Stories

Why Renovating Or Extending Is A Great Idea, Even In A Slow Market

Every real estate market tends to follow the same general cycle: growth; stabilisation; decline; then recovery.

When homeowners find themselves in a stabilising or declining market, many second-guess the value of investing a large sum of their hard-earned cash in a renovation or extension project when there’s no guarantee they’ll be able to recoup their funds if they needed to sell quickly. However, this shouldn’t be the case—in fact, renovating or extending in a flat market can actually be a really smart move.

Here’s why…

Get your home market-ready

If you know that your family will outgrow your home at some point, even if you do go ahead with a renovation or extension, a flat market shouldn’t deter you.

Undertaking a home renovation or extension project while the market is slow will ensure your home is ready for sale for when the market picks up again, while allowing your family to live more comfortably in the interim. Tackling the key issues that are likely to deter buyers will ensure your property is sale-ready and sure to get top dollar for your home when the time comes to sell.

Enhance your lifestyle

While property values and external market factors are undeniably important, they’re not the be all and end all. Ultimately, your home needs to suit your lifestyle.

While our natural instinct is to justify our decision to renovate or extend in immediate financial terms, you can’t overestimate the value of living in a home that allows you to stretch out and live comfortably every day.

Whether you’re most in need of an extra bedroom, additional living space or a new kitchen or bathroom, renovating existing spaces or expanding the footprint of your home can have an immense impact on its overall liveability, with the financial rewards able to be realised down the track once the market recovers.

This becomes particularly relevant if you plan to continue living in the home in the longer-term—if you don’t intend to pack up and move any time in the near future, the current market conditions shouldn’t be a determining factor in your decision to renovate or extend.

Avoid the cost of moving

One alternative to renovating or extending your current home is to move to a new one, but it’s important to weigh up all the costs.

Not only is uprooting your family to move to a new house inconvenient, the land transfer (stamp) duty you’ll need to cover will also add significantly to your costs. The current land transfer duty rate for a property purchased in Victoria for more than $980,000 is 5.5%, adding a hefty sum to the overall cost of moving—particularly if you’re purchasing a larger, renovated home with an expensive price tag.

Melbourne Home Renovations and Extensions

If you’re planning a home renovation or extension project in Melbourne, we’d love to hear from you.

At APC Build, our award-winning team of builders, site and project managers are experts in a wide range of custom renovations and extensions. With a long list of contemporary and heritage restoration, renovation and extension projects under our belt, we know how to rejuvenate or reconfigure a tired or dysfunctional home.

Backed by three generations of craftsmen, we also have a unique ability to accurately cost your renovation or extension project at an early stage to ensure you can incorporate the features and achieve the finish you want, while staying within your budget. Want to know more?View our portfolio of previous projects,get acquainted with our team orcontact us to discuss your renovation or extension project.

Why Nothing Compares To A Bespoke Home Build

You’ve decided to build a new home—now you’re facing the important question of whether to build an off the plan spec home or go down the path of a bespoke home build.

While a spec home does offer a range of benefits, there are a few areas where they simply can’t compete with what a custom build can offer.

Never compromise on quality

If you value quality, a bespoke home build allows you to achieve a superior level of quality that simply isn’t possible in a spec home.

When you purchase a spec home, almost every feature of the home from its layout to the flooring, appliances and finishes are selected by the builder, with little to no input from you. The finished product will also be very similar, if not exactly the same, as other projects the builder works on.

In contrast, a custom home build grants you complete control over every element of the build. From your choice of building materials through to the individual fittings, fixtures and finishes used throughout the home, a custom build allows you to create something that is genuinely unique and executed to the highest standard.

Tailor your home to your lifestyle

No two families are the same, so no two houses should be the same—every family possesses its own unique dynamics and this should be reflected in their home.

A bespoke home build grants you the flexibility to design the optimal floor plan which maximises the space you have to work with, while always keeping functionality at heart. Every area of the home can be tailored to suit how your family lives from the way the home flows between zones, through to the finer details like your cabinetry, door handles, tiles and tapware.

The home can also be carefully designed to integrate perfectly into its surrounds by paying consideration to factors like the strategic positioning of windows to harness natural light and how the facade complements the streetscape aesthetic.

