Building and Home Maintenance

Wanting to renovate? Where do you start?

Our CHANNEL Building and Home Maintenance column is contributed on a monthly basis by Alex Coburn and Luke Henley of QPC Builders. Alex and Luke are two young refreshingly energetic and passionate North Shore builders dedicated to delivering the highest quality work that sets them apart . In this column Alex Coburn provides advice on the Home Renovation process.

www.qpcbuilders.co.nz

Home owners renovate for many different reasons. To increase the value, make more space or simply to change the house to suit their needs. It can be a very confusing process and it can put a lot of people off.
Some common questions are: How do I find a good builder? Who will do the design? How do I deal with the Council? Where do I start? Renovating or building shouldn’t be that hard.
I like to break it down into four Easy steps:

Step 1: Look to the people around you or the internet for some recommendations. You can either use an architect, draftsman or the building company to put your plans together. Once you have found somebody you would like to use and you feel confidant with, check their references and view some of their previous work. Then get going on the concept design process.

Step 2: When you and your builder have decided on the design ask for a price on what has been drawn before you. Spend the extra money getting full working drawings and spend further money on council consents. Once you have established that the work fits your budget then the plans can be finished and submitted to council on your behalf.

Step 3: Once your plans are given consent you are ready to start! Make sure your chosen builder provides you with a either; a fixed price; or an agreed upon arrangement that is in a clear easy to read in a contract. Master Builders or Certified Builders supply standard clear building contracts that are great to use and you should ask for one of these before you start. Make sure your contract covers you with guarantees for your deposit, completion and at least 10 years workmanship.

Step 4: Construction is a very exciting process where you get to see all the plans come to reality. Make sure in this stage you communicate weekly with your builder. If there are any changes or variations from what was agreed before you started put them in writing and get prices for them before they are made. Nobody likes surprises at the end of the job.

That is just a quick guide on where to start when thinking about renovating. For more information feel free to give me a call, Alex Coburn, on 0275362494 or check-out our website www.qpcbuilders.co.nz