How Tough It Is To Be A DIY Builder For Home Extensions?

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The inflation in the real estate sector is higher than the usual inflation rate. This motivates homeowners to get home extensions done rather than moving to a new property or going for knocking and rebuilding. Another trend is that most people choose to build themselves rather than hire a registered builder. The reason they cite is that this saves a lot of money, but for this, everything must go precisely to plan, and you must have sufficient experience in building. Another reason is that they will have complete control over the process and the design and build of the property.

But a question worth answering is whether it is a practical solution or not, and we have covered this in this blog post.

WHAT WILL DEFINE YOU AS A BUILDER?

If you are planning to become a DIY builder to build your home extensions or second-story extensions, you must acquire the following three qualities.

Using your own skills to build

Manage a team of tradespeople (sub-contractors) to work on the property

You must be a registered builder or at least applied for owner-builder registration with the building commission

There are some crucial facts to know regarding building construction, and they are essential regardless of whether you attempt DIY or hire a registered builder.

BUILDING WORK OVER $5000

Any construction process seeking investment over $5000 will require some obligations to fulfil. 

First, you must use a registered builder, and secondly, you must also have a written domestic building contract. For any project worth over $12000, you must have a current certificate of domestic building insurance or the registered builder must produce this certificate.

A certificate of consent from the building practitioners’ board is also required for any project costing over $12000.

PLANS AND PERMITS

Regardless of how small or big the project is, some plans and permits will be required, and this is where a registered builder can be handy. He will ensure that all the plans and permits needed for home extensions and second storey extensions are arranged on time. This will include the following – 

Local Laws

Mandatory Energy Rating Requirements

Foundation Data, Including Soil Tests, And Engineering

Excavation Costs, If Required

Site Survey Results From A Licensed Land Surveyor

MANAGING THE BUILDING TEAM

The most stressful thought of being a DIY builder for home extensions is managing the overall process and keeping the team united throughout the project. You will need several service providers, sub-contractors, tradespeople, and others to engage in construction. A registered builder can be beneficial in your home extension process as they are experienced in managing the entire team. Apart from this, the team also has additional expertise and skills to manage the team and keep it united throughout the process.

Why Should People Get Second Story Extensions Built?

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Getting second story extensions and additions in your existing property is like opening new doors for the family and making the property more spacious and precious. This extension becomes mandatory when a growing family demands more space and privacy. In this situation, house additions like first-floor and second story extensions are chosen to accommodate the changing family and their changing lifestyle. These additions also ensure that your property's value gets a boost, and apart from this, there are several other reasons why one should go for second story extensions. Some of them are discussed in this blog post.

YOU GET THE OPPORTUNITY TO KEEP YOUR BACKYARD

One of the top benefits of building upwards rather than sidewards or backward is that your home addition plans do not interfere with the existing ground space. You will not need extra land for any house additions, and this means you will not have to sacrifice your swimming pool or garden, tool shed or garage to get more living space. Second story extensions go upwards without consuming land and become cost-effective for the family.

A COST-EFFECTIVE SOLUTION THAT GIVES GREAT RESULTS

Getting first-floor and second story extensions is way more economical than renovating the entire property after knocking it down or relocating to another property in a new neighbourhood. These house addition plans are economical, as they allow you to optimise the plan of your property to accommodate your family and their lifestyle. You can match all the requirements while getting second story extensions and ensure that the overall look doesn't get interfered with.

A LARGE AMOUNT OF VALUE IS ADDED

Another benefit of second story extensions is that you add a considerable amount of space to your current property. This space will, in turn, enhance the property's value, which will be beneficial when you look to sell your property. Homeowners get this extra benefit as the availability of vacant plots is shrinking slowly with the ever-increasing population. Those looking to buy a property are willing to pay any price to get a new home, and this is where second story extensions can be beneficial for the property owner.

NO COMPROMISE ON THE VIEWS

Getting second story extensions built means having a property where you can enjoy the scenic beauty of your property's surrounding areas. You get magnificent views of the skyscrapers, and if you're lucky enough, you can also witness a beautiful sunset and a mesmerising sunrise every day. 

What Is The Process Of Building 2nd Storey Additions?