The home you want, in a location you love

Most home buyers looking to upgrade to their ‘forever home’ face the critical issue of affordability—quite simply, purchasing their dream home in their preferred location isn’t financially viable.

If you love the location of your current home, opting to knock down your existing home and build a custom-designed home in its place can be a more affordable way to attain the home you want, in a location you love. There’s no need to uproot your life and move to a new location and you’ll never need to compromise on any aspect of the home itself making it a win/win.

Create a home with true character

A bespoke build is the only way to create a home that is rich with character, one-of-a-kind and a true reflection of your personality. It grants you the creative freedom to integrate rare or unique features that simply can’t be accommodated by a spec home.

A bespoke home build makes it easy to incorporate that breathtaking feature window or oversized hand-carved entry door you’ve had your eye on. You could design your own temperature-controlled wine cellar room, request elevated ceilings with exposed rafters, or even a cantilever deck overlooking the pool—whatever it is that tickles your design taste buds, the possibilities are endless with a bespoke home build.

We live and breathe bespoke

At APC Build, we live and breathe bespoke. With three generations of experience building bespoke homes for families across Melbourne, we’ve refined our unique value management process which ensures you’ll be able to pack all the features you want into your custom-designed home to create something that is truly remarkable, without exceeding your budget.

Contact us to find out more

What’s The Difference Between A Spec And Custom Home?

If you’ve decided to build a new home, one of the first decisions you’ll need to make is whether to opt for a spec or custom home build. While each type of build offers a range of benefits, it’s likely that one option will be a more suitable fit for what you’re after.

To help you work out which is the better option for you, here’s an overview of the key differences between a spec and custom home.

Spec homes

Spec homes are newly built homes which are usually sold to the buyer after it’s built, or when construction is nearly complete.

The land for a spec home is usually purchased by the builder who builds the home with a view to selling it to make a profit. The builder will select a home design that’s likely to appeal to a wide market of prospective buyers and may use the same design for multiple builds.

In most cases, the homebuyer has little to no input into the overall design of the home. On occasion, the builder may allow the buyer to make some changes to the finishes and design of the home if the property is purchased in the early construction phase, however these are usually only minimal to keep costs down and ensure the build runs to schedule.

How does each option compare?

Cost

A custom home will usually cost more than a spec home.

The aim of a spec home builder is to build and sell the home as quickly as possible to maximise profit—for this reason, they’re less likely to invest in premium materials, fittings and fixtures, but rather opt for mid-range materials and appliances with mass-market appeal that are unlikely to deter prospective buyers.

As a custom home is usually designed by the person that will live there, a lot more thought and consideration will be given to the design and construction of the home, with most homeowners wanting to incorporate a few bespoke features or premium fittings and finishes—which all come at an added expense.

Having said that, there is still scope to build a custom home that represents good value for your investment—at APC Build, we’ve developed a unique value management process which allows you to achieve the home and finish you want for a fixed price you’re comfortable with. Contact us to find out more.

Time

A spec home will almost always require less time to build. For the builder to be able to make a profit from the venture, they need to construct and sell the property quickly. This is largely why there is very little scope for customisation with a spec home, even when purchased during the early stages of the build.

Custom homes typically take longer to build. Not only does the design phase add to the project timeline (usually around 6 months depending on the home), the construction time frame can also vary significantly depending on the size and complexity of the build. While detail does take time, when you’re building your dream home, it’s almost always time well spent.

Involvement

A spec home build requires little to no involvement from the homeowner as the vast majority of design decisions are made by the builder.

For a custom build, the homeowner has more control over their level of involvement. Clients building a custom home have a vested interest in the project and generally want to be quite involved (particularly during the design phase), with many also choosing to conduct regular site visits for some extra oversight over how the build is progressing.

Fit-for-purpose

Spec homes are designed to have broad market appeal by meeting the needs of the typical buyer profile in the area. While they may be suitable for a wide range of buyers, it’s rare to find a spec home that genuinely ticks every single box on the homeowners wish list. In the case the builder or developer does allow the purchaser to make some changes to the home design, it’s likely it will be priced well above the market rate.

