Renovating your home

There are many of us that have been in the situation that as your family grows your needs grow with them and it is time to move homes yet if that prospect fills you with dread the next best option is to renovate your home, and provided you have the space and your local council has zoned your area open to this then this is a great option though be aware renovating your home or at least the size of the renovation can be costly however the benefits are worth it plus once again the re sale value of your property will be higher if the renovation is done successfully by once again choosing the right professionals to help you renovate.

Before you go ahead with the option of renovating your home ensure you have organised your building inspection report and that your home is up to scratch because in some cases part of your renovation may include repairs to your home.

Once done visit your local council website and check though the information required and find out if your renovation ideas are subject to conditions or whether your renovation requires a permit and this depends on the type and size of your renovation, the zone your home is in and whether it is subject to any special building conditions. I cannot stress enough how important this is because all it takes is the local council inspector to swing past or indeed the nosy neighbour and you will be in trouble. Whilst in most cases a fine generally occurs (be careful some are quite hefty), your renovation dream may turn into your renovation nightmare and you may be required to tear down your dream renovation at your expense so you can see why this is so important, all of which can be alleviated by your own checking of the council's website..

The type of permit required to renovate will be either a planning permit, or a building permit or in some cases both. Generally a draftsperson or architect will be able to walk you through the requirements and whether or not one is required for your project. Always ensure before the project starts once approval by the council that both you and your builder has the correct proof of insurance for the project.. 

It may also be wise to obtain a pest inspection of the property before renovating to ensure there are no problems down the track. The idea of renovating your own home is exciting and can provide the solution you are after by giving you exactly what you require but get it right from the outset instead of finding out afterwards because a little bit of due diligence early can make all the difference.