Who do i need to talk to builder / architect / designer?

6 years ago

We live in a very tired 1950's farmhouse in rural Sthn. NSW. It's got to the stage where we really need to have some changes made - Kitchen needs to be redone after a half hearted reno in 2002, only a single bathroom with a sunken shower that needs to go (I know. Who does that, right? - we got rid of the full-length mirror and fern garden that used to be in there already) It's a really cold house with very little insulation. It's ugly. It has a dodgey 60's sunroom extension that's falling down and unusable, and a sthn facing back deck that is rotting and needs to come down. We're almost empty nesters - an adult son who still lives with us when he's not traveling with his job.

Where do i start? Who do i talk to about whether the house is worth saving/renovating/building onto/on top of? Or advise us whether we should we just build something new?

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PRO

MB Design & Drafting

6 years ago

A good local designer be it architect, building designer or a great draftsman. Have a chat with them first. Good ones know building costs, etc. not just good design. Builders are good builders usually not great designers.

Discuss budget first. So very important because everything with building has a big $ beside it.

Good designers will actually save you money.

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Comments (6)

User
6 years ago
Perhaps speak to a local builder first- let them have a look and ask their honest opinion.

Are there any features or character elements that are worth keeping the house for ? Is the house brick, fibro or weatherboard ? Is there anything about the house you actually like ?

It would be great to post a plan and a photo or 2. You will get heaps of feedback.
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Andy Pat
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yes I agree with MB, start with approaching a designer, or an architect - somebody who knows how to 'tease out' what you need in a home. But get a good idea of your budget first, as it will likely be an early question. Depending upon your finances a new build maybe better if your building is past it's use by date :)
annb1997
6 years ago
Going by your comments, Angela, it sounds like you are ready for a new build, something that can be designed around your needs and your particular wants. I have a friend who renovated two of her homes, and she said for what they cost, she wishes they had knocked down and rebuilt. If you can't find any saving grace in your home, then maybe it's time to start fresh. All good advice from others, so best to consult with experts. Best wishes and keep posting.
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The key thing is really what do you want! Best to write down everything you want out of your home and work from there as the point of renovating is to improve what you have to what you want so the key thing is working that out. Good luck and wish you all the best
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Interiors by Daryl Wark
6 years ago
Sounds like this house may be a money pit and you are just making new of existing problems and not in the end getting a better result. If the house was in good order and you only needed to knock out say a wall or two to open up the space. Or also possibly replacing the kitchen and bathroom and finally giving the house a fresh coat of paint (inside and out). It may be work considering and speaking to a builder and bathroom/kitchen designer to get prices. But if the house needs much more than this it may be better to look at demolition, (see a builder about this) then rebuilding a prefab or kit home to suit your current and future needs. From my experience any old home that needs major maintenance work completed and also room reconfiguring is a much more expensive project to take on then building something new from scratch. If you do decide to go down the building road, then I suggest working with a good builder who has great communication skills and pick a knowledgeable interior designer that does more than pick paint and tile colours. You need a designer who has a rough idea, (based on past experience and similar projects in your area) of what things cost. Set them a reasonable budget and get them to pull together ideals and concept drawings so your builder can give you a pretty good ball park cost. You can alway pass then next stage onto a draftsman if its not to complicated and work with both the designer and builder to find the correct balance to meet you personal style and a budget.

Who do i need to talk to builder / architect / designer?

MB Design & Drafting

Comments (6)

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