Where to begin
Building and renovating can feel overwhelming. You’ll quickly discover there are many decisions to be made and there is a lot of back-and-forth communication with industry professionals throughout the process.
We have laid out pros and cons associated with some of the options you may be considering, such as:
- buying land and building a display home based on a selection of standard plans
- renovating an existing home
- taking on a project yourself/DIY (which requires an owner builder permit for works valued more than $11,000).
Read more about the pros and cons of these options on our building or renovating web page.
If you’re looking to buy a home to renovate, take a look at our before you buy and sell web page.
If your project involves building or installing a swimming pool, refer to our build a pool web page that provides guidance on planning, approvals, fencing and more.
Confirm your budget
A good starting point is looking at how much you have to spend.
When planning your budget, it’s important to consider more than just what the bank will lend or what you’ve saved. Unexpected challenges can arise, even with the best-laid plans.
For example, you might pull up old carpet expecting usable floorboards, only to find wood rot that needs replacing. Or, if you're bricking in a door on an aging brick home, you could discover subsidence causing misaligned bricks, requiring rendering to fix the appearance. Or, the outcomes of a soil test indicate costly screw piers are required for additional stability of a concrete pool.
These surprises are, at times, unavoidable, so make sure to set aside extra funds to cover them. It’s a small step now that can save you stress later.
Key points when choosing a lender and finance package, include:
- shopping around and comparing quotes
- considering a total, long-term package
- checking flexibility and penalties (e.g. for early repayment or termination)
- working out which product best suits your needs.
The QBCC recommends seeking financial advice early—from your bank, broker or financial advisor—to better understand your options.
For more information about home grants and concessions, visit the Queensland Revenue Office website.
Write down your ideas
Writing down your ideas or creating a mood board is a great way to bring your vision to life and clearly communicate it to your licensed contractor.
While your contractor will offer valuable expertise and guidance, having a clear idea of what you want is an excellent starting point.
For example, if you’re renovating a bathroom, will you choose a separate shower and bath, a combined option, or no bath at all? If you’re removing walls, do you prefer archways or square-set ceilings? Will you include cornices, or would you prefer a more streamlined look?
Taking the time to map out your preferences can make the process smoother, improve communication with your contractor, and help turn your vision into reality.
Talk with the experts
Seeking advice from friends, family and online sources is a great way to gather ideas and recommendations, but it’s equally important to consult the experts.
Talk to licensed contractors and qualified architects or draftspersons to understand what’s possible within your budget.
Licensed contractors may also recommend professionals they work with to help scope and design your project.
Considerations
- If you live in a flood or cyclone-prone area, consider discussing resilient design options early in the process to help you recover quickly from weather events.
- If you’re in an apartment, duplex, townhouse or unit complex, ensure you know your rights and responsibilities, and seek written advice from your body corporate if needed.
- Consider sustainability principles when making decisions about heating and cooling, water conservation and choice of appliances. These choices will ultimately enhance your comfort and can considerably reduce the cost of maintaining your home and its environmental impact, not to mention, improve your home’s efficiency and potentially increase its future resale value.
- Consider current and future mobility requirements for yourself, your relatives and visitors. This may include replacing steps with ramps, increasing the width of doorways and corridors, allowing for wheelchair access to bathrooms and toilets, and installing switches and handrails at appropriate heights and locations.
Whether you have a clear vision or just a rough idea, working with an expert will help shape your ideas into a cohesive plan that matches your style and needs.
Obtaining approval to build
In some cases, certified plans and council approvals may be required before work begins—this is where expert guidance is invaluable (from your builder or the council).
Every piece of land in Queensland is included in a ‘zone’. The zoning of your land will affect what you can do with it – for example, how high you can build or how close your residence can be to your neighbour’s house.
Your zone may be different to your neighbours, as their land may be zoned differently.
Your local council, through their local planning schemes, can provide you with more detailed direction on each zone’s intended uses and the development depending on the location.
Engaging with your council early can help you understand what’s allowed and required before getting started. This includes ensuring your plans comply with local building regulations and zoning requirements.