To Renovate or Demolish (or even Remove!)…that is the Question!
The property we purchased came with an existing weatherboard house. We had considered renovating the house but decided too many things would need changing and, even then, it still wouldn’t necessarily turn out exactly as we wanted. The floor plan wasn’t oriented as we would prefer - we wanted the living areas facing north with access to the backyard - the room sizes weren’t as we’d like and the angle and positioning of the house on the block was slightly awkward and off centre.
So we decided to remove the existing house and start again with a blank slate, building a custom-designed home with no constraints or hidden surprises.
Demolition can be a costly process and the house itself wasn’t in bad shape, so we researched alternatives and found a house relocation company that we ultimately engaged for the job. While this company does often buy its stock (houses) from developers, we were happy to have them take the house at no charge - all they had to do was arrange the permit, the ‘buyer’ and cover the relocation fees, and we would be satisfied saving ourselves the cost of demolition and knowing that the house would find a new use.
Fortuitously, the timing of our project commencing aligned with the aftermath of the Black Saturday bushfires. We were pleased and humbled to learn that the existing house was being relocated to Kinglake to provide a home for someone who had lost their own house in the recent bushfires. So on a mid-week morning in March 2009, the crews arrived to disconnect the services, cut the house in half, and load it onto two huge trucks to make the journey to begin its new life.
So how do I know if I should renovate or demolish?
It is often a misconception that building from new is more expensive than renovating and extending but, depending on the size of the renovation and the existing condition of the house, costs can escalate due to the unknown. If your existing house is in a bad way structurally, demolishing and building a new house will likely be a lot cheaper and easier than renovating it. In many cases, repairing major structural damage, sourcing the right kinds of materials or bringing an old house up to current regulations in terms of energy efficiency, has the potential to be very expensive, complicated and labour intensive. You will also need to be prepared for the possibility that you may uncover more problems as you go.
If you love the bones of your existing house and are certain that most of the work needed to turn it into your dream home is cosmetic, then a renovation could be the best way forward and is also a great way to cut down your environmental footprint!
Another factor to consider is if building regulations have changed on the property since the original house was built. A house we are currently renovating could not be built in its current position nowadays as it is deemed too close to a creek that runs through the property. So, in this instance, retaining the original footprint of the existing house and embarking on a major renovation is the only way forward - a complete knock-down and rebuild may have been more cost-effective but would not have passed through town planning under current regulations.
If you are considering whether to renovate your existing home or demolish it and start again, do not hesitate to contact us for advice. With many years experience in both renovations/extensions and building new homes, we can help you work out which direction is best for you.
Jenny