This is a dilemma many home-owners struggle with.
You love the location, the neighbours, the atmosphere of the street. But the house itself no longer works. Maybe it’s too small, poorly laid out, cold, or simply not designed for how you live now. So, what’s the answer: renovate, rebuild, or attempt a combination of the two? Thorne Group (Bespoke Architectural Builders) share some advice.
Renovating is often driven by emotion. Memories matter and the desire to hold onto the past can be strong.
However, emotion needs balancing with reality and practical considerations, like the current condition and structural integrity of the building and how well the current layout works for your lifestyle.
Financial feasibility is also important. Your vision for your completed home needs to align with your budget. And understanding the value of the site (land) and likely end property value will help avoid over-capitalising and ensure a return on your investment.
Is renovating cheaper than rebuilding?
Logic would suggest that renovating should be more cost effective than building new, and it often is. However, renovating carries risks. Once walls are opened up, hidden issues can emerge … outdated wiring and plumbing, weather tightness issues, structural integrity and inadequate foundations. These unknowns are difficult to price accurately upfront and costs can quickly escalate.
Generally, new builds offer more cost certainty. We’ve often seen people opt to renovate only to discover, in hindsight, that building new would have been the more cost-effective approach.
How long does it take?
Whether renovating or rebuilding, the planning phase is often underestimated. Design, geotechnical investigations, drawings, engineering and consenting can take up to a year before work onsite even commences.
Construction timeframes can often be similar. More extensive renovations often take as long as a new build and can be slower, as builders work around existing structures rather than starting with a clean slate.
Where can I go for advice?
The Thorne Group team has 80+years of collective building and development experience between them and over the past 20 years have seen what works, what doesn’t and where budgets can blow out.
A no-obligation consultation with Aaron or Gavin can rapidly identify land and building parameters and clarify the most cost-effective and desirable path to the home you want. “We look at every aspect of what you are wanting to achieve and, if a reno, we see if the bones and layout of the existing structure make it feasible to upgrade and/or extend without compromise,” says Aaron.
Five areas where Thorne Group can smooth your building pathway are:
- FREE site assessment highlighting planning or compliance requirements/regulations and giving clear advice on how terrain, natural hazards and zoning could impact your build.
- Budget guidance (once the site is reviewed). Thorne Group can help shape your design brief and guide you in setting a realistic budget for your project.
- Architectural design. Thorne Group works closely with a select group of leading architects and architectural designers and can assist you in selecting the professional who can best express your brief.
- Thorne Group’s service offering incorporates design through to your finished home.
- If subdivision is the answer to unlocking your site’s full value, Thorne Group’s team have the expertise to advise on feasibility and likely cost and help navigate the resource consent process through to a freehold title.
Can you keep the memories without keeping the house?
On a coastal Bay of Plenty site, an aging bach and boatshed sat on land rich with family history. The instinct was to preserve everything. The reality was more complex.
The result is a fusion of old with new. The boatshed was incorporated into a new contemporary home, while the original bach was relocated and repurposed elsewhere. It’s a reminder that every situation is unique and the solution needs to be tailored to suit.
See Thorne Group’s 10-point ‘rebuild or renovate’ checklist on their website: www.thornegroup.co.nz/renovate
Thorne Group
Unit 1, 41 Newton Street, Mount Maunganui
Learn more about Thorne Group here