Renovation Guide
It can be daunting planning a renovation, engaging the right people, sourcing the best materials and learning what is and isn’t viable, not to mention Council consent and planning. We are experts at the process and have simplified it down into a digestible guide below.
What’s the process?
Please complete the enquiry form, every job is different, so the more information we have the better we can guide you on the process for your particular project.
From there we can make recommendations on your next steps, whether that is putting you in contact with one of recommended architects/draftsperson, scheduling a planning session, arranging a site measure/meeting or providing a quote for plans you already have.
We can discuss whether you will need to engage an architect or draftsperson, whether the work needs to be consented and whether it is practical to remain in your home during the renovations.
Things to consider.
Who to contact first?
Our initial involvement will vary depending on where you are at in the process. We would love to be your first point of contact, that way we can discuss your plans and advice on what steps you need to take, if you are at the idea stage of your project. If you have already have consented plans and are needing a quote, we can arrange this and discuss our availability.
Tips for keeping the budget under control.
If you work with us early you can get preliminary costings before you commit to a design, and avoid having consented plans that you love but can’t afford to build.
Think about what alterations and renovations are going to benefit you the most and add value to your home. Invest your money where you see the most value.
Choosing the right people for your project.
Selecting an architect or designer that suits your style is crucial to the design. It is also important to ask what services they provide, for example are council fees and engineering fees extra? We can recommend professionals that we have worked with previously that both us and our clients have had positive experiences with.
Selecting the right builder is critical to the success of your project, you need to be able to trust us, feel comfortable communicating and sharing your ideas with us. We are the person that you are going to be engaging with the most, so ensuring you are confident in us, is the first question to ask yourself.
Do your research, a good place to start is to check out client reviews (link to our google reviews) and view some of our recent projects (link to our case studies).
Comparing quotes
Money shouldn’t be the only factor, compare quotes on more than just price.
Important things to consider include, the builders experience on similar projects, their reliability, their communication, their references or reviews etc.
It is important to query any part of the quote that you are unsure about.
Do you understand what a contingency or provisional sum or prime cost sum are?
A contingency is an amount of money that is set aside to cover any unexpected costs that arise throughout the construction project. It is money that is on reserve and isn’t allocated to anything specific. Essentially it acts as insurance against unforeseen costs.
A provisional sum is money that is set aside for specific building work when their isn’t sufficient details to provide a fixed price (e.g. the tiles haven’t been selected yet so their cost and the cost of installation, which varies depending on the size and pattern, is an estimate).
A prime cost sum is a fixed amount of money that is set aside for a certain item (e.g. the bath) so that you can choose it yourself. If you selection costs more than the allocated prime cost sum, you will need to pay extra - it is important to note that a prime cost sum doesn’t include the installation of this item.
Should I manage the project myself?
Whilst it is possible to project manage the work yourself, it isn’t recommended, the small project management fee built into our quote will not only save you time, in the long run it will also save you money.
S.C.Harris Builders Ltd work as a team, we have years of experience carrying out renovations, they are our specialty.
We understand the building process and the sequence of events required, which often vary from project to project, which will prevent mistakes and increase the efficiency of subcontractors on site.
We have built strong relationships with our preferred sub-contractors as we have worked alongside them on many other projects and they have met our high standards. We engage our sub-contractors, because we are confident in their workmanship and know that they have proven that they will meet deadlines. Project management takes time, you need experience in scheduling, you need to have the contacts and importantly you need to have expertise.
Once the Building Contract Agreement has been signed, you can relax knowing that an experienced and recommended team of professionals will be working together to deliver your project to completion.
Still have more questions?
We may have covered it in our FAQ section. If not then please contact us at info@harrisbuilders.co.nz