Custom homes however are designed specifically with the occupant in mind. From the size and floorplan to the fittings, fixtures and finishes, every element of the home is customised to suit the lifestyle and tastes of the homeowner perfectly. If you plan to stay living in the home in the longer term or want to create your ‘forever home’ or ‘dream home’, custom is the way to go.

Melbourne’s Award-Winning Custom Home Builder

At APC Build, we live and breathe custom home building.

Backed by three generations of craftsmen and with a long list of custom projects under our belt, we’re well equipped to handle every type of custom build.

We manage the entire custom design process. We pair the right architect to suit the clients brief, then work closely with both the architect and client to develop a design concept and work out how to bring it in on budget, in the shortest possible time frame.

With our transparent quotation process and unique capability to cost custom projects from an early stage, you’ll always be able to see exactly where your money is being spent, ensuring you can get the most out of your custom build.

If you’re planning to build a custom home in Melbourne, we’d love to hear from you. Contact the team at APC Build

What To Look For In A Custom Home Builder

If you asked everyone that’s ever built a custom home before “what is the single most important thing to get right”, the most resounding answer would have to be “choose the right builder”.

With so much relying on getting this one single decision right, it’s enough to make even the most experienced renovators, designers and architects apprehensive to settle on a builder—that’s why we’ve compiled this list to help you distinguish the true craftsmen from the imitators.

1.   Service

Almost all of us consider ourselves to be time-poor, so the prospect of having to oversee and coordinate a complex bespoke home build on top of an already busy schedule can seem more than just a little overwhelming.

To make the process of building a custom home simpler, look for a builder who offers either an in-house design service or has solid working relationships with architects or home designers.

Choosing a builder who offers an end-to-end design-and-build service not only means you’ll have a single point of contact, but it also makes it easier for your builder and the architect to collaborate at every stage of the process.

Both your builder and architect will be across the brief with an in-depth understanding of what you want to achieve, and it will also make accurately costing the project at an early stage a much easier task.

2.   Communication

It’s also important that you feel comfortable enough to communicate openly and honestly with your builder.

Building a custom home can certainly come with its stressors, but if you select a builder that understands your vision and is willing to go the extra mile to accommodate your requests, you’ll be far more likely to breeze through the process without encountering any hiccups.

The time to put them to the test is during your initial discussions—don’t be afraid to ask lots of questions and even throw out some slightly left-of-centre requests to see how they respond. If they’re lacking enthusiasm, putting up roadblocks or you feel they’re not adequately answering your questions, that’s a red flag that they might not the right builder for your project.

3.   Portfolio

While there are never any guarantees, past performance is usually a good indicator of future performance. To give you an idea of whether a builder will be able to meet the design brief and build your home to the required standard, it can help to look through their portfolio of previous work.

This will give you an indication of the type of work they are most comfortable with and whether they are experienced working within your chosen style. For example, if you’re undertaking a heritage restoration project but the builder typically works on contemporary new home builds, they may not have the skill required to take on a project like yours.

4.   Reliability

Time and budget blowouts can present a major issue when building a new home. Finding somewhere suitable for your family to live while the build drags on can be difficult, while the additional pressure of managing a financial blowout can be extremely stressful.

When considering a builder, it’s worthwhile doing some investigation into how they approach projects—ask them: how they’ll manage your project, including any external suppliers or contractors; how they’ll prioritise your work alongside any other projects they’re working on; how they’ll ensure the project is delivered on time and within budget; and how they’ll keep you updated throughout the build.

Clarify what your preferred frequency and channels of communication are early in the piece and establish an agreed timeline for the build, including any required contingency plans to avoid issues down the track. If your expectations in terms of management, timing or communication don’t align with that of your builder, they may not be a good fit.

It’s also integral that the builder provides you with a detailed quotation for the build. Only by investing the time to fully understand your brief and visiting the site to conduct a site assessment will they be able to accurately scope the project at quote stage to avoid variations and cost blowouts. Getting this right is what will set the foundation for a good build and a lasting relationship.

5.   Experience

Some knowledge can only be gained through experience. By choosing a builder who has a long history of working on projects on every scale and in every context, you can directly benefit from the lessons they’ve learnt along the way.

