Most homes under go 3 extensions or renovations of some type during their life cycle, many never achieve the right result causing significant over capitalisation. When considering your home extensions you need to be sure you are honest with yourself and leave the emotion at the front door.
Your first step should be to write your true needs and wants list considering now and the future, remember your home extension must take into account the family's growth and development cycle and cater for those changing events. Many families plan for today but not tomorrow. Here’s a simple example I came across: you need an extra lounge room, you call it a rumpus room, you decide its going “on the back” and have it drafted, approved and built. After a few months you notice that no one is using the new extensions? Why? Well you built it in “no man’s land” and it has no integration with the existing home or outdoor environment, also you now realise its adjacent to your bedroom, of course the kids or young adults are not going to want to dwell with their mates adjacent to Mum and Dads bedroom, nor do Mum and Dad want to lose their privacy.
On paper this home extension looked good, but it was not thought through, general planning principles were not considered or employed. Let’s now consider you want to sell this newly extended home, how does the floor plan feel and present to potential buyers; will they see the value in your home extensions?
I am not suggesting that you have a bottomless pit of money but careful consideration needs to be given when planning any home extension or renovations, it’s important that you take advise from people that design homes for a living. On occasion the extensions may not to be financially viable when you consider “the big picture”; you may need to consider other more cost effective options.
Matthew Earl General Manager Rossmark Pty Ltd
Often people ask me why chose a company that designs and builds, “aren’t I better off engaging an Architect or Building Designer”.
Did you know that many design and construct companies employ their own Architects or designers, combined that with their building experience and you will find that many of the problems you hear about are removed from the beginning.
About a month ago I received an enquiry from a person asking for a quote from their own plans. The project was briefed as a first floor addition and general renovation. Upon reviewing the drawings I could see immediately that it was a large scale alteration and addition. I rang the person concerned and answered some questions and explained that our general policy and procedure is to only build from our own designs; this is purely to avoid conflict with budget over runs and possible design and specification issues when another party is involved.
I was not surprised to hear this poor person was finding out that their design and now approved building plans were $100,000.00 over budget and their dreams of extending and renovating were looking bleak, beside the fact that they had spent over $10,000.00 to find this out.
This instance happens regularly when there is a disconnection between the designer of the home addition or new home to the persons actually building. Having the right design and construct team gives many advantages and avoids costly headaches.
Regardless of which avenue you choose be sure to meet a few of their previous clients and look at their work in person, if they can’t offer you this, they’re not the right company.
Matthew Earl General Manager Rossmark Pty Ltd
More and more families are seeing the benefits of “Granny flats” as a viable alternative to extended families and family accommodation. The State Government initiative is designed to support the need for affordable housing and rental accommodation by allowing second dwelling and the land or Lot know as a Granny Flat. There are some catches, the Granny flats can’t be more than 60m2 and the site location or zone has to allow this type of development.
Going one step further it’s a great opportunity to see the universal use, perhaps it could also be known as a “Man Cave”, a place for the Men or Women for that matter, a space to get away and watch the football on the big screen with your Mates while cooking up a storm. Another use can be as rental income, consider the rent of a 2 bedroom unit in Sydney it’s a great way to positively gear the investment and harvest an income while adding value to the family home.
Matthew Earl General Manager Rossmark Pty Ltd