Some elements of our everyday lives may have changed or come to a halt in the era of isolation, but your extension doesn’t have to be one of them. With a little more time on your hands, there is plenty you can do to get the process of designing and planning started, so that once restrictions lift, construction can begin without any delays.
Take the time to figure out the perfect design
We’d never suggest rushing the design of your new extension, so now is the perfect time to really develop your ideas, introduce all the elements that you’d like to see and ensure that the end product works for you and your lifestyle. You can work with your builder or architect to ensure you take full advantage of your existing home, your site’s orientation and any other details, such as natural light and ventilation. That way, when it comes time to build, you’ll be confident that you have the best possible design for your block.
Lock in prices of materials/subcontractors
Nationwide restrictions means that demand for building materials and contractors is currently low, so prices are also reasonable. This makes it the perfect time to lock in the prices of your materials and trades. We expect prices to increase as the pandemic hits supply chains, so by confirming prices now, you’ll be saving time and money in the long run.
Extra time for planning
With more free time at home at the moment, now is a fantastic time to confirm your plans and make as many decisions as possible. You can break down your budget to ensure it is viable, or firm up timelines to suit your plans for the next 18 months. You can also select your finishes and paint colours, and make any other smaller design decisions so that you don’t have to think about them while building.
Faster approvals through Council
Paperwork is often one of the longest processes in any build and can take up to six months, depending on your project and your local council. Why not get a head start while things are quieter? Councils are still operating and processing planning permits, but may not be as busy as normal, so they are generally faster at managing, reviewing and responding to applications. There’s no real rush on building immediately after either – most permits are valid for two years post-approval, giving you lots of time to commence the construction process when you and your builder are ready.
—
Should you be thinking about building an extension in Melbourne in the next 12-18 months, get in touch with the team at XL Built today – we’d be happy to help you start the process.