Starting out as a family-run business, APC Build has been a stalwart on the Melbourne home construction and renovation landscape for three generations. We’ve had the time that’s needed to become true craftsmen and refine our knowledge of bespoke construction, equipping us to add value to any type of build.

Our experience has provided us a unique capability to accurately quote construction projects from a very early stage—something which is instrumental to ensuring you get the most out of your investment.

Our transparent quotation process provides a complete and detailed breakdown showing exactly where your money is going. Then with our expert advice and guidance, we work you through our value management process to help you achieve the home and finish you want, while staying on budget.

With three generations of experience building everything from bespoke homes and multi-residency projects to conducting major renovations and extensions (including within a heritage context) across Melbourne, we have the know-how to help you create something that is truly exceptional.

Curious to find out more? Get to know the team, view our portfolio of previous work or simply contact us to find out how we can add value to your project.

We’re Anything But ‘Cookie Cutter’

It’s not hard to find a builder to construct an ‘out of the box’ home design that delivers the basics in terms of functionality and style—the difficulty arises when you need a builder to handle something that bucks the trend.

If you’re trying to escape the humdrum of mainstream home design in preference of something left of centre that challenges the status quo of home construction and design, you’ll need a builder that thinks the same way you do.

At APC Build, we live and breathe bespoke, often taking on challenges deemed too difficult for other builders. Here are just a few examples of feats we’ve taken on that were anything but mundane…

Curvature

Curves are undoubtedly a show-stopping feature that instantly add architectural flare to a home, creating a softer, more fluid and organic aesthetic. However, because they exit from the simple geometry of boxy modernist design, they are also notoriously difficult to work with.

Typically taking longer to construct, curved features require an extra degree of craftsmanship to be able to handle their non-standard nature and varying shapes, with the feat often proving too complex for some builders.

That’s not the case for us. Take this project in Fitzroy for example.

Applying a gentle curve to the ceiling of the upstairs kitchen and living area, we were able to inject a truly unique personality to the space while achieving a flawless finish.

Combined with contrasting angles, customised timber panel joinery, standing seam cladding and cantilevered metal shrouds, the result is an ultra-contemporary residence that is still comfortable and unassuming.

Bespoke everything

While ‘off-the-shelf’ is usually the easiest, fastest and most affordable way to approach a build, some homes call for a more customised approach to create the unique identity the owners desire—like this project we worked on in Port Melbourne where the design was largely driven by a preference for bespoke.

Based on a nautical theme derived from its bayside location, you shouldn’t be fooled by the traditional double fronted Victorian façade that greets you.

Instead, the interior of the home adopts a personality of its own, incorporating a series of bespoke features centred around arcs and curves like the impressive 1.5 metre circular window in the studio space that adds a strong sculptural statement, along with a floor to ceiling glass light well, custom joinery, a rounded feature bathroom, in-slab hydronic heating and a 4-metre high raked ceiling.

Making the seemingly impossible, possible

No two projects are the same and each presents a unique set of challenges. While some projects are more testing than others, few can present the challenges associated with a heritage extension or restoration.

This award winning project we did in Toorak where we altered the existing attic roof structure to create two bedrooms complete with ensuites, walk-in robes and study areas is an ideal example.

From the need to create openings in the heritage stone facade to install replica steel windows, to replacing the existing slate roof through the heart of winter while the client continued to live in the two levels below, the project presented challenges which couldn’t be accomplished using conventional building techniques alone.

Relying on our depth of knowledge in traditional construction techniques and master craftsmanship, we were able to perfect every element of the build, from the beautifully presented exterior of the home to the refined detail of the interior bespoke joinery fit out.

Melbourne bespoke home builders

At APC Build, we think outside the box as much as you do.

With extensive experience building bespoke homes and undertaking major residential extension and renovation works across Melbourne (including within a heritage context), we can confidently navigate even the most complex custom home project while showing you how to get the most value from your investment.

Get in touch to find out more or to discuss your plans for a bespoke project.

The Three Golden Rules Of Home Renovation

If you find the idea of undertaking a major home renovation or extension project somewhat overwhelming, you’re not the only one.

