Whether you recently bought a new home or have been living in the same place for over a decade, the idea of renovations always seems to lurk about. Irrespective of you opting to upscale your kitchen, add a new dimension to your living area or build an en-suite in your master bedroom, having the correct renovation plans in place is critical. Knowing about high returns, investments, approvals and more are part of the multiple mechanics to note. And because some of us tend to run into a crisis when it comes to claims or contracting, we have provided you with tactile expert advice.
Architectural design
Although your friend, neighbour or family member might be great at drawing or sketching, an architect is required when constructing your ideal final design. Unlike the party next door, they acquire the knowledge and experience needed to complete the necessary steps. Should you draw your own plan? Architect Qhama Dikane says architects are more experienced, as this is their profession and they are able to look at designs with a better eye than other people. ‘However, if the client can draw it would be a good start and the architect will be able to rework on it further. The client is entitled to briefing the architect and may provide feedback, if possible.’
What happens in the case when a client has purchased land or property that is bad for renovations?
Qhama says ,things like these mainly happen when being scammed. However, for soil conditions that prove to be problematic, it is advised that homeowners get into contact with an engineer. And should there be an issue with regards to the property or land zone, rezoning [changing the zone of the area] is required to take place.
When can clients request changes, and what might these changes during construction mean for the project?
Clients are able to request changes at any point. But, this means that they will have to do ‘as-built’ drawings [a set of drawings that are marked-up by the contractor building that show how the facility was actually built versus the way it was originally designed] after the construction has been completed.
Financial Advising
From home loans, budgets and insurance, money serves as the driving force. Many homeowners tend to get swayed in this department, which results in catastrophes.
To ensure that you are on the right track when it comes to financial plans on renovations, financial advisor Yolanda Haripersad says, ‘it is essential to evaluate the cost of the renovation versus its value, and decide if the renovation you want to do is a worthy investment of your time and money.’
She advises people, ‘consider where they are going to get the most back for your buck in terms of equity return with your renovation. In addition, it is always safe to budget for a little extra. To be safe, budget 20% extra on the estimated costs because prices can fluctuate depending on the type of materials used and the project timeline.’
Hidden costs of renovations
Yolanda says one of the major costs that we don’t consider as a layperson, especially if you’re not in the construction business, is the cost of keeping your property or your building up to code. ‘Every municipality has a different set of bylaws that the building owners have to follow in that area. So it’s important for the homeowner or contractor to work with the local authorities in your area to ensure that the planned renovation meets the local building standard.’
Independent contractor vs a professional contractor
As tempting as it may be in terms of cost efficiency, to choose an independent contractor we always need to prioritise a professional that is registered with the National Home Builders Regulation Council (NHBRC). This is a regulating body that aims to regulate the construction process of residential homes in South Africa and it aims at streamlining the various technologies in the various approaches to building homes.
Yolanda says one of the major benefits of selecting a contractor affiliated with the NHBRC is that they are required by law to register the project with NHRBC and with that you would have the benefit of having certain kind of warranties in terms of structural defects and whom the roof leakages that will be covered within a warranty. As nice as it would be to go for the cheaper option, I would urge consumers out there to purchase value and not just on price. There is a lot of value to be had, by having warranties in place even after the project is concluded.
How do contractors affect the outcome of the insurance claims?
A professional contractor that works on the project would have insurance cover, such as professional indemnity cover and in some cases, public liability cover. This would protect the consumer of professional errors made during the project. Unregulated contractors are not held to the same standard as there is no guarantee of their work standard, which increases risk. You might not get insurance cover if you choose to use contractors without credentials.
It’s also important to note that one of the major stumbling blocks to hinder a homeowner’s insurance claims are home maintenance. Therefore, if you are planning to renovate your home, looking after your home and ensuring you have the correct plan in place will assist you in a smooth outcome.
Tips
From the on-set of buildings, things like materials are not the only thing to look out for. Being aware of the perfect season falls, materials and contractors is synonymous to this. Though, the main cities in South Africa, we have summed up the perfect building blocks for you.
– File away all your receipts for any future bumps in the road that may come.
– Make note of the area and city you find yourself in. Not all summers and winters are the same. Thus, you might be able to benefit more by renovating in a dry winter than a wet summer..
– Commit to learning how to leverage your home equity to start building wealth for yourself and your family.
– Unapproved building plans affect home selling, and can lead to jail time.
