Undertaking a kitchen or bathroom renovation is a great way to give your home a new updated look and feel, while also boosting the value of your property. A new bathroom and kitchen can make a huge difference to your house and can be very easily customised to suit your family’s needs. And with the recently announced Homebuilder’s Scheme, there’s no better time than now to lock in your renovation plans and get building.
To help you start planning we’ve put together a few our favourite kitchen and bathroom renovations tips.
Tip 1. Start a wish list
Take some time to understand what you like and more importantly what you don’t like about your current bathroom or kitchen. Do you need more storage space, or are the countertops not wide enough? Start making a list of your ‘must haves’ and prioritise each item. It’s also a good idea to check out model homes and showrooms so you can see different designs, gather inspiration, and pick up new ideas.
Tip 2. Know how you will use your space
This is especially important when renovating your kitchen. Will it be the main gathering space for your family? Or will you be cooking and serving dinner in another part of the house? Do you need a full size dishwasher for a family, or will a more compact option suit your needs? Do you need a hidden cupboard space for the toaster and kettle? Or do the kids need easy access for breakfast? Understanding how you use the space day to day should guide your design choices, and is especially important if you plan on staying in your house after the renovations.
Tip 3. Know what a renovation costs
It’s important to be realistic about the cost of your kitchen or bathroom renovation upfront. This will guide you on whether you can afford to completely renovate and remodel, or if you will only able to upgrade certain aspects. The cost will depend on the size of your bathroom or kitchen, the current condition of the space, and whether you’re willing to do part of the labour yourself. You’ll need to take into account, materials, labour costs, and any building fees you may need to complete the work. You can get a rough idea o f a bathroom renovation cost here.
Tip 4. Know your budget
Once you have an indication of how much your renovation is going to cost, it’s time to sit down and work out a detailed budget. Put some budget aside for unexpected expenses, as there are always little issues that will pop up throughout renovations. From here you need to decide which items in your budget are non-negotiables like tiles or tap ware, and highlight the things that you expect may go over, like labour. Setting the non-negotiables from the very start will help you stick to your budget and will help make decisions during the project much easier.
Tip 5. Take into account your existing plumbing and electricity
If you’re budget is tight or you’re running on a tight timeframe, then try and use the existing plumbing or electricity outlets as much as you can. Not having to rewire or lay new pipes will save you a lot of time, money, and hassle. If you are going to need electrical cabling or plumbing work down, make sure to speak to a qualified electrician or plumber before your finalise your design plans so you can truly understand the scope of work needed.
Tip 6. Check if you need building permits
Be sure to double check with your local council if you will need to obtain and licenses or permits for your kitchen or bathroom renovation. Here in Australia building permits and plumbing certifications are required if you are removing walls, changing your floors, or adding new fixtures. Also be sure to double check that your builders, electricians, and plumbers have their relevant licenses and/or permits – if they don’t and something goes wrong it will affect your insurance.
If you’re planning on renovating or building your dream kitchen or bathroom, get in touch with our friendly Liquid Plumbing Solutions team today! Contact Us
