Building Contractor and Builder FAQ's
What is a good design for our needs?
This is a very personal question – building a home is a chance to make all your design wishes come true within the bounds of materials and budget. The first step is to make a list of all the features and components of a home that are important to you. Eg: is a gourmet kitchen important? Walk in robes, big bathroom, bedrooms – what is it you are trying to achieve? What is most important to you? Do you like modern or traditional styles? Open plan or more structured? Look at pictures and think about the way you will use your home and the spaces within it. Make a list and prioritise, and start sketching out your plans. Use your imagination to picture what it will be like and how it will feel.
What warranty is the builder supplying? How long does it last for?
A licensed builder provides 7 years warranty on structural components of the build, and 3 months on maintenance issues.
How much should we invest in renovating our home?
The golden rule is don’t overcapitalize although this becomes less important if you really love the location / your home and don’t plan to move or sell soon in the near future.
Research with local real estate agents to see what houses in your area are selling for and how they would compare to your house before and after the renovation.
Knock-down & rebuild, or renovate?
Each case is different but as a general rule it can be chaeaper to knock down and start again as then it is a fixed quote for measurable items and materials. With renovations it can be abit of a black hole – there are many cases where it is too hard to quote accurately up front as there can be unexpected problems once demolition and rebuild has begun.
Ultimately it depends on how big the job is, and how specific the builder can be when quoting your job.
Other things to consider are the aesthetic aims and character of the existing house. Do you want an old design or new design – what materials exist? Are they any good? Do you love the house or elements within it? Are you emotionally attached? Is the type of house worth preserving eg old Queenslande etc
In addition - if you knock down – you have to move out. With a renovation – you may be able to continue living there depending on the scope of the work required.
'Nash Building'- Gold Coast Builders achieving your goal, whatever it may be.