A step-by-step guide to Auckland house renovations

So, you’re planning on renovating your home – congratulations! You’ve got a bunch of exciting ideas up your sleeve and you can’t wait to start bringing your new spaces to life. 

The only question now is: where do you actually start? 

As Auckland’s leading house renovation team, we’ve put together this handy step-by-step renovation guide. Read on to learn more about the renovation process, how to get started and what you can expect along the way. 

Step 1: Draw up some concept plans

The first step is to draw up some concept plans. Think about how you want the space to look, feel and function, and check out some homes similar to yours for inspiration. 

While it is possible to do some initial concepts yourself, it can be tricky to conceptualise new layouts when you’re so familiar with the current flow of your home. With this in mind, we recommend engaging an architect or draftsperson, who’ll be able to look at your house from a fresh perspective and offer expert insight on how to get the most out of your space. An architect or draughtsperson can also help you take care of any structural engineering that might be involved with the renovation. 

Need some design assistance? We can recommend some great architects to suit all budgets. Give us a call today on 0800 30 30 11 to learn more. 

Step 2: Talk to your builder

After you’ve drawn up some concept plans, it’s time to get your builder involved. We’ll come to your home, discuss your ideas and advise you on what is and isn’t practical. 

At this point, we may be able to give you a rough idea of renovation costs, but we can’t do a fixed price quote until you have the completed building plans ready for consent. 

Step 3: Get a quote

Once the building plans are ready for consent, your builder can put together a comprehensive quote for your renovation. 

Here at Blackbird Projects, our quotes include the costs of all the sub-trades – the plumbers, electricians and other contractors that will be required to complete the project. We also offer the option of a Quantity Surveyor, who can provide a full breakdown of project costs and ensure your budget will be sufficient. Hiring a Quantity Surveyor incurs an additional cost of about $1,000 to $3,000, depending on the scope and complexity of the renovations.

Here’s a quick breakdown of typical renovation costs:

• Building consent: Obtaining council consent for an average renovation project typically costs around $5,000. This includes $2,500 upfront for the initial building consent and another $1,500 to $2,500 for the final inspection. 
• Design process: Architectural drawings by an architect or draughtsperson cost approximately $5,000 to $15,000, depending on the scope of the project (this can be significantly more for high-end renovations or if you want your architect to project manage the renovation). 
• Building: Renovations typically cost about $4,000 to $6,000 per square metre. This includes building materials, labour, finishes, etc. This is subject to change based on supply levels in the building industry. 

It is important to remember that there will always be unforeseen factors that can affect costs once the project gets underway. While your builder will make every effort to provide an accurate quote, you should always keep 15% to 20% wiggle room in your budget for variations. 

Step 4: File for building consent

After finalising your building plans, the next step is to submit your drawings and other supporting documents to the council for consent. In most cases, your architect or draughtsperson will handle the consent process on your behalf. 

The council will process the application within 20 working days, provided no further information is required. The planning and consent phases usually take about four to six months to complete. Building cannot commence until consent has been given. 

Step 5: Start the building work

After obtaining council consent, now the fun part can begin: building! At Blackbird Projects, we can manage the build process from beginning to end, drawing on our considerable experience and expertise to deliver a successful project. 

Your dedicated Project Manager will be responsible for overseeing the renovation, managing contractors and answering any questions you might have along the way. They will take your project through to Code of Compliance stage. Throughout the process, you can use our powerful project management software, Coconstruct, to get ongoing insight into budget and project timeline. Renovations typically take three to eight months to complete, while new builds can vary, anything from three to eighteen months!  

Contact the Auckland renovation experts

For a free consultation, give us a call today on 0800 30 30 11 or fill out our online enquiry form and a member of the team will be in touch with you shortly.