We get this question asked all time from people who are thinking or wanting to cement render their house, terrace or apartment.

You would think there would be a simple answer of yes or no, but there are a few steps required to ascertain if you do require council approval to cement render your home.

Speaking with a few of the local councils, all mentioned that for minor external and non structural alterations, the guidelines in the State Environment Planning Policy (Exempt and Complying Development Codes) 2008 or the NSW Planning & Infrastructure Exempt and Complying Development (which outlines and aims to ‘streamline approvals for low impact development, like renovating or building a home'), are the best to follow.

•   SEPP - http://www.legislation.nsw.gov.au/inforcepdf/2008-572.pdf?id=6041d1ad-eb39-45a7-f7a2-9e3acb4f2f73

•   NSW Planning & Infrastructure - http://www.planning.nsw.gov.au/en-us/buildinginnsw/exemptandcomplyingdevelopment.aspx

However, take note you will need to meet provisions in part 1 and 2 of the SEPP document to be exempt from council approval. If you are still unsure if you are exempt, the local councils recommends to contact an independent expert that would be able to direct you further.

There are also a few things to take into consideration, and this is mainly onsite matters i.e. access, scaffolding and noise restrictions – which all may need some level of approval from council. A simple phone call to your local council will clear up any questions you may have.

Access
Depending on the location of your home, access for tradesmen in very important. Make sure that your neighbours are aware of any works being completed, so that it does not inconvenience them or hinders the progress of works through the duration of the project. The last thing you want is problems which could damper your renovation experience.

Don’t forget to also remove any obstructions around the house so that the tradesmen have a clear run and to also minimises any potential accidents or slowing the process of the job.

Scaffolding
This applies to a house, terrace, apartment which is more than one storey high or where the house is sitting on uneven land and has a split level design. Again depending where the house or apartment is situated, you may require council approval. For example, a terrace which is located on a main road, with the entrance of the house being the front footpath for passers-by will require council approval as it is impacting the general public and it is on council property i.e. the footpath.

The scaffolding application does not take long, it is very easy and will only take 1-2 weeks depending on how our quick your council can process it. We can help you with this if need be.

Noise restrictions
In regards to noise restrictions, councils are very strict. All local councils have limits on when noise can be made to reduce noise pollution. General working hours on your property are between the hours of 7am to 6pm on weekdays and up to 2pm on Saturdays/Sundays.

So, before you consider cement rendering, place a quick call to your local council and they should be able to answer any lagging questions you may have. However, make sure that you have a licensed and reliable tradesman on site – this will provide you with confidence and for a stress-free experience.

How to avoid being ripped off

SMH Small Business Trends

Author: Alexandra Cain

March, 28, 2014

http://www.smh.com.au/small-business/trends/blogs/the-big-idea/how-to-avoid-being-ripped-off-20140321-356r3.html

My brother’s about to do up the bathroom in the flat he’s just bought and has been getting quotes from various builders. I’m amazed at the variance in the prices – one guy quoted $18,000, another $12,000 and one guy came in at $8,000.

That’s a $10,000 difference between quotes for what’s ostensibly the same job. So how on earth should he know which one to pick?

Building is complex and there are many variables involved. Which means you need to get numerous quotes.

I spoke to Allen Cetinic, who runs Render My Home, about how to tell if you’re being charged a fair price. He says the process of quoting is a complex one. “The only way you can judge is by making sure you’re comparing apples with apples. Building is complex and there are many variables involved. Which means you need to get numerous quotes.”

Cetinic says there are many ways to approach a job, and many materials and finishes that can be used, which is one reason there’s such disparity in prices.

 “You might call in one electrician who’ll just quote you for a basic job and another one will give you a more comprehensive quote that might include things that need to be attended to over the next year. And that’s where people will go wrong – some will do a basic job and others will quote you on something that’s more thorough.”

He says it’s essential for consumers to do their research and interview people before agreeing to use a tradesperson for a job – it only takes five minutes to get a feel for whether you can work with someone. He also says three quotes might not be enough.

