You love your house. You love your neighbours. Your children love their school. But your house is starting to show its age, or perhaps it can no longer accommodate a growing family. If moving is not an option, you still have two choices: you can renovate, or you can do a full knock down rebuild.

Home renovations can give your property a new look, but large-scale projects can cost you a lot of money. For roughly the same amount, you can have a brand new contemporary home through the knock down rebuild process.

Here are a few things to consider when deciding whether to renovate or rebuild.

The first thing you need to do is ask an expert to assess your property if a knock down rebuild is possible. Your existing home might not be compatible with a modern design from a registered builder. If this is the case, then a renovation might be more suited for you.

If your home has an odd layout, it may be impossible to add rooms, build another floor, or knock out a wall. Rebuilding from the ground up allows you to choose any design you want right where you want it.

Knock down rebuild projects may not be feasible if your budget is below $200,000. You should, however, be aware that renovation costs can spiral out of control. Before you know it, your funds could be running out before you are even halfway through!

One can build a new home for as little as $200,000 – depending on land type, access to amenities, availability of reputable builders, and other factors.

Make a detailed list of what you would be spending for a renovation and weigh them against the cost of rebuilding.

If your house is in good condition despite its age, then a full rebuild might not be needed. You could renovate outdated kitchens and bathrooms, install new flooring, touch up the walls, or modernise a few rooms to give your home an updated look.

If your old property is beginning to show signs of wear and tear, starting from scratch may be more cost effective than fixing major problems involving the foundation, structure, plumbing, and wiring. Keep in mind that a full rebuild will eliminate any period features or character elements of your old home and could impact its future value.

Renovating and rebuilding are both time-consuming. You have to do research, plan a budget, and find the right contractor before the actual work begins. Generally, a knock down rebuild takes longer than a renovation.

There are plenty of factors that can affect the schedule of your knock down rebuild project. The size of the property, complexity of the design, adverse weather, legal challenges, and other issues could potentially slow down construction work.

On average, a single-storey knock down rebuild takes four to six months to complete if the building is not subject to planning approval.

Many homeowners are choosing the knock down rebuild option over a renovation for a number of reasons.

The increased cost of renovation. In terms of dollar per square metre, renovation can be more expensive than a knock down rebuild. It might even take a shorter time to rebuild than remodel an old home depending on the scope of the design.

Total control of the project. Knocking down your old home and building a new one give you full control of the project from start to finish. There is no need to accommodate previous design features, so you’ll have a home that matches your desired lifestyle perfectly.

Builder flexibility. Your rebuild contractor does not have to make educated guesses about the work of the original builder. Every detail of the construction process is based on the preferences of the homeowner.

Certain regulations and restrictions on projects involve demolishing and rebuilding property. Check the asset protection and planning laws of your local council before starting a knock down rebuild. Asset protection covers damage to footpaths, driveways, and silt and dirt run-offs.

Building approval for your intended project can be issued by a municipal council building surveyor or a private building surveyor. The inspector must first determine if the building is subject to planning approval. If it is, then the homeowner must prepare the designs according to the building approval requirements.

The demolition contractor needs to provide you with an approved demolition permit and asbestos clearance certificate. Demolition costs range from $10,000 to $15,000.

Before the wrecking ball begins its work, all services to the home must be disconnected including electricity, gas, telephone, and cable lines.

The job of the demolition crew includes:

Make sure your property is clear and ready for construction after the demolition is complete. Removing debris and waste material can be a huge task so you should leave it to the pros.

Fortunately, some skip bin companies have been in the waste removal business for years, and they serve Newcastle, Lake Macquarie, Port Stephens, and Hunter Valley. With the help of a professional and friendly staff, you should be able to choose the right option for clearing demolition debris on your property.

Looking for sound property advice? Contact our friendly professionals here at Yarrum Home!