nothing's cheaper or will improve the outlook more than a general clean up, add a nice green lawn and dust should be controlled and the brick pavers would look great if they were finished, levelled properly and you already own them. Find an out of site place for a neat stack of any left over bricks and the garbage bins and restore the fallen lattice. A few packets of seed, some grass starter and extra water and you should have a basic lawn in a few weeks and you could set out your garden furniture and start to entertain while you plan all the long term other improvements

thanks for your information which complies with our recent experience ..our mid range kitchen was just over $40,000 with custom designed cabinets to suit specific personel needs, mid range appliances and basic laminates...stone benches for my kitchen would have added an extra $7000 but i chose the custom sized cabinets and extra shelves in all cabinets...: so much detail to consider

Hi @Puddle, there are many good comments and ideas for you to consider in this thread, i have been in the process of renovating a 1976 model on the southside of Canberra. I have lived with my wife in Canberra for 6 years and have been in denial of our climate until recent years. It is alpine cold in winter and insanely hot in summer. The things i recommend spending money on are Windows - Get the best you can afford, double glazed glass in uninsulated frames, or double glazed window units with high air penetration should be illegal. Good windows keep winter heat in and summer heat out, its also very peaceful in a house that is well sealed. Solar panels - This was the first thing we had installed when we moved in, we are lucky to have a north facing roof space, wife works at home most days and is a high energy user. We enjoy a fully electric home, heating/cooling, cooking, hot water. Gyprock is cheap, Insulate your walls, floor and ceiling! strip all external walls and insulate, it is also easier to do windows if the wall linings are being removed. Once complete it makes life inside much nicer. Unless already renovated the wardrobes in bed 1 and 3 are likely chipboard, not sealed or insulated and a massive heat gain/loss depending on season. Building a comfortable, functional and energy efficient home in Canberra is much more than wall locations and paint colours, initially spending money on getting the "building envelop" to a high quality, (well sealed from air transfer and insulated) will allow you to install ensuites and move kitchens with the remainder of the budget. I have a problem with people saying there is a "Canberra tax", i am a professional tradesman and there are many other professionals in Canberra getting paid more than other capital cities, This includes the public service and its "consultants". Canberra has a high cost for all services underpinned by the public sector. Everybody deserves to get paid appropriately for their work. A client should always feel comfortable with the tradesperson they are dealing with, if not keep looking until you find the right fit. Enjoy the process!

You need a contract with a family friend as well. I have always found it best  to PC (stans for Prime Cost) items so you know where you are going. Items to PC include tiles e.g allowance $45pm2, kitchen hotplates, stove, rangehood, dishwasher, sink, taps, vanity, bath, air conditioning, carpet etc. Once you have this in mind by finding what you like now you can adjust up or down depending on how the build is travelling. Without these separated from the contract the builder may only be allowing $25pm2 for tiles and cheap kitchen goods etc. You also need to check if the builder is adding 10% to the above as a handling charge.