Is an extension/renovation worth pursuing?
EL
5 years ago
Hi everyone,
We were given an indicative cost of $400-500k for an extension of less than 10 square meters (wonky lines on floor plan) by 2 full service companies (they provide architects, builders, interior designers). We were also told that the study in our master bedroom had to be redone due to water penetration issues and would require new walls and DA approval. I was wondering if this was worthwhile in your opinion? Any input is greatly appreciated. This is our first home, many thanks! Ee
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dreamer
5 years agoJE C
5 years agoRelated Discussions
Renovation second level extension - experiences of adding a level?
Comments (40)Don't get me wrong, I'm not advocating volume build in ANY way....there's actually little positive I can say about it except they are a more affordable option, and for some people that's the priority.....,whether or not it's in fact good value for money is a whole other discussion ;).......people have to work out where they sit within the quality to quantity spectrum for a particular project..................It's certainly a challenge here for you in that how can you accurately assess and distill/filter the "advice" offered by various parties?.......Seriously, unless a builder actually absorbs your design brief and comes back with a considered solution, any suggestion/comment such as " you could raise the ceiling" or "put in a window" or "use trusses" of whatever is neither here nor there, and are just floating ideas to consider in the mix...........but isolated "suggestions", whilst may be ideas to consider, don't effectively dealing with the overall solution/big picture to your challenge..................there are different areas of expertise in this game.....builders are builders, (and they seem to have a knack of getting called in and influencing too early in the process) they build stuff and certainly they have an idea about this and that from experience, and they can provide sound quotation/opinion on how much it will cost to do something... BUT really only properly/accurately once there is hard documentation in place (read: documented&specified, not basic concept/design sketches/verbal ideas) .......I have great respect for builders (it's a seriously hard rugged gig) and I know some fantastic ones, but builders are (in general) not "designers" unless they have come form a design background......and the conversations if held too early can be (unintentionally blurred, confusing and actually detrimental to the client and what they really need to be focusing on...........design advice from a builder can be offered with good intentions, however I have found it generally comes from more a singular benefit angle (usually motivated by business/profit) whereas (good/seasoned design) advice from a design professional comes from more complex, balanced and creative position and process in which various aspects are simultaneously managed/considered to achieve results for a client on multiple levels, ie, cost, function, aesthetic, experience etc.............the different and various professional skills all have their place, but need to be utilised in the right order relevant to the process......................yep I wish you all the luck.....these are always big investments, and big decisions, both emotionally and financially :)...See MoreIs it worth renovating?
Comments (6)I'd guesstimate you're spending around $350k for your works. Floor boards are probably already there, double glazing might be the budget killer though. A new house would be significantly more than this, say around $500k+ for one similar size to what you're wanting. This would be a project home however and probably fairly standard fit out. $600k+ for a custom home by a good builder perhaps. Remember you have around $20k to demolish existing. Higher council application fees for the new house and on it goes. Rent somewhere else while its being built so so 6 months of rental in Sydney..... Sky's the limit.... Budget first then go from there. $350k is still not bad for a renovation/addition certainly once compared to finding another $150k minimum to move up to a new house. The extra number sounds minor until you go to the bank and look at repayments, being able to service the loan, etc..... A quality renovation can be better than a new build but sometimes a new house can knock the existing for 6....See MoreExtension and renovation in northern suburbs of Melbourne
Comments (13)we've found that renovation is usually a much more expensive option than building new and siriruskeys idea of a separate new building connected by a link to the old house would be my choice for most older homes needing renovating and unless the original house is in very good condition and has many redeeming features that you want to keep i'd collect some quotes for a knock down rebuild for comparison and also try and identify the variations in renovation quotes.. the variation is huge and implies a major difference in work to be done?? it would be interesting to see your plans...See MoreExtension/Renovation ideas needed
Comments (4)pending more details my suggestion would be to have a bigger kitchen with pantry as the dining area feels too cramped, use the old dining as a separate study bed 4 with two living areas and consider a future master suite extension instead of rearranging the existing living area.. when you have such a good sized block of land extending at ground level is far more cost effective than a second storey that uses so much space with stairs and, as big reader has already suggested it's cost effective to have plans drawn up and r Development applications submitted for both extensions and the alfresco even if you don't complete them all at the same time...btw having the new northern kitchen wall line up with the northern wall of the original master bedroom would make the roof work better and not needing to make space for the dining area on the west gives more flexibility with the size of the kitchen family room...See MoreEL
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5 years ago
Paul Di Stefano Design