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 A growing family is the main reason why people opt for 2nd Storey Additions. They want more space to accommodate the family and give them more privacy and space for entertaining guests and spending some time. This can be an exciting milestone for your family, but you must work hard right from the word 'go' to achieve it successfully. The first step is choosing the most reputed contractor, and the second step will involve understanding the process of adding the 2nd storey. A brief break-up of the entire process is present here.

SETTING UP THE BUDGET

The first step is understanding the entire process and setting up a budget. Budget setting is essential as some extra renovation or other changes in the overall structure might be required. The home additions builder is the right person to discuss this, as the team will assess an entire property to find out the possibilities of adding 2nd storey additions and the obstructions coming in the way.

CHECKING RULES AND REGULATIONS

Property owners must follow the rules, regulations and laws related to 2nd storey additions and, in fact, first floor Additions as well. Here also, the home additions builder will come in very handy as he will be fully updated with the latest laws and regulations related to 2nd storey additions.

DESIGNING THE 2ND STOREY PROJECT

After a complete assessment and budget discussion, it's time to design the 2nd Storey project, and for this, the home additions builder will seek the assistance of reputed interior designers and architects. They will determine all the parameters and ensure that the available space is utilised most charmingly. They aim to make the interiors more spacious, open, well-ventilated and easily adaptable.

PLANNING AND STARTING THE CONSTRUCTION

These professionals will initiate the construction process after creating a 3D blueprint of 2nd storey additions. The same is the process with first floor additions, as they will work on first floor additions ideas while ensuring that sufficient space is left for the bathroom and bedroom. They will constantly coordinate with the designers to make last-minute changes to deliver a better property than you had imagined.

WHAT QUESTIONS TO ASK A HOME ADDITIONS BUILDER?

Before making any final decision, there is a list of questions to ask the shortlisted home addition builders. Answers to these questions will give you a better idea of their experience, capabilities and capacities. A quick list is presented below.

• What experience do you have?

• Can you provide examples of similar projects?

• What types of home additions have you worked on?

• What is the company's licensing and insurance status?

• What is your approach to project management?

• What is the estimated timeline for the home addition project?

• What is the expected cost of the project?

• What warranties or guarantees do you provide?

• What is your policy for obtaining building permits?

• What safety measures do you have in place?

• What is your payment schedule?

• Who is responsible for clean-up and construction waste disposal?

What Questions To Ask Before Starting Home Extensions Project?

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Home additions and extensions are a significant project, and homeowners must have a completely clear view of what is going to come in home extension projects. The services of a reputed construction company are mandatory, followed by the answers to all the questions that homeowners have. There can be questions related to several things associated with the home extensions project, and they must have the answers. These answers come from the chosen home additions company; and some are discussed here.

CAN YOU PROVIDE COMPLETE HOME EXTENSIONS SERVICES?

The chosen home additions company should offer the entire range of home extension services, including loft conversion as well. They should come with the experience and expertise to provide services from initial free consultation and survey to completion of home extensions/home additions projects. These services should also include administration using the most advanced technologies to meet customers’ specific requirements. They should also offer structural calculations, application of building regulations and law development certificates, etc.

DO YOU REQUIRE ANY DEPOSIT BEFORE THE PROJECT?

The ideal answer is that the company should not seek any deposit before beginning the project. In lieu, they will take a financial commitment from the customer that he will pay for the administration upon signing the contract. This will include the cost of drawing and structural calculations and the fees paid to local authorities to obtain necessary permissions and certificates.

DO YOU SEEK SERVICES FROM SUB-CONTRACTORS?

Here also, the best answer is ‘no’, that subcontractors are not used for home extensions and additions. But yes, hiring subcontractors for scaffolding, electrical fittings, AC and heating engineering, and so on is mandatory. Otherwise, they should not use any subcontractors for registered groundwork or bricklaying.

WHAT OFFER DO YOU HAVE IN TERMS OF WARRANTY?

The company should back its work with a minimum of 10 years of structural warranty and ensure long-lasting and cost-effective results. As far as pre-planning and construction is concerned, they should take care of the following – 

• Sourcing Building Materials

• Equipment Hire

• Qualified And Experienced Skilled Trade Workers

• Council Approval And Inspections

• Building Permits And Job Certification

• Site Surveying

• Certificate Of Occupancy

HOW MUCH DIRT OR DUST WILL BE GENERATED?

