Are you planning to renovate your granny flat? Renovating granny flats is similar to home renovations. It can be exciting and fun to think about the renovation. However, things can go wrong if you don’t plan them well.
So before you get started, you need to consider a lot of things like the budget, design, and purpose of the renovation. It’s not just about renovating granny flats but in general. If it’s your first time renovating, it’s hard to expect anything. However, one thing’s for sure— there’s no such thing as a completely smooth renovation.
If you want to avoid problems while renovating, you can do your part by making sure all things are taken into consideration. To help you get started, here are a few things you should check first!
1. Financial status
Updating granny flats can cost a lot depending on the changes. Although you’re not required to have huge savings, you must at least have a few possible loans.
It’s fine if you like the photo of the granny flat you saw online. However, you must have enough budget before you can make it happen. On the other hand, you can always keep it simple by compromising expensive designs for simpler ones.
One way to help you set a budget is to talk to a couple of builders. Then, ask them for an estimate, which is usually free. Unfortunately, it doesn’t mean you need to hire the cheapest one just because they gave a budget-friendly estimate. There are other factors you need to consider before hiring the builders for the granny flat renovation.
2. The right team
As mentioned, it’s not easy to find the right team or builders for your granny flat renovation. It takes a lot of time and effort, but it’ll all be worth it once you’ve found them.
When looking for the best builders, you can do the easiest way first— online research. Look for the most popular and most hired builders near you. You can read their reviews and see past projects.
Another way to look for builders is to ask family and friends for recommendations. However, you can still look at their websites just to see and confirm why they’re being recommended.
Once you find a few top-recommended builders, ask them a few questions about their experience in renovating granny flats. And if you get the answer that you’re looking for, you should consider hiring them.
3. Timing
Renovating granny flats may seem too easy compared to renovating the entire house. Of course, it can be smaller than a regular house, but it’ll still take time. So during the planning stage, don’t forget to include the scheduling.
The schedule of the construction is important because it’ll help you identify whether there’s progress or none. In addition, you must communicate with the builders constantly because they know how long certain things will take.
For instance, if you’re having a hard time figuring out how long a small bathroom renovation will take, you can ask them for estimates. On the other hand, you can ask them to create their own schedule, and see if it fits your expectations.
4. Permits
Before the renovation, secure copies of permits if necessary. Nowadays, property buyers and real estate agents always check if the property owner complied with all the regulations of the local and national governments. If not, it would be difficult to sell your property.
Meanwhile, if you don’t have any knowledge about which permits are needed and how to process them, ask your builders if they can also cover the processing of permits.
5. Design
Of course, any renovation can’t get started without the design. And to help you get through it, it’s best if you can hire a designer. You may already have some ideas, but it’ll be hard to narrow them down if you don’t ask for an expert opinion.
However, keep in mind that you have a budget, and don’t forget to inform the designer about it. It’ll be easier to finish the design and make it happen if you can afford it. Otherwise, the design will go to waste, and you’ll have to start from scratch.
6. Other plans
Aside from the things mentioned above, there are also other things you must take into consideration. One of these is if you’re going to move for a while. If you’re working from home and you’ll be bothered by the construction noise, you should move in the meantime.
In addition, once you’ve finalised everything, let your neighbours know about the renovation and its timeline so that they know what to expect.
Lastly, plan where you’re going to move the things inside the granny flat. It can be in the main house or you can also rent a storage space. Moreover, ensure that it’s clear before the construction starts so that nothing will get damaged.
Are you excited about your first granny flat renovation? Make sure to prepare everything before you can be started. Also, don’t hesitate to ask questions or share your experiences by leaving a comment below!
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Aliana Baraquio currently writes for Cubbit’s Granny Flats Australia, a family-owned-and-operated business that delivers Granny Flats and Home Extensions for customers for over 25 years across NSW and ACT. She also loves interior designing and home makeovers.