more information

• Before undertaking a renovation make sure you don't need a Building Approval refer to a Private Building Certifier. [This is a legal requirement under the act]
• Visit http://www.bsa.qld.gov.au/Pages/BuildingServicesAuthority.aspx for more information

• Your neighbour needs to be consulted before undertaking major renovations &  extensions, your biggest problems could be avoided by just consulting the neighbour before works begin [The first thing I do before I start is go and introduce my self to the neighbour and give him/her my phone number and buy him/her their favourite medicine,I don't have any problems after that]

• Engage a good Building Designer to undertake the plans, they'll take care of things such a energy efficency, orientation of the rooms, positioning of windows and doors, structural specifications and privacy issues.

• Always have plans drawn before contacting a builder for a quote, otherwise forget asking a builder for a fixed price [Reno's are never priced out at square metre rates like new homes]

• Always take into consideration your services when at planning stage as these trades are your most expensive,for instance if your raising a house and building in under always keep your new bathrooms under each other if this is possible.

• If your undertaking a major renovation try and carry it out at one time,as breaking it up in stages is very costly [The most economical time to build is the present,over the past 31 years in the industry, experience has taught me that material prices hardly go down].

• Build a relationship with your builder and your house will be your castle.