Right, so you’re finally doing it – renovating your place. About bloody time, yeah? But hang on a second. Before you start swinging hammers around, there’s a bunch of stuff that keeps tripping people up with Gold Coast renovations, and honestly, most of it’s avoidable if you just know what to watch out for.
Running Out of Cash Halfway Through
This happens to everyone. You’ve done your sums, got your quotes, feeling pretty confident. Then someone lifts the floorboards and finds a family of termites having a party, or the electrician takes one look at your wiring and just shakes his head. Whatever you’ve budgeted, chuck another twenty per cent on top. Yeah, it feels like overkill until you actually need it.
Winging It Instead of Planning
Mate, I know you’re keen to get stuck in. But if you start demolishing stuff before you’ve worked out the details, you’re basically asking for problems. Where are the power points going? What taps did you pick? Which way do the tiles run? Figure it out now, not when three blokes are standing around waiting for you to decide.
Picking the Cheapest Builder
If someone’s quote is way lower than everyone else’s, something’s off. Either they’ve forgotten half the job, or they’re dodgy, or they’ll vanish after the deposit clears. Ring their old clients. Have a look at their past jobs. Make sure they’ve got a proper licence. Cheap now usually means expensive later when you’re paying someone else to fix their mess.
Skipping the Council Paperwork
Yeah, it’s boring. Yeah, it takes ages. But you’ve got to get your approvals sorted. Whether you’re tackling a full house renovation on the Gold Coast or just extending the deck, council needs to know about it. Get caught without permits and you’re looking at fines, or worse – ripping out work you’ve already paid for. Not worth the risk.
Going for Looks Over Practicality
That Instagram kitchen looks amazing, sure. But can you actually cook in it? Will that massive freestanding bath fit through your bathroom door? Is there any way to put the bins? Don’t get so caught up in making it pretty that you forget you’ve actually got to live in it. Form follows function, as they say.
Letting Communication Slide
You assume they know what you mean. They assume you meant something else. Next thing, you’ve got the wrong colour grout or the shower screen’s on backwards. Stay in the loop. Drop by when they’re working. Send a text if something’s unclear. Write down the important stuff. Saves arguments later.
You’re tired. You want it done. The builder’s pushing to finish up. But this is exactly when you need to slow down and check everything properly. Are the doors sitting right? Does the paint look good in daylight? Any gaps or rough edges? Make a list, get it fixed, then pay the final bill. A proper Gold Coast renovations job means finishing strong, not just finishing fast.