3  Give your trades men a detailed “plan of the works”, so they can be coordinated.

4  Pay them sincere compliments on good work. Yet don’t trash them on difficult work.

5  A cash bonus and/or travelling petrol money is handy, too.

6  A tradesman is always looking to work with a longer term relationship, that secures continuing work.

7  Some say, one should work largely as the Project Manager. Let the skilled tradesperson show their skills. But, I prefer to work with the tradesmen, as one can complete areas when the tradies don’t turn up.
8  A team approach works best. This is largely dependent on selecting the key team leader. Many Tradies work as a group, supporting each other in ongoing work contracts.
9  A cash incentive bonus, for the tradies in order to find new projects, can work well. As all short term contractors will appreciate a secure, future work contract stream.

1  The addition of excellent heating and lighting, such as, low cost ceiling heater extractor fan lights. Some down lights will give a warm glow to the room.  A heated floor or pipe hot water heaters are luxury features.
2  The installation of larger windows or a skylight as are also low cost measures.
3  Large tiles from the floor to the ceiling and covering the ceiling, add a luxury impression, bit like a hotel !

4  New taps and water roses are an easy addition.
5  An open plan Bathroom with a wall of glass can create an expansive impression. One way to incorporate the toilet and keep privacy is to enclose it in a frosted glass area.

6  Heated towel rails, will reduce moisture build up. I prefer a separate Linen Press outside the Bathroom, in order to, keep the linen fresh.

7  Large mirrors will enhance the sense of space. While a shower over the bath is not ideal, for small Bathrooms; a shower over a mini Bath, can be so handy for children.

8  The advent of high gloss mould resistant enamel paint, will make a Bathroom shine.

9  The availability of  low cost prefabricated Bathrooms, means a bathroom can be built in small spaces. A popular theme is to remove a large built in wardrobe and replace it with an ensuite Bathroom.

10 One should be careful not to overspend on the Bathroom, about one percent of the home value is sufficient. One way to control costs is to hire Tradies like tilers and plumbers directly. A keen home renovator may like to apply the painting yourself. Plumbing fittings may be sourced via Masters, Bunnings or auction websites.

While, there is truth in these fears, to face ones fears is to defeat them.
1 Cut costs through careful forward planning and working with an experienced team, I reckon you can only succeed. It is a mistake to think you need to know everything and do everything on the project: employ an experienced team of qualified tradespeople. A detailed written plan is the only one that can be shared and implemented.

2  Firstly, one would draw up your budget. I only expect to spend less than ten percent of the final total value of a home, on the project. When you spend, more than ten percent, you are requiring a major rise in the valuation, as in a structural renovation project.

3  I suggest, one calculate the daily financing costs of the renovation. As it may suprise you, that the daily financing costs as so high. A fast renovation is a one way to dramatically cut your costs.

4  Negotiate to allow early access, through your Lawyers, via a ” Right to early access”. This way you can have the tradies quote on their parts of the renovation, prior to work starting. The vendors should agree as you are adding major value to the home. Landscaping and gardening are ideal areas to work on during the settlement time.

5  Order all the materials required, so they are available from the first instant the project starts. You might be suprised that building materials are sometimes not available for immediate delivery: be sure, this includes white goods, furniture, curtains, plumbing and kitchens. Consider some materials may be imported, or waiting in warehouses or trucking depots, as the world of business has moved to a just in time delivery system.

6  I like to organise the tradespeople to all work, in a coincident manner. Tradies often hate to work together, but if you carefully explain the advantages through daily cash bonuses and having a Project manager. I require that these conflicts can be resolved. If you work as the Project coordinator, this will be the most valuable work. I suggest you dont take on the Trades work yourself, as the learning phase is too long, it would only cost you more.

7  I advise against allowing the Real Estate agents or any possible buyers, view the renovation project home before everything is completely finished, as they cannot possibly comprehend the completed project.

10  Rather than moving house, as your family changes, a home renovation is likely to be far more cost efficient.

11  Big box Hardware stores like Home Depot, B&G, Lowes, Bunnings and Masters will provide low cost materials, renovation advice, including access to recommended contractors.
12  One of my favourite ideas is to renovate during the holidays. This means arrange a contractor, book the holidays, go on holiday, return to find the home renewed, renovated and revitalised. Then revalue to fund your dreams!

The suburbs of Mornington, Dromana, Safety Beach become practical living suburbs for commuting workers. Some people may chose to live even further down the peninsula at Rye and Rosebud. There has only ever been one factor holding people back for living on the coast of the bay, employment. The new freeway resolves this with fast transport access to the city and eastern suburbs.

