5 Things to Do Before Renovating Your Home

So you've decided that your kitchen is looking a bit old fashioned? Closed in? Tired and drab? Or perhaps your bathrooms could use some new fittings. Are you toying with the idea of adding an extra room to your existing home, or an outbuilding, additional garage - or maybe everything in one foul swoop! Why not, right? Whichever it is, there are certain things you should be aware of when embarking on any renovation project. To help you out, here's some info to assist you with the decision making process.

1. Gather Ideas

The most amazing thing about the world we live in today is our incredible access to information and ideas - a virtual smorgasbord of creativity is only a click away! Just one look at home renovation ideas on Pinterest sets your mind ablaze with ideas and opportunities that you had probably never imagined. If there was ever a time to get carried away, that time would be now. Don't hold back - fill your mood board with all of your dreams before you've committed time and money to what will prove to be on of the most exciting projects you are likely to embark on.

2. Value Before Budget

Don't set a budget. At least, don't set one yet. Yes, you read that right! It might seem counter-intuitive, but at this stage it can only hamper opportunity. The most important questions to ask yourself are "WHY do I want to renovate?" and "What value do I want to add to my home?". Sure, you may want to renovate, sell and make a profit, but remember this: value is not just monetary. Often real value has to do with improving your living standard; gaining enjoyment and fulfilment from your investment; adding more space for a growing family; creating a swanky entertainment area to impress your guests... the list is endless. Write your motivation down- the value you want to add will guide your brief.

3. Set a Brief & a Budget

Right, now that you've established your motivation you can start thinking about your brief and budget. Deciding on these early on in the process can be a bit of a tricky task. In most cases, especially if you want to do extensions, you should enlist the help of an architect early in the process to help you clarify your brief, outline any restraints or opportunities that you might not know about, and give you piece of mind. Having a good idea before you speak to someone is a great way to start (see previous point). Similarly, knowing your financial limitations and being upfront about them will obviously be helpful - champagne tastes on a shoe string budget style is a real thing! I've put together a simple, brief creation guide that you can download here to help you develop a helpful working brief. You can also read this great article about building costs in South Africa to start buttoning down your budget.

4. Ask for Advice

Once you have a clearer concept in mind feel free to chat to friends and family who have done renovating themselves. The wonderful thing about the human race is our historical repository of knowledge that can be built upon. Simply put, their is no need to re-invent the wheel. Learn from other people's successes and mistakes, but also be prepared to make your own - it happens, there's no shame in that!

5. Hire an Architect

In South Africa it is legislated that any extensions or alterations to the structure of your home, be it the addition of a second storey or simply enclosing your balcony, have to be drafted by a registered architectural professional and submitted to your local municipality for approval. This is standard practice in most places in the world. However, getting the right architectural professional for the job is vital. This brings us back to the idea of "adding value". A fully qualified, professional Architect who cares about your project will unpack your ideas and requirements, highlight opportunities for additional value and show you ideas and possibilities that you might not have thought of yourself.

MRA Architecture Studio would love the opportunity to be that Architectural Professional for you, working alongside you to ensure that your dreams become a reality. Let's chat!