“You might have to speak to six or seven people before you find the right person for you,” Cetinic says.

So how should you compare quotes? One way, says Cetinic, is to be very clear on the scope of work. What does the quote include? Does it cover rubbish removal? How about cleaning up? What about painting? All these factors will influence the price of the job. It’s all about making sure your expectations are the same as the tradesperson’s. Don’t just assume you’ll get exactly what you want.

“Sharing quotes could be a good idea and make sure the quotes cover the same things,” he says.

Another important variable is the credibility of the service provider. Cetinic says: “Look at whether they have an online presence, think about where the referral to the tradesperson came from, how long they’ve been in business, their qualifications and their experience. It’s all about doing your research.”

Cetinic says there are no standard prices for jobs for residential building; there are some for commercial jobs because the scale of work on a square metre basis is usually so much greater than for work done on houses.
“Plus some contractors are opportunistic – when they’re busy they’ll charge a higher price and when they’re slow they’ll charge a lower amount just to get the work. Really, the only way to get the work done at the price you want to a standard that’s acceptable is to find a tradie you have a connection with,” says Cetinic.

Laorence Nohra, CEO at Tradebusters, which offers a tradesman co-ordination service, agrees prices depend on the inclusions and exclusions of a job.

“In general, rates vary from $60 to $90 an hour, which may or may not include a service fee. If someone was charging you $120 an hour that would look wrong to me.”

As to what sort of recourse consumers have if they feel they have been overcharged, Nohra says there’s very little if the home owner has accepted a written quote and that acceptance has been documented.

“Where you do have some recourse is when you’ve been charged extra for variables and what you’ve been charged is very different to what you were quoted on,” she says.

Cetinic says: “At the end of the day, consumers have to take responsibility. It’s not good enough to take a retrospective view. You need to have a paper trail that shows emails back and forth agreeing the scope of work and the price. No one wants to sit in tribunal hearings, so be clear on what you’re expecting and what you’ll pay for that.”

What's been your experience getting quotes from tradies? Share it in the comments below.

You’ve taken the BIG step in deciding to renovate and improve your home. Whether this is to increase your home value for selling purposes; to change, modify and personalised the look and feel of your home; to follow the latest trends and be up to speed with all your neighbours; or its to have street appeal and impress passers-by. Whatever the reason I’m sure the dreaded  feeling of dealing with all different tradesmen hangs over your head.

It doesn’t have to be that way. If you take the following steps you will hopefully have a successful experience and a house renovation bliss that will impress you and be the envy of others of the final product.

Plan, Prepare, Probe: Make sure you clearly know what you want and envisage as the final product of your home;  you have researched what would be aesthetically suitable and make an impactful look and feel; and finally you are aware of the benefit and features.

Design & Style: Whether you have a family, partner and/or living by yourself your personal style must be taken into consideration, so be aware what you want, how you want to be perceived and your home and Plan, Prepare, Probe. Check out the latest home design magazine to draw inspiration and look out for what your neighbours are doing to add that little something to their home to spruce it up.

Boring Budget  - Bang for your Buck: We cannot stress how important it is to establish your budget from the beginning. Just when you think you have considered everything something unexpected arises. Have room for movement, but be diligent and stick with your budget. Most importantly make it be known to your builder or tradesmen what your budget is, so there isn’t any hidden surprises, as many can take advantage of this.

Tradesmen Alert: There are many shonks out there, so make sure that they either have been referred to or you’ve done your research about them.

There are 4 important rules that must be met before you sign on the dotted line:

1. Call them - If they answer the phone or return your call within the hour, then they should receive tick.
2. Arrange a meeting – if they show up on time, they should receive another tick.
3. Experience - A competent tradesman or builder should know their technical stuff in detail and be able to explain it to you, another tick.
4. You as a person –must  like this person or their company, as you will be dealing with them greatly and you want the best result  - another tick.
5. Qualifications – This is a tough one, but you need to make sure that they are qualified, have all their insurances and are registered. The last you want to happen is have issues and neither party are covered – this could be disastrous and cost you more money and leave you with an unfinished job.
   
