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2 — THE RENO SCHOOLM
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Setting yourself up for a successful reno
is all about how you manage the process.
And hiring the right people for your reno is
SO essential – it’s the magic that enables
us to complete our renos quickly. Believe
me when I tell you it’s a hell of a lot easier
to spend extra time during the hiring
process to find the right person than it is
to get the wrong person to do a good job.
Save yourself heartache by getting your
dream team right from the start. We
learned this lesson the hard way. In the
beginning, we were hellbent on getting
the cheapest trades so we could spend
more money on the fun stuff, like a million
pretty throw rugs and pillows. In the end,
this cost us time and money. #neveragain.
‘OK, Erin,’ I hear you say, ‘that sounds
great, but how can I make sure I get the
right people on the job?’ Well, the first
step is working out which trades and
experts you need on your team, and the
next is working out which of those trades you’ll
be hiring and managing yourself. If you’re doing
a large-scale reno, the two main trades you’ll
probably need to focus on finding are a builder
and a landscaper – don’t forget the garden! It
often gets trashed when you have lots of work
being done on a house, so it needs a lot of love
to bring it back to life.
WHO’S ON MY TEAM?
By Erin
4 — THE RENO SCHOOL WHO’S ON MY TEAM? — 5M
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First, let’s revisit the Scope
of Work (A.K.A. Your Ultimate
Reno To-do List) you created
in last week’s module. Using
that as your guide, run through
the table over the page and
tick any trades you think you
might need for your reno.
Don’t worry if you’re not sure
– just put a question mark in
that box.
WHICH TRADES DO I NEED?
WHO DO I NEED IN MY
DREAM TEAM?
6 — THE RENO SCHOOLM
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The A – Z list of all the
trades and what they’ll do for you...
TRADE WHAT THEY’LL DO FOR YOU DO I NEED THEM
AIR-CONDITIONING
INSTALLER
Install or disconnect air-con systems – both split-system or
ducted. This is a specialist job – not one done by a builder.
ARBORIST
(A.K.A. ‘ Tree Surgeon’)
A qualified person who cares for trees. They’re certified and
trained in correct pruning procedures and are more likely to
follow professional practices to provide better outcomes for
your trees. This is often really important if you have a mature
garden and you are about to embark on a large-scale reno.
Lana’s beloved Bougainvillea needed some attention during
her reno to ensure it survived intact.
ARCHITECT
Design and draw the space according to your brief and submit
plans to council on your behalf. They can also manage the entire
design and construction process, if you want them to. Architects
are tertiary educated and great for new builds and whole house
renos with significant structural changes. They will have many
of their own design ideas, which can be helpful if you feel like
you’ve got no idea.
ASBESTOS
ASSESOR
Will visit your property to identify any areas which may contain
asbestos. They will take samples away to be tested, confirm
any presence of asbestos and provide advice on what material
(if any) needs to be safely and expertly removed. These guys
do not remove the asbestos, they simply confirm its presence
and will revisit the property after its removal to issue a clearance
certificate.
ASBESTOS
REMOVALIST
This person is qualified, licenced and fully trained in the safe
removal and disposal of asbestos. Don’t take any short cuts
here.
BUILDER
Builders can manage everything from reframing a house to
building a bunk bed. They can also hire and manage the other
trades on your build, if you want them to. This guy will be one
of your most important tradies and almost every home reno
needs one.
BUILDING DESIGNER
Great to engage when you’ve got your own ideas but need
some design help to make them a reality. Similar to an architect
but without the tertiary qualifications. They can design and draw
up your house plans and manage the approval process.
BRICKLAYER
(A.K.A. ‘Brickie’)Lay bricks for new walls and facades. This is a bit of a traditional
trade too. Many of them are older and really appreciate a cuppa
and warm smile.
CABINET MAKER
Build quality custom cabinets in any areas you require. These
are the guys that can design and build new kitchens, laundries
and bathroom vanities. Of course, you can get lots of options
off the shelf these days, but if you can afford it, invest in custom.
They also make custom robes, entertainment units, storage
cupboards – anything that you’d call a cabinet.
8 — THE RENO SCHOOL WHO’S ON MY TEAM? — 9
TRADE WHAT THEY’LL DO FOR YOU DO I NEED THEM
CARPENTER
(A.K.A. ‘Chippy’)Skilled in woodwork and timber construction. Often works
for a builder.
