Renovation considerations: Things to keep in mind

The thought of taking on home renovations can be both exciting and daunting, and it can be hard to know where to start. Jawitz Properties takes you through the process of deciding which parts of your home to renovate to get the maximum return on your investment. From setting a budget and finding the right contractors to the planning process and things to remember while your renovations are underway, we've got your renovations covered.

Setting your priorities - and your budget

Over and above making your home a more pleasant place for you and your family to live, the purpose of renovating your home is to increase its value. In the eyes of a would-be buyer, kitchens and bathrooms top the list of areas that should be upgraded. An attractive entertainment area can also go a long way to increasing a home's value. From a budgetary point of view, renovators should remember that they don't need to do everything at once. If the kitchen and bathroom get renovated one year, the entertainment area can wait for another year or two.

Unfortunately, your dream home renovations may not see eye to eye with your budget. Having a set list of priorities will help you stay focused on what's important. Go into your budget planning with an understanding that your renovations may bring about some unforeseen expenses. Keep 10-20% of your budget aside for those surprise costs and added extras that you may need to pay for along the way.

Getting your plans in order and finding the right contractors

In South Africa, all renovations must be carried out in accordance with the National Building Regulations and Building Standards Act. Plans for any structural changes to a building need to be approved by City Council before renovations can start. This applies to buildings, garages, boundary walls, swimming pools, patios and the like. Not having approved plans will lead to significant hassles later on when it's time to sell the property. Once your construction work is complete, you'll need to get an occupancy certificate, which certifies that the building work has been carried out in line with the plans that you had approved.

Seeing a contractor's advert on Facebook should not be enough to convince you to hire them. Any contractor you consider hiring should be registered with the National Home Builders Registration Council. Over and above this, the best way to find a good contractor is to ask your network of friends, colleagues and family members to recommend contractors that they have used. Ask a prospective contractor for pictures of work that they have done and for contactable references who can verify the standard of their work.

Things to remember while your renovations are underway

If you're undertaking a major upgrade to a particular room, bear in mind that you'll need things to be done in the right order. For example, if your renovation plans include knocking down a wall to make two small bedrooms into one larger room and putting down new tiles, you'll want to have the wall removed before you do the tiling. This is one of the advantages of having one contractor take on the entire job. Bear in mind that you may need to move out of your house for a couple of days at some point during your renovations - especially if the bathroom is going to be out of commission.

While the work is happening, it can be useful to take photos of the progress, making sure that you're aware of exactly where pipes and electrical cables run. This will give you a clear idea of where you can and cannot drill in the future if you should wish to hang pictures, put up shelving or take on further alterations.

The Jawitz Properties team is always on hand to answer real-estate-related questions and to help you buy, sell or rent a property. Contact us for more information about renovations or to find your next home.