Some disruption and disturbance is inevitable, and so are the dirt and dust. The home renovation company is responsible for minimizing it as much as possible. They should ensure that invasive works like ‘breaking through’ and ‘installing beams’ are carried out late in the project. Apart from this, they should also apply all reasonable measures to minimise dust generation and use a dust sheet, tapes, polythene, etc., to cover up dirt and dust. Some home renovation companies also use a vacuum cleaner to ensure that the property is left as clean as possible every day.

Genius Home Extensions Ideas to Extend Space in Your Home

 The first thought that rushes into the mind of homeowners is of building or buying a new house when they start feeling the shortage of space in their existing properties. But another option is to save hundreds and thousands of dollars while improving the quality of life significantly. This option is potent enough to add more space and value to your current property and ensure that you stay in the area that you are living in now. 

Home extensions Sydney is the right approach that ensures flexibility, comfort, and value. However, to make all these claims a reality, you must keep your approach positive and consider this option. You should not panic at all and immediately decide about getting a new home in some other locality.

With the help of a high-quality home additions builder, you will get multiple ideas on how to extend your home. Let us explore some amazing ones in this write-up.

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ADDING ANOTHER FLOOR

Most properties in Sydney had large block sizes in the past, and there was no reason to build upwards. But now, the situation has changed completely, and the average block size is somewhere around 383 square metres. This means that adding another floor is a great idea and a perfect way to add more space to your current property. As a part of the home extensions Sydney project, you can move all your bedrooms above, and the ground floor can be dedicated to an extended kitchen, a lounge, a dining area and a living area.

GARAGE CONVERSION

Most properties have a garage, but it remains unused all the time. Home additions builders have solutions for this, and with quick and easy conversion; this can become a whole extra room for your property. It can be used as a luxurious main bedroom or just a place for kids to enjoy home cinema.

EXTENDING ABOVE THE GARAGE

If you use your garage to park your vehicle, you need not worry, as home additions builders also have a solution to this. You can consider extending above the garage, and it can be an ideal solution if you already have two storeys. A new room or a couple of rooms can be built above your garage and linked with the rest of the floor. They can also work well as standalone rooms that can be used as guest rooms, a home office, gym or a studio space for content creators.

SIDE EXTENSION

The unused exterior side part of your house can also be used in house extensions Sydney projects by the home additions builders. While staying in compliance with the building codes, you can extend several rooms by the side of your home and make a massive difference while ensuring that you don't have to invest in purchasing a new property for another five decades.

Reasons Why Home Additions Are Better and Why Relocation Is Risky

Someone who has decided to relocate from the existing property and location to a better one is always confused about one thing. He has to decide whether to go for additions, or relocation is the only solution. Both options have their share of advantages and disadvantages, but overall, first floor additions are always better than your location. In this write-up, we have explored the drawbacks of moving, and then we will also go through the top reasons why home additions should be preferred over moving.

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NOTABLE DRAWBACKS OF MOVING

ADAPTING TAKES TIME 

The family will take a lot of time to adapt to a new environment. The family owner will have to make adjustments regarding how to travel to their job, and he will also have to determine school transportation or search for new schools.

UNFAMILIAR NEIGHBOURS

Relocation comes with the fact that you will move to an entirely new location where no one would know you, and you will know no one. Your neighbours will be unfamiliar with you and vice versa, and again you will have to invest a lot of time in making a solid bond with your neighbours.

RELOCATION IS ALWAYS RISKY

Yes, relocation is exciting compared to getting home additions done, but it is also risky. The family owner has to plan finances and pay attention towards every smallest detail of the location process. There are also chances of getting scammed if the contract is not read carefully. Also, expenses related to packing and moving furniture and then unpacking and placing them are significant.

REASONS WHY HOME ADDITIONS SYDNEY IS A BETTER OPTION

THERE IS NO RESEARCH WORK INVOLVED

To get first floor additions done, a family owner will simply need the services of a construction contractor and leave the project on the team. They will assess the situation, research a bit and then deliver a home addition that makes your property more spacious, grander and more valuable.

HOME ADDITIONS ARE ECONOMICAL

As compared to relocation, getting home additions done will cut your research time and expenses in half. A building permit would be required, and your construction contractor will be responsible for arranging this permit. He will also hire an architect or an interior designer for design inspirations, and as a result, you will get a property that has more space to accommodate your family members and is better in terms of resale value.