Finding more information
Do your homework
The process of doing a home assessment and writing your wish list will bring up many questions. Fortunately, there are many places you can go to find information.
Your Home Technical Manual contains over 60 factsheets with tips on sustainable home design. Each page of this guide points you to relevant factsheets, case studies and other useful websites. Your Home is free online at www.yourhome.gov.au.
Magazines, building advisory services and home ideas centres can also provide inspiration.
Talk to friends who've renovated and learn from their experiences - what do they love about their renovation, and what would they change? Where did they find the most useful information? What traps did they fall into?
Your local council or state government departments and agencies can also provide handy information on renovating, and are often the place to start.
Play by the rules
Your renovation will need to comply with a range of building regulations. It's important to find out about regulations early on, so you can factor them into your planning. This contributes to a smoother approval and construction process.
'Without our designer, we wouldn't have had half of these great ideas!'
Your local council will be able to inform you about government building regulations and approval processes. If your home is subject to estate covenants or body corporate requirements, now is the time to check those too.
If you plan to engage a designer, they can help you find out about regulations.
Although it depends on the scope of your renovation, you're very likely to have to comply with energy and water saving regulations. These have been introduced as a response to environmental problems that affect us all, such as drought and climate change.
Older homes with heritage value may also be subject to heritage regulations. Remember, these regulations are just minimum requirements. You can always do better.
Bring in the experts
It pays to engage a qualified designer or architect, especially if your renovation will be complex or challenging in any way. Clever thinking at the design stage pays huge dividends later on. Your design professional may be able to manage the whole renovation process for you, potentially saving you a lot of headaches! Some companies offer design, project management and construction services all in one.
Once you have a shortlist of designers, ask to see their previous work or even talk to previous clients.
Make sure they understand your priorities - fill out the briefing template in this guide and talk it through with your designer.