   

With the tough economical market you can’t afford to make any mistakes on any form of remedial or renovation projects as they can be expensive, so make sure you take adequate advice to steer you in the right direction. Speak to your local real estate agent or reputable suppliers / tradespeople - most common reason why property doesn’t  sell is because people don’t present their home visually and take too many short cuts.

Presentation of your home is important not only when selling but also what everyone thinks of you and street appeal.  And making sure you have professionals and experts that work with you to achieve your goal, and you will achieve your new renovated dream home.

Wow! How about this property market of ours? Sydney is going gangbusters with real estate activity at an all-time high! Low interest rates, a new government, summer on its way… Bring it on!

It was interesting to catch up with our good friends last weekend after they spent a whole day house hunting in our local area. They had set out in the morning with a list of 11 properties to look at that had initially appealed to them on an internet search.

However, upon arriving to the properties one by one, they decided to walk into only six of them to make their inspection, but not even bother with the other five. Why? 

Well, according to them (and in their own words), ‘they looked crap!’. Unappealing, run down, too much work needed, generally not attractive enough to even warrant any further inspection… Gee, that’s very disappointing.

So it got my mind thinking about how many other prospective buyers felt exactly the same way and did exactly the same thing that same weekend, and drove right past the property because of its lack of street appeal.

And what if the seller had actually put some thought into better presenting their home to better attract potential home buyers, rather than have them drive right by as a result of feeling let down?

And more importantly I guess, what effect would this have on the final result with respect to the eventual sale price? Could a higher price have been achieved with just a little more thought and consideration put into the home’s exterior appearance.

I mean, after all, if the exterior appearance of the home is not appealing enough, then there is no reason for a prospective buyer to park their car, get out and proceed to the front door.

The inside of the home could be a hidden treasure with a newly renovated and well-designed kitchen, designer bathrooms, an amazing rear decking with outdoor entertainment areas, but without any curb side appeal from the street front, the seller misses out completely on the opportunity with this particular buyer.

Remember, it is only the simple things that can often increase the street appeal of your home. Minor adjustments can provide truckloads of character to your home, and will have car loads of prospective buyers expressing interest in your home and in turn, nudging the sale price way up beyond your expectations.

Check out www.rendermyhome.com.au for more ideas and inspirations on how to get your home looking its very best!

I am still seeing so many people everyday making the same mistakes with their approach to building renovations to their homes.

Sadly we have really become a society so driven by ‘price’ that we  often fail to really understand what we are actually getting when renovating. This creates many problems as we think we are getting a better deal, but the reality is that something needs to give way, and this could be anything from a compromise in product quality selection, lesser performing products, shortcuts in methodology, inadequate insurances, site safety or business compliance, all of which are likely to cost you, the consumer.

The old-age phrase of ‘comparing apples with apples’ with building-related products and services, is really one area where consumers get it wrong more often than not.

The point to all of this is that over a long period of time, the cheaper deal often actually ends up costing you significantly more. It happens all of the time! But it shouldn’t.

I am dealing with a client that has been repairing her home constantly for the last 20 years! She happens to be quite price driven and unfortunately from the condition of her home, it is very apparent that poor decisions in the past have cost her greatly with a run-down looking home, i.e., cracked render, blistering paint, leaky roof and glass panels, etc. Over the duration of years of constant repairs, she has spent tens of thousands of dollars on work that has failed sooner than it should have. 

The challenge for me is to prove to my client that by carefully considering all of the possible options  related to the scope of works, a much better overall performance will be achieved for much longer, meaning less money thrown away in between. 

Providing honest information to a client when they are considering renovating, as unpalatable as it may come across and likely damage your chances of winning the job, is the right thing to do for the clients’ long term interests. 

