What is a Renovation Consultant?

What is a Renovation Consultant?

A renovation consultant advises people on different aspects of their renovations. This could include advice on:

• Design in the planning and construction stages
• How to minimize costs during the build
• How to maximize the value of the property through renovations
• What trades to hire and where to find them.
• How to manage trades or a builder
• Whether a DIY project is feasible
• What order should trades attend
• If you need development approval and the role of a certifier.
• Understanding building approvals
• Keeping paperwork in order for purchases and trades
• Styling a house
• Preparing a house for sale

The list can go on and on. Basically they help people with all aspects of the planning and/or completion of their renovations.

Who can Benefit from a Renovation Consultant?

• People who already have plans but can’t decide if they should DIY it or bring in the cavalry.
• Anybody who is thinking about renovating but doesn’t know where to start.
• People who are in the thick of a DIY reno and feeling overwhelmed.
• People who already have builders but need some advice on how to make sure you and your builder are on the same page.
• People getting ready to put their property on the market and want to make sure it is well presented.
• People getting ready to rent their property and want to increase the rental value.
• Anybody getting a valuation done by the bank and wants to make sure they make the best impression.
• Real Estate Agents who have clients that need to do some work on their property before listing it.

What’s the difference between a Renovation Consultant and a Builder or Interior Designer?

The key word is consultant. A renovation consultant helps you through the renovation process by giving you as much or as little advice as you choose. On whatever aspect of the renovation you choose.

Many renovation consultants have formal qualifications in a specific area such as building, interior design or landscape design. This doesn’t mean they have to complete the build or interior design for you (although they can if you want them to). It means they have the knowledge to help you through the process. You may want the consultant to help you find the right trades to hire, or the right colours to choose. Or you may want them to give you advice on what renovations you should do for the biggest impact. Or how you can keep a proposed renovation within budget. A renovation consultant’s experience in the industry gives them insight into all areas of the renovation process. And their experience in the industry has helped them build an established network of professionals to help find answers to your questions and solutions for your problems.

They Help You Make Decisions, Stay on Budget and Stay Sane

One of the most common comments about renovations is that there are so many decisions to make. And yes, this gets overwhelming. Choosing the right white paint for your walls, the best door handles for your cabinets, the right colour grout for your tiles all while making sure the windows are ordered to be delivered on time, and the trades are booked in for next week (does the cabinet maker come before the tiler or after?). It is stressful when there are so many things going on. And when you’re renovating your own home, whether it’s to live in or to sell, every decision seems critical. You want it to be perfect and it feels like one wrong decision will ruin everything. It becomes personal and then the emotion creeps in.

Having a third party involved who is not emotionally invested can bring things back from the tipping point and help you refocus on what matters. Like reminding you that the ceiling mounted rain shower head is beautiful but it is way out of your budget and isn’t going to increase the value of the house by as much as it costs. Yes, the $600 toilet would look great but you spent a bit more on the taps you loved so now you need to compromise. In other words, they can help keep you choose wisely so you stay within budget and spend on the important things. And stay sane.