Considering everything from the design and aesthetic of the home to sourcing the right materials, obtaining the required permits and coordinating trades and construction–all while ensuring you stick to the budget–is enough to make even seasoned renovators a little anxious.

While home renovations do come with their complexities, we’ve found that if you do these three things right, you can almost guarantee the project will be a success.

1.   Set a realistic budget

Finances are the bottom-line for almost every home renovation project, so your first step should always be to set a realistic budget. Developing a clear picture of what you can comfortably afford early in the piece will make it easier to identify what is and isn’t feasible when formulating your renovation plans.

Unless you’re an experienced renovator, accurately costing renovation works can be a hard task. That’s why it’s a good idea to engage your preferred builder during the early stages of the project. They’ll give you a realistic understanding of the cost of construction and provide an idea of what you might be able to achieve for the money you can spend.

If you’ll be borrowing money to fund your renovations, you should also approach your bank well before you commence any work. This will ensure you’re fully informed about the financial implications of renovating so you don’t find yourself high-and-dry with a half-finished project.

2.   Choose an architect that ‘gets’ your vision

Once you’ve established a budget, it’s time to start translating your ideas into workable plans—so you’ll need an architect. When choosing an architect, it’s important to look for experience along with a good comprehension of what you want to achieve for your budget.

A good architect will assign equal consideration to both the design and functionality of the home, while always keeping your budget at the forefront. While you should maintain an open mind to ideas which challenge mainstream concepts and never be afraid to push the envelope in terms of design, it is easy to get carried away devising grandiose plans when you disregard the budget.

If you can find an architect that’s on the same page as you in terms of both form and function who will also pay close consideration to your budgetary constraints, you’ll vastly improve the likelihood of being handed designs that hit the mark the first time. This will help you avoid overcommitting yourself financially while also minimising the risk of overcapitalising on the value of your property.

3.   Find an experienced builder

Even the most well-devised renovation plans are useless if your builder doesn’t have the required skills, knowledge and experience to bring them to life.

Ideally, you should look for a builder with extensive experience in renovation and addition works on projects that are similar to yours. Review their portfolio of previous work to determine if they’re a good fit for your build—for example, a builder who only has experience working on new home spec builds may not have the capability to complete a period home renovation or restoration project to the required standard.

Most quality builders can also manage the entire project for you. They’ll be able to accurately cost the renovation works, source your building materials, seek the required building permits and oversee the project from beginning to end while ensuring everything runs to schedule. This will remove a large sum of the stress and hassle typically associated with extensive renovations and make the experience a much more pleasurable one.

We’re here to help

At APC Build, we’ll make your home renovation or extension project easy.

We’re experts at accurately costing projects from an early stage and we’ll take care of all the finer details so you can focus on other things. We have a wealth of experience working on an extensive range of home renovations and additions across Melbourne, and we know what it takes to ensure a project runs to schedule and to budget.

If you want to know more, view our portfolio to see what we’ve been able to do for other happy clients or simply contact us to discuss your home renovation project.

The Features That Add The Most Value To Your Home

There are plenty of benefits to renovating or extending your home—not only can it improve the aesthetic, functionality and liveability of the home, but it can also significantly increase the value of the property.

If you’re planning a home renovation or thinking about adding an extension and want to know which features are likely to have the biggest impact on the value of your home, here’s our take on what’s likely to get a good return on your investment…

Facade

The facade plays an important role forming a buyers’ first impression of the home and establishing that all important ‘street appeal’. It sets the style and character of the home and should give buyers an idea of what to expect from the rest of the home.

As a minimum, the facade should feature neat and tidy presentation to project a low-maintenance feel, with well-maintained gardens and nothing requiring repair. As the facade won’t have a significant impact on the overall liveability of the home, it’s best to avoid investing in major changes where possible and to instead focus on simple updates like fresh paint or new fixtures like the house number and letter box.

Kitchen

Money spent in the kitchen will almost always be money well-spent.

As the ‘heart of the home’, the kitchen is renowned as one of the best areas of the home to renovate if you want to add value. Not only does it play a key role in the day-to-day functionality of the home, but it also makes a real style statement.

Integrating features like premium appliances, luxury stone or porcelain benchtops, intelligent opening/closing mechanisms or a butlers’ pantry will instantly elevate the prestige of the home and add major buyer appeal.