The message to consumers really needs to be that there is no cheaper way out, other than doing the job properly the first time.

Unfortunately there are way too many builders and tradesmen alike who push the ‘cheaper, cheaper, cheaper’ mantra and consumers are taking it hook, line and sinker!  

Your home’s exterior façade is a true representation of who you are. Whether you’re building your own dream home, bringing new life by renovating or maybe just extending the one you’re living in – creating impressive exterior façade through inspirations, ideas and designs, will give your home a unique look and feel. Give your home exterior a little extra something by combining innovative applications and popular products such as modern wall cladding systems,  renders and texture coatings, paints, landscaping, glass balustrades, awnings and shutters.

You may be pleasantly surprised, the overall benefit to you can be extremely rewarding.

Wall Cladding Systems

A great way to introduce long-lasting character, flare and personality to your home. Not only can wall cladding and panels dramatically change the exterior look of your home, but it can also keep your family cool in summer and warm in winter.

With an ever growing range of finishes and designs, one thing is for certain it provides a modern, futurist and  distinct look to your home.  Aluminium Composite, Designer Wall and Thermal Wall Panels are undeniably durable, flexible and light weight and are now being touted by architects as the look of the future. The possibilities are endless in designing your home.

Render + Paint

Cement render, acrylic coatings and paint go hand in hand and are  one of the most effective ways to transform the initial impression and appearance of a home, not to mention being one of the most popular.

The main purpose of rendering and acrylic texture coating is to give your façade an extra element to its appearance.  It also provides flexibility and strength, resulting in a long lasting finish with superior barrier properties. Also render and acrylic coatings assist in reducing  natural erosion and provide protection against weather damage, as well as contributing to your homes overall insulation.   

Acrylic texture coatings come in a range of textures and colours that will compliment your homes natural surroundings. Smooth render can simply be painted with a colour of your choice - depending how daring or adventurous you are, the opportunities are  boundless with colour schemes.

Awnings + Louvres

These fashionable items really make a statement about you and your home by adding a modern, stylish and classy flare to your façade and outdoor entertaining areas. Providing comfort and protection to your family from the outdoor elements, most come with automated features to enhance the experience. Made using extruded aluminium that is finished either anodised, or in a high UV resistant powder coat paint finish, with all fixtures and components being high-grade stainless steel. Smart use of awnings and louvres adds to the energy efficiency of a home.

Glass Balustrades + Handrails

Glass balustrades not only look impressive and fashionable, but also provide a feeling of additional space. Frameless and semi-frameless balustrades (mini-post or glass clamps) can be installed on balconies, stairs, void areas or used as a privacy screen. Stainless steel parts are  available in high polish or satin finish, giving you peace of mind against unsightly rust and corrosion that has plagued so many facades as a result of cheap and second rate products.

Landscape & Gardens

This is the icing on the cake. To ensure you have done justice to your homes new façade, you must not make the mistake of neglecting your garden. You can really make a statement by planting striking plants that accentuate architectural features and contribute to the overall impact of your home designs.

Ok, so you have a basic plan for your home improvement project. The next thing you need to do, is jump on the phone. But first things first, you need to find your trades.

Now the best way to find a good tradesman is the age old art of 'word of mouth'. Having someone recommend a trade to you should guarantee that the tradesperson is legit, and has actually completed a job satisfactorily in the past.

If you don't have any referrals, then jump onto Google, or any other local directory, including your local newspaper.

 It is a good idea to build a shortlist at least three businesses from each trade, i.e., three cement renderers, three painters, three landscapers, etc.Look for businesses that have a good level of credibility about them, i.e., website, photo gallery of recent work, office address, trade licence, insurances, etc.

Next, prepare yourself a set of relevant questions you wish to ask these businesses related specifically to your job. These questions should be designed so that you are able to get some kind of idea of their knowledge and experience in their respective trade. Stay away from questions directly related to cost and prices (these should be left for later). What you really want to do is ask technical questions like, for example, what is the difference between traditional render and acrylic render? Or, how long will you provide a warranty for, by painting my home? Also, what products do you use and why?  

