There is much to consider when planning a renovation project including sorting out the cash, booking your trades, ordering supplies, organising your living arrangements, the list goes on. Here’s a guideline to the order in which your renovation project should come together when those plans are approved:

  • 12 months before

    Compile a mood-board or an idea’s board to help collate your thoughts. This will help bring clarity to your design and requirements and make it easier when speaking to the professionals.

  • 6-12 months before

    Start looking around at what you like, visit showrooms and trade outlets and begin collecting prices of what you like and a firm list of what you don’t.

  • 6 months before

    Get in touch with a building design and drafting specialist such as The Outside Perspective to begin putting your ideas on paper. Professionally drawn plans facilitate easy and accurate quoting, not to mention some components of your build may require correct permits and approvals which can take time to obtain.

  • 5 months before

    Meet with your bank manager and set your budget. Finance can take time depending on your personal position. Some banks may need to conduct an independent valuation and want to see your plans before releasing funds.

  • 4 months before

    Contact builders or specific tradespeople for your project and begin obtaining quotes. Some professionals can be booked out up to 6-months in advance, so the more time you can allow before your goal finish date the better. The Outside Perspective recommend a minimum of 4-months.

  • 3 months before

    Confirm your planning permission has been approved or has been lodged.

  • 2 months before

    Finalise your start and completion dates with your builder or tradespeople and lock in your preferred fixtures and fittings choices. Tiles, tapware and cabinetry may need to be manufactured to order or shipped from overseas, allowing plenty of lead-time with prevent hold-ups once the job has commenced.

  • 1 month before

    Check your contract and ensure all expected works will be completed. If there is anything missing, such as painting, either flag it with your builder or lock in those extra trades yourself liaising with your tradespeople to determine when the project will be ready.

  • 2 weeks before

    Get in contact with your builder and cover any incidentals before the job commences. Re-confirm the start date and what to expect around the timeline. If possible, get a written timeline to help with planning throughout the project.

  • During

    Keep in contact with the team at The Outside Perspective and your builder to ensure all appropriate inspections take place by your private certifier. These may include the footings, frame, roof or other specific engineering. Take photos of the build as it progresses, for reference later on. It is always great to refer back to quality images to work out things like where a wire or plumbing tracks.

    Take photos of the build as it progresses, for reference later on. It is always great to refer back to quality images to work out things like where a wire or plumbing tracks.

    Regularly liaise with your builder about timelines and expected finish dates.