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NEED TO KNOW
Renovation ready! Before overhauling your kitchen, bathroom or laundry, arm yourself with our planning guide
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lthough it can be tempting to hit the tools – or head in store – as soon as you’ve decided to renovate, the first and most important step is thorough planning. This can help to reduce overexpenditure and stress throughout the project. Here’s our checklist to a dream renovation.
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Set a clear objective Determine the aim of the renovation, advises Mike Smith, Bunnings in home services state manager. “Are you planning a bathroom update to get your house ready to sell? Do you need a quick
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functional fix in the laundry, or are you redesigning the kitchen to suit your forever home?” he says. Then you can move on to project specifics such as size and scope, how much you can spend, key inclusions and the types of materials.
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Define wants versus needs Write a list of ‘must haves’ and ‘like to haves’ to prioritise spending. Once you’ve budgeted for essentials, such as tiles, taps and a tub in the bathroom, the less essential updates – like heated towel rails – can be considered. Ranking your wish list can also help you decide where to save in order to splurge. “You might choose to use off-the-shelf cabinetry to offset the cost of the luxury stone benchtop you’ve always wanted,” says Mike.
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Plan the look To help you choose a design and colour scheme, Bunnings trend and design manager Jane Wright suggests considering the overall style of your home and surrounding spaces for inspiration. “From there, you can narrow down the specific material options and various fittings and fixtures to create the look and feel that works for your home,” she says.
ESTIMATING THE EXPENSE
Dan Gibney, Bunnings national bathroom buyer, offers his tips for getting quotes on your project Decide if you will project manage the renovation or enlist a specialist. Define the project scope, whether it’s cosmetic versus a full, back-to-studs reno, to help trades quote accurately. Ask relevant questions and clearly
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communicate your vision to limit potential misunderstandings. Request itemised quotes so you can better compare tradies’ prices. Ensure all trades can provide insurance and relevant certification.
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Budget wisely Establish a set budget and stick to it. To avoid overcapitalising, use your current property value as a guide, suggests Jane. For a bathroom renovation, the formula is about 2 per cent of a property’s value; a kitchen renovation is about 3 per cent. “The complexity of the space, the level of fittings and finishes and the labour involved will influence a project’s cost,” she says. Financing the project is likely to be straightforward if funds are coming from cash savings, advises Mike.
