It’s no secret that we love a good renovation. We’re passionate about turning neighbourhood ugly ducklings into beautiful swans. But we’ll happily admit that not every house is ripe for renovation and that in fact, some are much more suited for detonation!

If you’re umming and ahing about whether to renovate your current house, or to knock it down and start from scratch, there are some key questions you need to ask yourself. We sat down with our mates at Rawson Homes, who specialise in ‘Knock Down Rebuilds’ (aka ‘KDRs’), to better understand this process. Here’s what we discovered:

1. The romance is dead

Just to be clear, we’re talking about your home, not your love life! How much do you love your home? Are there any endearing features that would it would pain you to get rid of? We’re talking high and/or decorative ceilings, period details, sash windows, wainscoting, hardwood floors, original fireplaces, a wraparound verandah, wrought iron or original sandstone? Perhaps some ‘quality’ features, like double brick. Or maybe it has sentimental value to you and your family? If you’re shaking your head and thinking ‘no way Jose’ to all of the above, the love is gone and it’s time to break up with that house! Looking at a “knock down” could be a good option for you. How does your house rate on our Romance Rater below?

2. You have an unhealthy home

Is your house ill? If it’s riddled with pain (termites), arthritis (mould) and a weak immune system (poor foundations and old services) – you might be better off putting it out of its misery and knocking it down rather than spending thousands on a renovation that can’t cure those underlying issues. Sure, some of these issues can be remedied, but that comes at a cost. And a very steep one for some conditions! The joy of a KDR is that you’ll get a brand spanking new home, with things like termite protection included.

3. You want to make better use of your block

Can you make better use of your block? For most of us, the answer is probably yes! Many older homes were built smack-bang in the middle of their blocks with the same sized yards at the front and the back. This just doesn’t suit modern living, where the rear of the home has become a mecca for family interaction and indoor/outdoor living. Ideally, many of us would like a pool, a deck, BBQ area and patch of grass for backyard cricket. Those things are more important than having a large and decorative front garden – who’s hosting a party out there? The benefit of a rebuild is the ability to start from scratch and make the block work for you.

4. You like to try before you buy

The look of your home (especially the facade) is pretty damn important. If you’ve created a Vision Board, which is our first step in any reno project, you’ll pretty much know exactly what you want your dream home to look like. But, the added benefit of a Knock Down Rebuild home is that you can actually see, touch and feel some of these beauties in the flesh before you buy, at a display centre or ‘village’. Even with the current ‘stay at home’ restrictions, you can take virtual tours of most homes.

5. YOU WANT IT DONE ON TIME BUT WITHOUT ALL THE STRESS

Having a known completion date is one of the best things about doing a KDR. Forty-two weeks is a pretty standard timeline for a knockdown rebuild of a standard family home in Sydney, but of course this will vary according to the size. A site manager will keep you informed throughout the whole process, answering any questions you may have along the way. If you were renovating, this is the stage when things could really heat up and your input and vigilance is needed more than ever. However, with a KDR, this is when you can really enjoy the benefit of having professionals take over from here. You can literally sit back and let the experts build your home knowing that you’ve done all your due diligence and planned to within an inch of your life. Well done, you! Your site manager will be responsible for ensuring the project is delivered ‘on time, in full’, and to all of the required building codes and standards.

6. The Big Bang Theory (IE - Where will I get biggest bang for my buck?)

Industry research shows that the cost-per-square-metre of a new build is cheaper than the cost-per-square-metre of a reno. This is because the materials and labour required to seamlessly join a new house to an old one can be more expensive. Reno costs can also be harder to predict, so there’s more room for nasty surprises.
That’s the theory anyway, but trust us when we say that this is not enough information for you to base your decision on. There are hidden costs with both options, and the only way you can properly evaluate the ROI on renovating vs. rebuilding is to roll up your sleeves and do some research work upfront. You’ll ideally need to get a complete cost estimate for both options. If this sounds like something you want to do, we hold your hand and show you how in our 6-week online Reno School. It’s the ultimate online course for anyone planning a renovation or a new build. We’ll teach you everything we know about how to estimate your costs and then how to design, reno/rebuild and style your dream home. We use our years of experience to fast-track your knowledge, build your confidence and get you ready to reno … or rebuild!