Hopefully by now you would have had a few satisfactory answers and you would have an idea of who knows their stuff and who doesn't. Flick the ones that don't and stick with the ones that do.

Arrange to meet with all the tradies onsite at separate times. The purpose of this meeting is to establish a scope of works and also for the tradie to supply you a quotation.

Once received, gather all of the quotations and read each and every one of them very carefully. You don't want to be sucked into a deal you don't want in the first place. In particular look for the payment terms and all tasks included in the price, as well as those excluded, etc.

Your project is now taking shape!!!

Stay tuned for next week’s blog that will outline how to select your tradesperson based on your budget!

I’ve been called to two jobs in the past week; one in Dee Why, the other in Castle Hill, where both sets of homeowners have decided to embark on their respective home improvements projects themselves as DIYers!

Experienced?... No way! Brave?... Sure! Silly?... Too early to say, but probably yes!

Most people in their lifetime at some point, will entertain the thought of improving their home in one shape or form. The biggest mistake most of us make is that we fail to approach it correctly. Like anything we do in life whether its saving for a deposit on a house, getting fit to lose weight, completing a university course, etc - it requires thorough and careful “planning” in order to achieve a successful and worthwhile outcome.

Yes, any type of home improvement should add value to your home, but if it is not approached correctly, then it can cost you a lot more than it owes you back, not just financially, but emotionally and more. I know so many people that have had such horrible experiences that they would never, ever do such a ‘stupid thing ever again!’. (Their words, not mine!).

Try this… Turn the kettle on, or crack open a beer, whichever floats your boat. Take a deep breath. Sit down with a pen and pad, and start drafting together a ‘draft project plan’. This needs to happen before you even contemplate calling tradesmen or builders for quotes or even seeking any advice. Keep your mind clear and focussed on just what you and your household want as part of your home improvement project.

Start from the backyard and walk around the entire house to the front yard, and scribble down your ideas. Then walk through the house from front to back and do the same. Spend at least a week talking and thinking about your draft plan and make any changes along the way until you are totally satisfied and comfortable that this is pretty close to what you would like done.

What to do next? Stay tuned, for the next part of my blog, titled “Attention DIYers! How to successfully run your own DIY project without losing your sanity!”. 

First things first, pick up the phone and call them! If they answer the phone or return your call within the hour, then they should receive a √!

Secondly, once they arrange an appointment to meet with you and they actually show up on time, they should receive another √!

Thirdly, quiz them on what they know! A competent tradesman or builder should know their technical stuff in detail and be able to explain it to you. √! Given the reputation of some builders and tradesmen, you will need to interview them to the best of your ability so that you have confidence that they know what they doing. Unfortunately, many don’t, but make out they do. You will need to bring them undone!

And lastly, you need to like this person or this company. Good and effective communications are a rare commodity these days between a builder and an owner. If you like the person and feel comfortable talking to them, chances are you will get a much better result and have a more enjoyable experience. √! The flipside is dealing with a tradesmen or builder who is unapproachable and damn right rude. And we’ve all had one of them before!!! 

Good luck!!! 

Be wary of cheap and nasty tradesmen and builders, offering suspiciously cheaper alternatives to having your home built or fixed properly!

I have just been called to a remedial job in Earlwood, where the builder had failed to build the duplex in compliance with Australian Standards. 

Poor design of balconies, inadequate waterproofing of upper areas, popped tiles, no dampcourse installed, salt laden walls, popped render, no expansion joints, rusted angles, excessive damage to internal ceilings and other areas. And I didn’t even walk any further than the front yard!!! 

Although the house is only seven years old, it looks like its 20 years old! The home owners warranty insurance has expired and the builder, who has been on the run ever since building it, has gotten away scot-free.

To repair and restore the job, they would be looking at $30-$40K. The question they need to ask themselves is whether it was all worth it…