Should I renovate my home or knock it down and start from scratch?
Tuesday 02 March, 2010 | SuperLiving
Q:
Q: Our home has suffered significant termite damage. We have replaced all the damaged timber with treated pine. We still have to rebuild the kitchen, bathroom, laundry and ensuite, and gyprock most of the house. The exterior is bagged brick with a tile roof and looks good. We were wondering whether it would be worth continuing to repair the house or knock it down and start again?
Our Home renovation expert says:A: You would be well advised to get a structural engineer to check the house over and give the all clear before any further building work takes place. You could also get a building report done as a baseline.
These two documents will give you all the details needed from which to make a decision and plan any building work.
There are savings to be made if the structural integrity is suitable and the exterior of the house is already to your liking. You’ll save on architectural design costs, council applications and fees, and of course, time.
Check with the local council to see whether they require any notification of improvements being made to the interior of the building and if services will remain in the same place.
If it is possible for you to live in the house while renovating, this will save the cost of renting elsewhere.
Once all of this is in place, it’s worth thinking about the timeframe you plan to live there. That will help in terms of devising the requirements of the house for your family at various stages of life, and for future resale.
