I’m sure you’re feeling excited and ready to dive in. But before you get too ahead of yourself, I’ll be honest – renovating can be a very stressful process and it’s not always as straightforward as it seems.
I’ve seen it all too often: cost overruns, delays, and frustrated homeowners and builders. Sometimes, these situations are simply unavoidable and no one’s fault. I’ve had cabinetry ready to be installed on the scheduled date, only to find that due to problems on site, we had to store it for several months until the issues were resolved.
Here’s some advice I share with my clients, along with a few pitfalls to watch out for:
Where possible, get a fixed-price contract for the building work, and if you can, have the firm organise all the necessary sub-trades, like plumbers, painters, electricians, and tilers.
Pros:
- You’ll know the total cost upfront.
- The firm will coordinate all the sub-trades.
- In my experience, this approach speeds up the job.
- Payments are made as progress payments throughout the job.
- The contract covers both materials and labour.
Cons:
- It can seem quite pricey, but remember, they are also covering the costs of the sub-trades.
- The fixed price won’t account for unforeseen issues. You never really know what’s lurking behind a wall until it’s pulled apart, which can lead to extra costs and delays. However, a good builder will communicate clearly with you, provide quotes for any extra work, and aim to resolve problems within an agreed timeframe.
Charge-up – Hourly rate.
I’m not personally keen on hourly rates or charge-ups. In my experience, they can get very expensive, and the majority of the jobs I’ve been involved with that use this approach has been slow to progress. If you have a very small job, this could be an option for you.
Additional Advice.
- Remember, no one can predict what’s lurking behind the walls or, in some cases, the floors. You may face added time and expense if the structure behind your walls needs repair.
- Be realistic about where the bulk of your budget should be spent. It’s all well and good wanting designer furniture, but if the budget doesn’t stretch that far, don’t be tempted to cut corners with the bathroom, kitchen, or building work just to afford that stunning dining suite. At the end of the day, these are the areas that will truly add value to your home. The extras can come later.
- If it’s a major renovation, try to avoid living on-site. You never fully escape from the project, and it can be very dangerous, especially if you have children. I understand that sometimes the budget doesn’t allow for rent, but perhaps a good friend or relative could lend a hand.
- Allow around 10% over your budget for overruns. It’s rare not to have an overrun!
- Know who the manager is on the project. There’s nothing worse than speaking to 20 different people trying to establish when something will be installed. Know who the manager is for each part of the project and only deal with them.
- The same goes for your end. Have one manager that all the trades can deal with and ensure that person communicates with the others living in the home. Work out the budget together and go through the design process together, but when it comes to installs and building, it’s better for everyone involved to deal with one decision maker.
- Trust each professional working on the project. Don’t ask the plumber what colour the wall should be, just as you wouldn’t ask an interior designer how to plumb a toilet. If you ask 10 different people, you can expect 10 different answers and then you’ll be completely confused.
- Have a list with all the names and phone numbers of everyone working on the project, like your designer, plumber, and builder, etc. Provide a copy of this list to everyone involved.
- It’s a good idea to have a project meeting with the trades involved to nail down a timeline and for everyone to meet each other.
- Make sure you have Builders’ Risk Insurance or check your existing policy to see if it will cover the type of renovation you’re undertaking.
- Have meals prepared and frozen. Have a list of your local restaurants on hand or break out the BBQ. If you’re replacing your kitchen, you could be without one for a few weeks.
- Time-out – make sure you have a nice spot to relax and forget about what’s going on.

This is just the tip of the iceberg, and there’s certainly a lot more you need to know when you’re renovating. However, try to enjoy the process; it’s worth it in the end.
The opinions in this blog are solely those of Mal Corboy Design and in no way reflect how all companies operate.