A recent article by Property Observer  listed renovating tips from Australian experts. The ideas are worth sharing with you:

1. Match value to your renovation budget

Build your renovation to improve the value of the house. The increase in value must be more than what you spend on the renovation otherwise you are wasting money. You might not get your money back on an expensive renovation. A cheap and poor quality renovation may decrease the value of your home.

2. Match the renovation to your lifestyle

Build a renovation to match how you want to live. Is your lifestyle formal or casual? If you have pets and kids it has to be robust and easy to clean; if you like to entertain you need to think about how people will access areas, how will they interact and where they can eat. Lifestyle affects the design, layout, the style and finish of accessories, the quality of surfaces and even the colours you use to finish the job.

3. Choose the right builder

Choose a builder you can trust to give you the best value for your investment. Obviously we think you should use Amazing Projects!

4. Prioritise your renovation projects

Spend you money where it will have the most positive affect on the value of your house, before you think about lifestyle. Quality kitchen and bathroom renovations will always add value. But don’t forget the front of the house is important in making a good impression so don’t overlook having a great-looking façade.

5. Create good quality kitchens

Budget for the appropriate quality of kitchen appliances and fittings. Kitchens are where families spend a lot of their time and it is how people judge homes. One expert says 5% of the value of your house should be spent on your kitchen renovation. If you house is worth $700,000 that means you should spend $35,000 on renovating your kitchen.

6. Create good quality bathrooms

Spend 1% to 1.5% of the value of your house on your bathroom says another expert. Your bathroom is the second most important room in your house in terms of adding value. If your house is worth $700,000 you should spend between $7,000 and $10,500 on renovating your bathroom. Prioritise on what will give you the best improvement.

7. Green your home

Make your home more environmentally friendly. Having a green lifestyle is satisfying and can save you money. Many buyers want houses with the latest green innovations: solar hot water or solar panels, rainwater tanks, drip-feed irrigation systems, and shutters. Even simple changes like dual-flush toilets make a difference.

8. Avoid DIY

Avoid do-it-yourself renovations. Although DIY is a good way of saving money for simple things around the house, doing DIY renovations can lose your value. The quality of workmanship is important in adding value so make sure you get qualified and experienced builders to do all but the simplest of jobs. Obviously we recommend Amazing Projects!

9. Budget for landscaping

Allocate at least a small budget for outdoor areas and landscaping. The modern Australian lifestyle is reflected in our homes. We combine indoor and outdoor living so the garden becomes an extension of the house. Tidy and functional outdoors areas will improve property value.

10. Remember the importance of the floorplan

Create a floorplan that will let you live the way you want. One of the most overlooked and important things about a renovation is the floor plan. The right floor plan is at the heart of a successful renovation design because it will dictate how your family and visitors use and move within the space. The floor plan will dictate how the space functions and flows.

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Make sure that you get the best value kitchen that you can afford. We suggest that you spend about 5% of your house value on your kitchen (but no more than 7%). Here are a few tips to get the best value kitchen.

1. Choose good quality products

Even if you have a tight budget it is best to use quality products. A smaller kitchen with good quality materials and fittings is better value than a large kitchen made from poor quality materials.

2. Be practical

If you are on a budget make sure you only plan for what you need. Don’t overdo the finishing details such as stove surrounds and mouldings on cabinets. A simple design is more elegant and usually cheaper.

Don’t build more cupboards than you need, as each unit will add to the cost. Avoid non-essential gadgets such as waste disposal units. Choose practical bench-tops and avoid expensive materials because they are fashionable.

3. Choose good tradespeople

A kitchen is a major investment in your home so choose tradespeople you can trust (obviously we think you should use Amazing Projects for your project). Don’t take risks with amateur builders or poor quality tradespeople—it may cost you more money in fixing their mistakes.

4. Prepare the site

Having people on site is the biggest cost of most kitchen renovations. For some jobs you can save money by preparing your kitchen ready for the professional tradespeople you hire. Removing the benches, tiles and flooring can save time for your builders. You can also save costs by disposing of the rubbish yourselves. Ask our advice <link to contact us> about demolishing your kitchen.

5. Maintain your existing floor plan

If your current kitchen has a practical layout you can save costs by maintaining the existing floor plan. By keeping plumbing and electrical work you save money by not having to reinstall everything.

6. Reuse elements

Unless you want a complete change it is possible to keep some features of your existing kitchen without compromising the new design. Elements you might be able to keep are benchtops, appliances (such as ovens, cook tops, rangehoods, dishwashers and fridges), fittings (such as taps, lighting and sinks) and sometimes even splashbacks and tiles.

7. Buy all your appliances together

If you plan your renovation you can get savings by buying all your appliances together. By buying the kitchen appliance together you can negotiate great deals from retailers. Imagine how much a retailer would like to sell you an oven, cook top, rangehood, dishwasher and fridge in one sale. Make sure your shop around with your list.

8. Use a one-stop shop builder

You will save money by using renovation builders who will coordinate the whole job efficiently for you (like the Amazing Projects team). If you manage the job yourself and waste tradespeople’s time you will get charged. Getting the tradespeople out, for instance, when the site is not ready or they can’t finish the job on the same day is wasteful and expensive.

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