One way to research these new developments, is to study the latest road maps, as these usually pencil in the future traffic improvements like freeways, new tramlines and railway stations. Another method is to study the local council plans, as new developments are planned many years in advance.

2  Renovate with using Bathroom and Kitchen companies by employing contractors. Given, Bathrooms and Kitchens are a major portion of the renovation expenses. The professional contractors will do a great job and supply white-goods, fixtures and fittings at wholesale prices. The current slower economy has encouraged these contractors to offer long dated, low interest terms.

3  When buying a suitable renovation project home, you encourage some family or business pals as an extended partnership structure to share the capital outlay. You will need a clear specific partnership agreement drawn up by your lawyer.

4  One could encourage business partners as “silent “partners, where they contribute capital, but don’t become involved in the key decision process of the renovation. There are such investors, people who may be semi-retired or high income business people, who are time poor.

5  Renovate during the settlement time. Given you are certainly, adding enormous value, you might be surprised that a vendor would be happy to agree to such terms. An extended settlement would be a preferred item here. You might need to detail the renovation process and provide contracts and some proof of prior, successful projects. At the very least all the outside renovation of gardens, landscaping, roof repairs, gutters and external painting. This shall cut your holding costs, remember in the renovation field, time is money.

6  Renovate your “family home”.

While a professional quote would be around $2,500.

2  Build an entertainment deck. This is one of the most popular additions to the home, as it adds important entertainment area. Digging in and concreting posts, adding joists, laying decking, adding balustrades, applying stain, sanding, oil and paint.

This will cost a DIY around $2,000 and take six days, allowing a good time for the concrete to set.

While, a professional might will cost close to $4,000.
Some most popular low cost renovations, a skylight to introduce light, subdividing a large living area, by turning a corner into an extra bedroom, removing hallways or excess entrance areas, removing windows and introducing a stacker door window, adding energy and water saving features that will pay for themselves. A few new doors, mirrors and feature decor items, are all low cost areas for improvement.

Given, one can buy a solar system for cheaper than the cost of electricity, this has accelerated the provisioning of solar systems for your home. The payoff  from a solar system is close to three to four years, an excellent return. My own system will take three years to pay for itself, as I have a large 3.5Kw system. I benefit from feeding back,  excess daytime power. My return is currently $1,600 a year, plus the $2,500 power bill, I don’t need to pay!

The smaller 1.5Kwh systems are far more popular, with a large inverter, and thus scope for doubling the system if required. As an Easy Home Renovating improvement, the rate of return on my Solar Power system is 25%, a great rate of return.
Projections, are for the cost of electricity to continue to rise at 20% compounding for several years. An average family home, power bill has rocketed from $1,000 to $2,500 a year over the last three years. At this rate the average home electricity bills will be $10,000, by 2020.

The requirement for Electricity infrastructure rebuilding, compounded by the introduction of a carbon tax, will put pressure for rising power bills, well past 2020, according to John Grimes, Chief Executive of the Australian Solar Energy Society.

2 Remove an internal, non- load bearing wall. Allowing for plastering, adding trim, cornices, sanding and painting. Check by climbing in the roof that its a non- load bearing wall.

Costs include materials $600, Labour at four days work, $800. Total $1,400, compares to professional quote $3,000.

3 Install a tubular Skylight, involves cutting through ceiling plaster, hiring a safety harness and removing tiles.

Costs for materials $220, for three hours work labour at $80. A DIY total of $300. A professional quote at $550.

4  Render the front facade of a home. This entails mixing and applying mortar over the bricks, smoothing and painting afterwards. Modern paints can have a render type finish from one coat. Thus removing one of the processes.

Costs include materials $200, labour $1,000. A total of $1,200. Compares to a professional at $1,800.

My conclusion, for readers is if you are keen, all these projects are fun jobs.  But if you value your time more highly or dont enjoy the work, in order to, achieve a professional finish one can employ contractors. My view is, I would work with contactors on the first few projects, thereby gaining a free short term apprenticeship, then Do It Yourself, DIY.

Masters, which is largely a Lowes,” look a like” clone, has plans to build 150 stores, at least, over the next five years. The new Masters stores will cost close to $2.7Bn, a vote in favour of home renovating. I think they will prove popular and have a great impact, as the Bunnings store sales where they are closely competing, have had store sales falls of close to 30%.

Masters, claims it has superior customer service, better quality products and a more comfortable shopping experience. Masters provides great value white goods, a home decor department, great service, credit, wholesale discounts, a McCafe, great value in Kitchens, Plumbing and many Kitchen displays.