When designing your kitchen, select your fittings and finishes to compliment the style of the rest of the home and don’t be afraid to invest in some superior features and finishes—for example, custom cabinetry will cost more, but it will allow you to maximise the available space and provide valuable extra storage.

Bathrooms

Bathrooms are another area of the home that can add significant value to your home, but it is possible to over capitalise on them.

At a minimum, buyers will expect bathrooms to be clean and functional, but a stylish contemporary bathroom renovation will be sure to impress. This is particularly important in homes with a single bathroom—while buyers may be able to overlook a second or guest bathroom which requires updating, it’ll be harder to convince them to spend top dollar if the home doesn’t have at least one bathroom in top-notch condition.

If you’re questioning whether adding an additional bathroom would add value, this largely depends on the home—adding a second bathroom to a single bathroom dwelling is likely to add value, while adding an additional bathroom to a home with two or more bathrooms may not be worth the investment.

Living

Adding a contemporary living extension can add enormous buyer appeal and drive up the value of your home, particularly for older homes which don’t traditionally adopt the open-plan format todays’ buyers prefer.

We’ve seen enormous growth in demand for this style of extension in recent years, largely because they allow homeowners to improve the liveability of their home while retaining its character and charm. It’s also a more affordable alternative to rebuilding, while making a dramatic improvement to the functionality and aesthetic of the home.

Whether you add a living area to the rear of the home or you add an upstairs extension, most family homebuyers value having a second living area and will pay a premium for it.

Bedrooms

If you’re looking purely at renovating, major changes to bedrooms are unlikely to add significant value. In this case, it’s generally a good idea to stick to simple updates like repainting, replacing tired or damaged flooring and window coverings, or installing built-ins.

If you’re considering adding an extension with an additional bedroom, it’s worth doing some research to determine if it’s likely to give you a good return on your investment. Consider the location, size and style of the home and what the buyer demographic in the local market looks like. Check what the average price of 3, 4 or 5 bedroom homes are selling for in your local area to gauge how much value it’s realistically going to add.

Outdoors

An alfresco living space is almost always a good investment.

Most buyers will expect some form of outdoor space suitable for relaxing and entertaining guests. Whether you opt for paving, timber or composite decking, if it’s welcoming and relatively low-maintenance, it’s sure to appeal. An under-cover alfresco area will yield even more buyer appeal by allowing year-round use, particularly in Melbourne’s varied climate.

If you’re considering adding a pool, think it through carefully—adding a pool purely to add value before selling is unlikely to be a worthwhile investment, however if you plan to stay in the home for a while, you may be able to justify the expense.

Get the most value from your home renovation or extension

If you’re planning a home renovation or extension in Melbourne, our unique value management process can help you get the most out of your investment. To find out more, get in touch with the team at APC Build.

Our Tips For Planning A Home Renovation Or Extension

Planning a home renovation or extension? Here are our top tips to help you ensure the project comes in on brief, on time and most importantly, on budget.

Tip #1: Find your design inspo

Engaging an architect or designer can be a costly exercise—to streamline the design process, it’s important to have a general idea of what you would like to achieve before you seek professional input.

Start by identifying your core functional requirements (e.g. number of bedrooms or living spaces, additional storage, access to/from the rest of the home etc.), then invest some time searching for examples of the type of style, features and finish you want to adopt.

It’s likely your designer will be able to provide some valuable advice and recommendations, but coming prepared with a clear list of requirements and shortlist of design inspiration will help you communicate what you want and ensure you’re both on the same page.

Tip #2: Invest where it matters most

Unless you have an unlimited budget, it’s likely you’ll need to make a few trade-offs throughout the design process to keep costs contained.

Making these decisions when you’re in the midst of a renovation or extension project can be challenging. The trick here is to draw a distinction between your ‘must-haves’ and ‘nice-to-haves’ from the beginning, so when you start to work through your costings it’s easier to determine what can stay, and what needs to go.

It’s also a smart move to invest your money wisely by focusing on the areas of the home that will add value to your property—renovations to kitchens and bathrooms are always sure-fire winners, but it’s also important to identify any pain-points that are likely to deter prospective buyers in the future.

