By Marlowe Richards, of Grand Pacific Homes
You buy a house in a neighbourhood you love. The kids come along, and you need to make room. They go from toddler to pre–schooler and suddenly your house feels small and unliveable. You declutter and reorganise, but it’s still not enough to accommodate the needs of your growing family. What do you do?
Moving is not an option – you don’t want the stress and expense of buying, selling and relocating. Besides, you love where you live. You could add a room or two? But what about the outdated kitchen and the tiny bathroom you’re all sharing?
Looks like a building project is on the cards, so what are your options?
Renovate Or Rebuild?
With over 400 homes completed, Grand Pacific Homes is the leading custom home builder in the Illawarra, helping families in this situation for over 15 years.
Renovate
The Green family owns a home on a sloping block. The backyard is steep and unusable. With two school-aged children, and no play space, the house feels cramped. Our design team helped the Greens weigh the options, and they decided on a major renovation. We worked together to create a custom design that addressed their family’s needs, both now and into the future.
The building project was done in stages so the Green family could remain in their home throughout the build. They moved most of their belongings into the garage, squeezed the kids into one bedroom and used the other bedroom as a lounge room. They converted the laundry into a kitchen and nestled in while their home transformed around them.
Pros and Cons
• Rent – Staying in their home during the renovation meant the Green family saved on rent. But the tight conditions, constant building noise, safety considerations and dust were a drawback.
• Involvement – Living on site, the Greens developed a good relationship with our tradies. This made for great communication and problem solving, so decisions were made quickly and easily.
• Size – Keeping the original building footprint meant they could maximise space and not be constrained by Council’s current setback regulations.
• Design – Room size and arrangements were dictated by the structure of the existing house so there was compromise in the design. Had they rebuilt, the layout would have been very different.
• Complications – The demolition exposed areas in the house that needed to be replaced and added unanticipated expense.
• Cost – Renovations can be tricky and much less straightforward than a new build. By the end, the Green family had spent nearly what they would have for a knock–down rebuild.
By renovating, the Green family got more room and updated the house with a modern aesthetic. More importantly, they increased their property value by adding a second floor that captures sea views.
Knock–Down Rebuild
The Grey family live on a flat block near a flood-prone creek. The house is old, affected by mould and is situated awkwardly on the property. The Greys have three pre-schoolers and a large extended family. They need a spacious and functional home with a large alfresco area and pool to host family gatherings.
They decided to start over and rebuild. Our design team created a layout that was beautiful, practical and protected from flood and water damage. The Greys packed up their belongings and moved in with family until they could find a rental property for the duration of the build.
Pros and Cons
• Design – The Greys have a completely custom-designed home that is unconstrained by an existing floor plan. They have unleashed their creativity and have built their dream home.
• Peace of Mind – Unlike renovating with a combination of old and new, the Greys have a brand–new modern home. Should anything go wrong, the entire house is covered under warranty.
• Resale – When the Grey family sells their home, it will be very attractive to buyers. It is new, the design is well thought out and addresses the needs of a growing family.
• Living Elsewhere – The Greys had to pay rent for a short time, an expensive addition to the building cost. But living with relatives put strain on relationships and living further away from work and day–care made for a stressful commute.
• Cost – The new build cost more than a renovation, but the Grey family got exactly what they wanted, with no compromises in layout or aesthetic.
• Delays – The weather, the effects of Covid and the break–down in supply chains worldwide caused delays in the Greys’ building project. This meant they had to pay rent longer than anticipated.
The Grey family built a home they love, that accommodates the needs of their growing family. They faced challenges along the way, but were open to solutions and focused on the end result. Their budget didn’t stretch to cover the cost of the pool so they will put it in later.
If you are considering a building project, here are some helpful tips:
- Tip 1 – Small Renovation: If the renovation is too small, it may be difficult to find a builder. Do your research and make inquiries with builders who specialise in that type of work.
- Tip 2 – Sloping Block: Some builders, particularly project home builders, are reluctant to build on a sloping block. Grand Pacific Homes specialises in this type of work.
- Tip 3 – Design/Construct: Architects and building designers are great, but if you want a budget estimate early in the design, contact a builder or work with a design/construction company.
- Tip 4 – Cost Increases: Material costs are increasing. When deciding on your budget, put a portion aside to cover unforeseen costs.