7 tips for first time home renovators
January 30th, 2012
A recent study for Winning Appliances has revealed just over half (51%) of Australian homeowners are planning to renovate within the next four years.
Around one-quarter (28%), or 1.1 million households, plan to renovate within 12 months.
Among those planning to renovate:
One third (37%) will renovate their bathroom,
One quarter (28%) will renovate their kitchen,
One quarter (25%) will renovate their living areas,
18% will renovate the laundry.
John Winning, CEO of Appliances Online and Winning Appliances, said: “This research indicates Australians are still willing to invest in their homes and renovate, potentially to upgrade a kitchen or bathroom rather than selling the house and buying a new home.”
“It’s the perfect time to renovate – as consumers have access to more technologically advanced products than ever seen before, at the right price,” Mr Winning said. “A well-executed renovation can earn an excellent return on investment. Creating an environment that is modern, stylish and highly functional can also improve time efficiency and wellbeing.
“One of the biggest renovating trends over the past year has been to create the kitchen as the centre of the home – and the oven is often the first design element in any renovation process.”
The research found Queenslanders and South Australians were the most likely to renovate in the next 12 months 34% and 35% respectively, followed by those living in New South Wales (27%), Victoria (26%) and Western Australia (22%).
“Global economic uncertainty has not stopped innovation, and 2012 is set to reveal more innovations in cooking and laundry appliance technology, with induction cooktops, pyrolytic and steam ovens, and more energy efficient clothes dryers available for renovators,” Mr Winning said.
“We have found the past few years of economic uncertainty has changed how people shop for whitegoods and appliances – to the benefit of the consumer. Australians increasingly shop around for the best deal – using online sites such as Appliances Online to research products and prices. Consumers also expect unbiased advice and the best possible customer service – which is the secret behind both our offline and online retail outlets,” he said.
Winning Appliances has been built on a century-old foundation of customer service, offering old fashioned values in a modern environment. “Our sales team do not work on commission or manufacturer incentives so you can be assured our advice is genuine and impartial. We also stock exclusive brands and know how to cater to the needs of renovators, architects, and developers,” Mr Winning said.
The Galaxy Research survey for Winning Appliances was conducted via an online research panel of 1091 Australians aged 18 to 64 years.
The study also found that among homeowners, one in four (25%) say that they have never renovated. Conversely more than half (58%) have renovated within the past four years with almost one in three (32%) saying they have renovated in the last 12 months (40% of Queenslanders and 43% of South Australians say this).
Mr Winning said: “Our ultimate objective is to help our customers find the most suitable product to meet their specific requirements based on individual taste and budget. This is especially important for first-time renovators who are often on a steep learning curve and in need of assistance.”
Winning Appliances’ 7 top tips for renovators:
1. Have a plan and stick to it.
The most successful renovations are those that have a clear vision from the start. Without a decent plan, renovations tend to become lengthy and expensive.
2. Leave the tricky stuff to the professionals.
If you feel confident doing something yourself by all means go ahead, but for the more difficult tasks it would be prudent to pay a professional tradesperson to get it done right the first time.
3. Don’t cut corners.
While it’s always wise to shop around to get the best price on materials, it’s not a good idea to compromise on quality.
4. Use the right tools.
If money is an issue and you don’t want to fork out huge amounts for a tool you’ll only use once, you might be able to hire it for a fraction of the price.
5. Research your appliances.
Remember to include appliances in your budget. New technology such as induction cooking and steam ovens might also be suited to your needs. Visit a Winning Appliance showroom or www.appliancesonline.com.au and ask the professionals how they can help you create your dream home.
6. Get as many quotes for tradespeople as possible.
In situations when you need to get a professional in, make sure you understand what’s involved in the quote so you can make an informed decision.
7. Take the time to get it right.
It can be tempting to take shortcuts in an effort to save time and money, but shortcuts often involve risks that can cause problems in the long run.
Other research findings:
Just over half (56%) of Australians report owning their home, including 21% who say that they own their home mortgage free (46% of Baby Boomers say this), and one in three (35%) say that they rent.
One quarter (25%) will renovate the living areas, 31% will renovate other areas and 12% will renovate their entire home.
In addition to the 51% of homeowners who will renovate within the next four years, a further 7% are planning to renovate in the next five to nine years and 4% are planning to renovate in the next ten years or more, and one quarter (26%) are not planning to renovate at all.
What are your renovation plans?
I renovated my bathroom 18 months ago, everyone comments on it especially the basin which I had delivered from QLD, its deep and round and granite and is the focal point in the room. I saved space by combining the toilet & bathroom together, where it used to be two rooms. Its done in fairly neutral colors, with terracotta porcelain tiles on the floor & a light sand porcelain tiles ion the walls.
I start the kitchen & laundry on the 23rd April, I am using a cabinet maker locally found, before I accepted his quote he had come to see me 5 times and least once with the plumber. Everything was itemised and I was so impressed, I eliminated other quotes for the simple fact one company, told me they would only quote if I was 5 days off starting, another told me I was wasting his time so to come across a tradesman who not only saw me after hours and a Saturday he doesnt work. I knew after the bathroom reno what I was in for. My appliances all purchased from Appliancesonline as I had had previous dealings with and have told others, but also graysonline where I purchased all my sinks and taps for a fraction of the price retail. Cant wait to start and know, looking at this from a long term point of view, the most modern I can afford now, will still be relatively modern in 10 years time
Hi there, thanks for your comment! Glad to hear you had a good experience with Appliances Online. Hope your kitchen and laundry reno goes well. 🙂