Renovation Checklist. From Council to Clean Up
We’ve made you a free Renovation Checklist to help you keep track of everything when you’re renovating. Leaving things out, or getting things in the wrong order can cost you your valuable time and money when renovating.
Renovating already costs enough of both of those (time and money)! Use our Renovation Checklist to make sure you stay on track financially – and on time.
Please share this checklist with your friends and community through Facebook if it helps you – we’d really appreciate it.
Reviewing Your Local Development Control Plan (DCP)
Take a look at your local Development Control Plan (DCP) issued by your relevant council. Anything from adding a storey to landscaping can be affected so it’s important to look at your local DCP straight up.
Application timeframes can also vary depending on your particular council so asking your council for an indication of typical processing timeframes for your type of renovation is a good idea.
You may find these links helpful for digging up your local council’s Development Control Plan:
http://www.gcc.nsw.gov.au/development+control+plans+(dcps)-136.html
http://www.cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au/development/planning-controls/development-control-plans
http://www.liverpool.nsw.gov.au/planninganddevelopment/liverpools-planning-control
http://www.campbelltown.nsw.gov.au/DevelopmentControlPlans
Dream a Little
Create a scrapbook or board of the materials, finishes, decor and appliances that inspired you to do your renovation in the first place.
Even though some of what inspires you will be top of the line and expensive, remember it’s amazing what you can buy directly online today in the way of great looking, good quality materials and appliances.
Quotes and Costings
Compile quotes and do costings on your preferred materials and appliances.
You’ll want to consider:
- Flooring
- Bench tops
- Wall tiles
- Wall panelling
- Paints and lacquers
- Timbers
- Framing
- Glues/adhesives
- Fillers
- Any tools you may need to buy, borrow or hire
- Large appliances such as air conditioning, and everything right down to furnishings and fittings – even as far as new plates and cutlery (if you’re going that far).
- Toilet, hand basins, sinks, taps, showers, baths (if applicable)
- The clean up – e.g. skip bin hire
By pricing (budgeting for) everything, it will be lot less likely that you exceed your overall renovation budget. If you are using and Designer or an Architect, it will be good to also get them involved with some of the items listed above as they may be able to advise you on choices keeping both style and budget in mind.
Choosing a Designer or Architect
Designers and Architects typically charge a percentage (between 12 and 20%) of the project budget. Be sure you are working with someone you can level with and who understands what you are aiming to achieve – and has proven to already have achieved similar to what you’re shooting for.
General Quotes on Builders
Get some general quotes from Builders/Carpenters. Your Designer or an Architect will know the average price per square metre for renovations in your particular suburb. The Master Builders Association may also be able to give guidance on average price per square metre for renovations in your area.
Site Access is always a factor for builders. If you’re on a particularly steep block or have awkward access, be sure to take this into account when putting your general quotes together.
Financing a Renovation
If you intend borrowing the money for your reno, be sure to kick this process off as early as possible as loan processing can take some weeks.
Choosing a Draftsperson
If you have decided that you’re going to use a Draftsperson, you can sometimes save a lot of time and money by drawing up your own designs initially.
This will also help you get clear on exactly how many rooms you want, space (sizes), your finishes and perhaps the position of windows and doors potentially making it easier for your Draftsperson to advise and produce their drawings.
Shortlisting Builders
When choosing a Builder, it’s a good idea to speak to friends and colleagues. Most people are only too willing to share their experiences when it comes to home renovations and building. Consider the type of work the builder did for that person and whether or not it is relevant to your renovations.
Also consider that your Designer or Architect may work regularly with particular builders. It can really help when Builder and Designer already have a working relationship.
At this point you could get rough quotes.
Getting DA Approval
Once you (and your Draftsperson or Architect) are happy with the drawings, it is time to cost the engineering component of your renovation. A qualified engineer will need to assess things like:
- Foundations
- Roof
- Beams
- Retaining walls
With a complete plan (that’s complete with the engineer’s preliminary specifications), the design can then go to council for DA Approval.
What To Do While Waiting for DA Approval
DA Approval can take as long as 90 days – which makes it a great time to re-look at things fittings and furnishings. Find out about availability on your favourites as many items can take weeks to arrive from overseas.
Getting Firm Quotes From Builders and Assessing Them
With DA Approval in hand, it’s time to get firm quotes from Builders.
- Note the price variations
- Discover why
- Check on their price for any variations outside of the contract (should they need to be made)
The details here are extremely important when getting quotes from Builders. Look at exactly what each quote includes and excludes. If something isn’t crystal clear – don’t assume, check.
If you are proceeding with a particular Builder who didn’t put a particular item in writing on their quote, then have them amend their quote to include that item or items before they proceed with any work.
Your Architect may also be able to help you ‘make sense’ of the quotes you get from builders by conducting a Tender Assessment – a spreadsheet to compare costs, rates for sub contractors and dates.
Once you have all in hand, trust your gut – the overall cheapest isn’t always the best way to go.
Appointing a Certifier (to liaise with council and other government controlled departments)
Your Certifier is there to check all mandatory inspections are done by structural engineers – and by gas, electrical and water providers at the critical time. For example: before pouring footings, formwork for slabs, wall/roof framing or bathroom waterproofing.
You’re able to choose whether you’d like a Council Certifier, or your own Private Certifier. Aside from checking all mandatory inspections are carried out at the right time, your Certifier will also forward all certificates to council – this way an occupancy certificate can be granted when the project is complete.
Ordering Prime Cost Items
It is best to order your prime cost items (i.e. fittings and appliances) 6 weeks or more before your Builder will actually need them. Many prime cost items such as kitchen and bathroom fittings need to come from overseas and aren’t always in stock here in Australia.
Hold ups on these things can stifle the flow of your renovation and cause Builders or their Sub Contractors to focus on other projects which can in-turn hold up your project.
Follow Closely To Avoid Nasty Surprises
Surprises are costly. It’s best to catch them before they even occur by having everything in writing first. But that isn’t enough. Once the renovation is underway, monitor the progress of your renovation and meet with your Builder at least weekly.
The Defect Period
You the owner are given a set period of time (defect period) in which you can notify your builder of anything that isn’t finished per the contract or is perhaps is faulty (say cracks or leaks). The defect period is usually 26 weeks. During this time the builder is obliged to fix any faults and complete the work that is specified in the contract.
Typically what-is-called a ‘retention sum’ of 5% is withheld while the builder fixes any faults and completes the work per the contract. It’s really important that you deal with all faults and short falls during the defect period as any issues that need to be dealt with after the defect period will need to put through the Home Warranty Insurance Fund.
The Clean Up
A renovation generally produces a fair bit of mixed heavy and general waste. QSkips® have a range of skip bins specifically for renovations and many other types of clean ups.
What Size Skip Bin Do I Need For a Renovation?
We’ve found a bathroom renovation will typically need 3 to 4 metre skip bin. If you are renovating a kitchen and bathroom, we’d recommend a minimum a 5 metre bin but leading towards a 7 metre bin. For more information, see our sizes and prices.