Altogether, timelines have had to be extended. “Before COVID, a resale flat would’ve taken one-and-a-half to two months, but now we need at least three months,” said Mr Yea. Carpentry used to take seven to 10 days, but now the minimum lead time is 20 days, he added. On the other hand, wages have shot […]
Continue Reading“We took it all apart.” That was hardly an overstatement. Much of the drab, brick facade was disassembled and repurposed. The floors were lowered and internal walls reconfigured. Nine years later, the new home is barely recognizable as what once stood at 13 Aquilla Avenue. The old kitchen, which featured a fireplace which also opened […]
Continue ReadingThe Federal Government will give eligible Australians $25,000 to build or substantially renovate their homes, in an effort to boost demand in the construction sector and keep builders employed. Key points: The scheme will give $25,000 grants to eligible homeowners, but recipients will need to spend at least $150,000 of their own money The Government […]
Continue ReadingThe stylish home offers no hint of the challenges involved in its upgrade.Credits: Miles Real Estate “Agents said, ‘we can’t take you through because of the lockdowns,’ so in the end we ended up renting a house we’d looked at in January in East Ivanhoe, one we’d initially rejected,” Robyn said . It was difficult […]
Continue ReadingHome prices have gone up so much that many homeowners have decided to stay put and make their own home better. But even if you’re renovating a home to live in it, it’s still important to know what you can expect to recover from those upgrades and improvements and what will eventually pay off when […]
Continue ReadingThings such as hacking of walls, meanwhile, require an application for a permit, he noted. Then there is a “common practice” in the industry for experienced firms to help new, unlicensed contractors by applying for a permit using their license, he said. “Most of (these experienced firms) are inactive. That means they (retain) the license […]
Continue ReadingThe rate of home renovations is slipping as interest rates rise. The Reserve Bank of Australia on Tuesday again hiked the nation’s cash rate, this time by 0.25 points to a nine-year high of 2.6 per cent. The increase is the sixth consecutive since the RBA started lifting rates in May this year. As property […]
Continue ReadingSusan Lambertis is in the process of having her entire home renovated and is hopeful it will be completed by early next year. “We are knee-deep in a reno,” she said. After going through plans with an architect last year, getting the necessary approvals and some pandemic-related delays, the project officially started this past spring. […]
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