If you plan to work through your renovation or extension plans in phases, avoid wasting money making short-term improvements to areas of the home that are likely to change down the track.

Tip #3: Take the time to get it right

One of the most common causes of schedule and budget-blowouts during home renovation or extension projects is the need to make changes to the original plans after work has commenced.

By investing a little extra time during the design phase to formulate the optimal plans, you can avoid the need to make changes or adjustments after the project has been costed and is underway.

Tip #4: Know what you can afford from the get-go

Whether you plan to fund your renovations or extension with a loan, with the equity in your home or by paying cash, it’s important to know what you can afford to spend from the get-go.

Then here’s the real word of wisdom—engage a builder while you’re still in the design phase.

While the usual process is to engage a designer, develop your plans, then request a quote for construction from a builder, more often than not, the quote will come in over budget.

By engaging a builder while the plans for your home are still being developed, you’ll have a far more realistic understanding of the cost of construction—this can be an invaluable tool to help inform your design decisions to work within the limitations of your budget.

Tip #5: Select a builder with a transparent quotation process

Finally, to get the most value out of the project, you need to be able to see where your money is being spent—something which largely comes down to the way your builder quotes the project.

Ideally, your builders quote should be fully itemised so you can see exactly where every dollar is going. With good financial visibility you’ll be far better equipped to identify areas where you aren’t getting great value for your investment and areas where you could possibly afford to invest a little more.

That’s how we do things at APC Build. Our quotation process is fully transparent to give you the complete picture of where your money is going, and we’ll also guide you through our tried-and-tested value management process to ensure you achieve the features and finish you want within your budget.

Contact us to find out more

Old Meets New: How To Breathe New Life Into A Heritage Home

Loved for their character and old-world charm, heritage homes are in a league of their own. From picture rails to leadlight windows, traditional fireplaces, ornate ceilings and decorative cornices, heritage homes are filled with striking details you simply don’t find in modern homes.

While we would never question their beauty, heritage homes can’t always accommodate a contemporary lifestyle.

If you’re lucky enough to own a heritage home and are considering a restoration project, we’ve pulled together some key things that we know work well if you want to breathe new life into your home while retaining the things you love most about period architecture.

Restore existing features

Heritage home restorations require careful planning and attention to detail. It’s integral that the renovations not only focus on creating a home that suits your current lifestyle, but that any changes are sympathetic to the original building.

Preserve and refurbish original fittings, fretwork and features wherever possible. This will allow you to enhance the functionality and liveability of the home while ensuring you retain its unique personality.

Keeping features like original stained-glass windows or exposing an existing brick wall (like we did during this restoration project in Port Melbourne) will allow you to create a contemporary residence that’s still loaded with heritage appeal.

Harness natural light

While heritage architecture is often praised for its charm and character, one thing it is rarely praised for is its effective use of natural light. Typically favouring poky rooms, confusing floorplans and small windows, interiors are often dark or dim, lacking the light and airy atmosphere most families prefer.

Welcome light into the home wherever possible by incorporating a strategically positioned light well, extended skylights or expansive areas of glazing. What you’ll end up with is a more inviting and comfortable light-filled abode, just like we created in this South Melbourne home

Incorporate bespoke joinery

A common theme you’ll find in every heritage home is an air of quality—a theme that should also flow through to any contemporary revisions. A simple way to do this is by incorporating bespoke joinery in carefully selected locations around the home.

Take this project we did in Toorak for example—working in collaboration with a talented interior design team, we were able to reimagine the existing roof space and transform it into a breathtaking attic which housed two new bedrooms, complete with ensuites, walk-in robes and study areas. The bespoke joinery incorporated in each room provided some much-needed functionality while highlighting the attention to detail and superior quality of the renovation.

Adopt traditional building techniques

Modern construction techniques aren’t always suitable for a heritage home. While you may assume your builder is well-equipped to manage your renovation, they may find themselves out of their depth if they don’t have the required knowledge, skills and experience working in a heritage context.

Heritage homes present unique challenges, like the ones we faced during this project in Toorak where we were required to perform feats like creating openings through the heritage stone facade to install replica steel windows, or replacing the existing slate roof in the heart of winter while the owners continued to live in the home. Without our intimate knowledge of traditional building techniques and expert ability to execute the build to the highest standard, the flawless end-result would not have been possible.

