Everyone who is renovating, extending or building a new home should have the best experience possible looking after their projects, but unfortunately the reality is that not all builders and tradespeople are created equal. Since it takes a good builder to recognise one, our team of tradespeople in Brisbane have put together a checklist of questions to ask and things to look for so you can avoid the building blues on your next project.

A Professional Approach

Despite popular opinion from some people, tradespeople including builders should always maintain professionalism on the job. Dealings should be business-like and professional, despite the informal setting. Professionalism means always sticking to appointments, returning calls and keeping promises. These are all hallmarks of a building team who have a professional approach to support their on the job trade skills.

Good Communication Skills

A building process is always going to go smoothly if the building team have good communication skills and understand the importance of keeping their clients in the picture. This means that you’ll be able to understand the process and you’ll know what to expect which help bring a mutual understanding between all parties.

Membership of Professional Association

A reputable building company should always be a member of industry associations like Master Builders Australia or HIA. To retain these memberships companies must also comply with strict regulations, so if the builder you choose does not have any evidence of membership, this can raise a red flag in terms of their skills and workmanship.

References from previous work

Good builders should always be able to provide references to similar jobs and have people who are willing to attest to their skills and quality workmanship. Additionally a good builder should be able to provide some examples of previous work so you can see it for yourself. Ideally a good builder will also have experience working on different types of projects, but have a style which they specialise in.

Efficiency and Deadline Driven

While sometimes delays are inevitable due to supply hold-ups or bad weather, a good building team will be managed well by a foreman and have a deadline-driven approach. A good builder will always strive to adhere to timeframes and understand the need for efficiency.

Here at Find a Builder we don’t want your dreams to be delayed, we’ll always be up-front and honest, we maintain professional standards and we’re members of all the industry associations that you would expect from a quality builder. Plus we’ve worked on all types of projects across the Brisbane area. To find out more don’t hesitate to get in touch with us to find out more and say goodbye to building blues on your next project. For quality tradespeople for your next project, Find-a-Builder is the only name you need to know.

Should you extend your home add more space as your family and needs change, or do you sell your home and upgrade to something larger? This is a question homeowners ask themselves regularly, and at the end of the day, only the homeowner can answer this because there are often more factors than just extra space to consider. Sometimes there are a number of reasons why you’d like to move into a new home, but other times adding more space if you like the area can be not only a cheaper but a more practical option. Find-A-Builder supply the team of ‘go-to’ builders in Brisbane for building extensions and new homes, and it today’s article we give some questions to ask yourself to decide whether an extension is the best option for you.

What will cost more?

It pays to do your research with this one and not go on gut instincts. Depending on the area you are looking to move into, upgrading a larger home may be cheaper than extending your existing home. Get a reasonable quote for an extension from a reputable company –can we suggest Find-A-Builder?  Compare this to the cost of buying a new home in a desired area that is larger. Don’t forget to include other incidental costs that relocating can incur such as greater commuting distance plus moving costs.

How much more space do you need?

If you are looking for a couple of extra bedrooms, a larger kitchen and a bigger living room trying to extend all these areas will not only start getting costly but also time consuming and could tip the scales back in favour of buying a larger home. However if you are after only a modest increase in space, an extension is often the more viable and affordable option.

Will an extension add value to my home?

Yes, but only if it is an extension that is well planned and makes the best use of existing land. This is why you need to go with a trusted builder who a familiar with residential extensions and use the skills of an architect or building designer who can advise on extensions that will add resale value to your property

But I already like the area that I am living in…

If you already like your neighbourhood, it doesn’t make a lot of sense to move to another area simply to buy bigger. Think about redesigning the way you are living, making some compromises and possibly extension either living space or bedroom space makes good sense.

Are there any other options to consider?

If you are on a budget and still want extra living space to take advantage of, decks and outdoor entertaining areas are a rewarding and are a fraction of the cost compared to a full-blown bricks and mortar extension. Find-A-Builder also can create innovative patios and timber decking that flows with the rest of your property and adds a considerable amount of living space.

When it comes to building and extending your home, go with the builders who want the best for you and your home. Find-A-Builder can give you honest and helpful advice and offer transparency on all of our costing. Call us today to find out what we can offer you when it comes to extensions or renovations in your Brisbane home.

Refurbish tired tiles and worn flooring

That floral patterned linoleum floor looked great back in the 70s, but has since faded and the orange and brown colour palette now screams ‘headache’ like never before. Overhauling the flooring with hard wearing materials which are properly sealed is a must in a kitchen area, due to spillages and high foot traffic. Popular flooring surfaces for the kitchen include ceramic or stone tiles, natural stone and wood.  Tiled splashback areas above sinks and stoves also benefit from a refresh since after years of contact with, water, steam, heat and oil can begin to discolour and wear.

Restore benches, countertops, cupboards and cabinets

Major and minor kitchen renovations usually always involve some form of improvement to the kitchens surfaces or inbuilt fixtures. Sometimes a complete overhaul is needed with new and additional fittings to give more storage space. Other times the countertops might simply benefit from a new finish, coating or covering. Existing cupboards fixtures can also receive a new lease of life by replacing doors and handle fittings to bring a new look and feel. Important considerations to make include the storage and bench space you are likely to need. If you are currently limited space-wise looking at reformatting your kitchen or adding higher or deeper cupboards is often worthwhile. Other popular renovations include raising a section of the countertop to make a bar-like area complete with bar stools.

Renew taps, sinks and plumbing

Always wanted a double sink, space for a dishwasher, or even a garbage disposal unit?  The renovation stage is a perfect opportunity to look at the plumbing fittings and consider changing to a more water efficient and aesthetic units. Find-a-builder has access to some of the best plumbers in the Brisbane area that can install and connect all plumbing fixtures into your newly revitalised kitchen.

Whether it’s a complete overhaul to the design and layout of your existing kitchen, or just some new equipment and fittings to bring it into the modern era, our team of tradesmen here at Find-a-Builder are able to breathe life back into dated and tired areas of the home – kitchens included. For more information about what is possible when it comes to household renovations, give us a call -1300 166 101.

What is Open Plan Living?

For those that are relatively new to the topic, Open Plan Living is the deliberate merging of two or more ‘areas’ in a home which are traditionally kept separate.  Great examples of these are a kitchen and a dining room being merged, or a kitchen, dining room and family room being merged.

Pros

One of the many reasons people choose to build an open plan environment for their home is that it gives a modern and somewhat minimalist feel a house of any age.  The design also literally breaks down the physical barriers in the house that quite often keeps families apart.  For example, a parent is now able to do their cooking in the kitchen while watching and interacting with their child playing in the living room.

Cons

The amazing integration of household areas that an open plan design provides is unfortunately a two edged sword.  While it is great to interact between rooms, there is no physical barrier to stop the unwanted noise such as clanging of pots and the blaring noise of a TV carrying through to the next room.

In today’s blog post, we have discussed many of the advantages and disadvantages of creating an open plan environment for your Brisbane home.  If you would like to continue to the next stage of your planning research and planning process, please don’t hesitate to contact our team at Find a Builder so that we may help you choose the perfect house builders for your job.