Play with colour

Finally, don’t be afraid to have some fun with colour. While it can be tempting to adopt a safe all-white approach, heritage homes can usually handle a bit of colour.

Not only will colour help to accentuate traditional details like an ornate mantel or intricate fretwork, but the right colour selections can add some extra personality by making a bold statement—just take a look at what this client in South Melbourne was able to do by adding some colour to their heritage-listed home.

We’re experts in heritage restorations

At APC Build, we’re well-versed in heritage restorations, extensions and renovations. With superior craftsmanship and a wealth of experience working on various heritage projects across Melbourne, we know how to breathe new life into your period home while retaining the traditional charm and character you love so much.

Take a look at what we’ve been able to achieve for some of our clients, or contact us to discuss your heritage restoration project.

Is It Better To Renovate, Extend Or Rebuild?

It’s a common experience for many homeowners—the home that once suited your lifestyle and requirements perfectly simply doesn’t cut it anymore.

If you know you need to do something to improve the liveability or aesthetic of your home but can’t decide if you should renovate, extend or rebuild, it may help to consider the key benefits and challenges associated with each option.

Renovating

Renovating is the ideal option if, functionally, your current home works well for your family and lifestyle. If you love your home and feel that the existing floorplan provides ample space for you to live comfortably, a home renovation can give your home a much-needed style refresh for a fraction of the cost of an extension or rebuild.

A renovation project can address major pain points such as an outdated kitchen, tired-looking bathroom or ageing and damaged fittings, fixtures and finishes. These are usually relatively easy fixes that can dramatically improve the look and feel of your home. More extensive renovations that involve remodelling problem areas of the home can also help to improve its basic functionality.

While renovating is a great way to get your home up-to-scratch, it’s important to question the longevity of any renovation project. If you plan to stay in your current home for a while, try to envisage what your family and lifestyle will likely look like in 5,10 or 15 years’ time before commencing any renovations. If you’re likely to outgrow your home in the not-too-distant-future, the best approach is to focus on renovations that will improve your homes’ resale value while you consider your options.

Extending

If you love your home but are continually finding yourself in need of more space, an extension could be the ideal solution. An extension allows you to improve the liveability of your current home while retaining the existing character features that made you fall in love with the home in the first place.

Time-and-time-again we’re seeing clients who want to add a modern extension to their period home—and it’s not hard to understand why. It’s impossible to ignore the wonderment experienced when entering a well-preserved character home, before being greeted by an expansive contemporary addition.

Extending your home can however come with some challenges as you’ll be constrained to work within the confines and limitations of the existing home design. You may also need to leverage antiquated plumbing, electricals or structural elements of the existing home, which can present some issues. It’s also important to consider if the extension will consume valuable outdoor space—ideally, you’re best placed limiting your extension to stay within the footprint of the existing home if possible.

If you choose an experienced and reputable builder, they should be able to manage the process for you and find workable solutions that allow the project to run to schedule and budget. In most cases, a well-executed extension will also significantly increase the value of your home.

Rebuilding

If you want to continue living in your current location but altering your existing home to suit your current lifestyle isn’t a feasible option, rebuilding could be the perfect solution.

The key benefit to starting over from scratch and rebuilding your home is the freedom it grants you to create the exact home you want. When you opt for a bespoke build, you’ll have the flexibility to customise the home to satisfy every criterion you have and exemplify your personal tastes and preferences.

While the benefits of a home rebuild are obvious, the cost is an important factor for many homeowners considering the prospect. When you build with APC Build, you’ll benefit from our unique capability to accurately cost projects at an early stage, allowing you to make an informed decision about the financial viability of building your dream home.

While a knockdown-rebuild does typically cost more than a home renovation or extension, many clients still find it proves to be a more affordable alternative to selling up and buying another home that meets all their criteria.

We’ll help you find the best solution

If you’re unsure if a renovation, extension or rebuild is the way to go, it may help to speak with one of our friendly and experienced team members who can talk you through your options to find the ideal solution to suit your family, lifestyle and budget.

Contact us today