CAULKING SPECIALIST
(A.K.A. ‘ Silicone Guy’)
Seal joints or seams in various structures and some types of
piping. Your builder or tiler can also do this, but we’ve found
that if the job is big – like a whole house reno – it’s actually
cheaper to hire a specialist to do it. #nomoregaps
CONCRETER
Mix and pour concrete. This is usually specialist work
although sometimes your builder and his team can spread
the concrete. You’ll need concrete whether it’s for a slab to
build on, a pool surround, a driveway or a polished concrete
floor in an interior.
DRAFTSPERSON
Prepares technical drawings and plans based on your brief.
They often work with architects, but you can also hire them
to work directly with you, draw up your plans and submit
them for council approval, if necessary. They’re generally
more affordable than an architect but are less likely to
provide design direction. Good to use if you know what you
want. We use a draftsman for most of our renovations, except
Bon’s (she used an architect) and Lana’s, (she used a building
designer).
ELECTRICIAN
(A.K.A. ‘ Sparky’)
Install safe and code-compliant electrics throughout your
home for everything from power points to pendant lights,
heated towel racks, security systems and stereo systems.
Bathroom and kitchen renos will almost always require an
electrician. You’ll also need one if you are redoing a whole
house or installing a pool.
ENVIRONMENTAL
CONSULTANT
Complete reports such as a Basix Report, which is required in
NSW if you are lodging a DA in excess of A$50,000. Usually
a building professional or a Basix specialist can submit
these reports. NSW set the benchmark for BASIX so do an
online search to see what’s needed in your state, or ask your
architect/building designer.
FENCE INSTALLER
Build fences – these can be boundary fences or a picket
fence out the front. Some specialise in timber only while
others also work with metal and concrete. Even though your
builder or landscaper might offer to do this, you can often
get a better rate and a better result by getting the pros in
because they do fences day in, day out. It’s not a highly
regulated industry however, so make sure you check their
credentials and previous work. In our experience – good
fencing people are hard to find.
TRADE WHAT THEY’LL DO FOR YOU DO I NEED THEM
FLOOR INSTALLERInstall new flooring (whether that’s carpet or timber) quickly
and professionally or repair/rejuvenate existing flooring.
GLAZIER
Select, cut, install, replace and remove glass for windows,
doors, pool fences, glass balustrades and shower screens.
They also can install mirrors.
HANDYMAN
Install finishing touches and last-minute details. Don’t forget
things like door hooks and door stoppers! You could get your
builder to do this but unless it’s covered in the scope of work,
he’ll cost more than a handyman.
HYDRAULIC ENGINEER
Deal with the super-fun (#not) and often quite complicated
issues of water drainage and sewage systems to ensure
things are done properly and to code. You’ll need this person
when planning large- scale projects where the water run off
changes with your reno (e.g. at Lana’s Forever Home).
INTERIOR DECORATOR
Will provide similar help to an interior designer but comes
without the qualifications. Our creative director, Bonnie, is
living proof that you don’t need to be qualified to design
beautiful spaces.
INTERIOR DESIGNERWill work with the architect’s plans and recommend how
things should look from an interiors perspective.
LANDSCAPER
Help you master your garden, whether that means creating
the vision of what you want, or doing the actual digging,
planting, mulching and all sorts of other fun things like that.
They can also build decks, pergolas, driveways, landscape
pool surrounds, alfresco areas and lay down paving.
PAINTERPaint the inside or outside of your home. Nothing beats a
professional paint job.
PAVER
Lay down paving wherever required. From pool coping to
a new pathway or alfresco dining area. Some landscapers
do paving, but not all. Make sure you budget for all paving
requirements, as this can be a forgotten cost in a reno.
PLASTERER
Apply wall linings (like Gyprock) and then plaster walls and
ceilings to create a finished look in an interior space. They
can also put in decorative features such as cornices and
ceiling roses.
10 — THE RENO SCHOOL WHO’S ON MY TEAM? — 11
TRADE WHAT THEY’LL DO FOR YOU DO I NEED THEM
PLUMBER
Work on everything from storm water drains to fitting new shower
heads and installing toilets. A good plumber is worth their weight
in gold. You’ll need one if you’re renovating bathrooms, kitchens,
for whole house renos and if installing a pool.
POOL COMPANY
Most people use a pool company to install their new
pool. They will project manage the whole thing including
landscaping the surrounds (if you want them to). You may be
able to save money by organising the landscaping yourself
– but don’t put it off! There’s nothing worse than a gorgeous
pool with unfinished surrounds.
PROJECT MANAGER
Manages the details of your reno from start to finish and
takes responsibility for timelines and coordinating trades so
they are on site at the right time. Your builder will often be
willing to take this role on – and charge you for it.
ROOFER
Repairs or re-roofs your home. Roofing is another specialist
area that can also be dangerous work. You definitely want to
get the experts in here.
ROOF SPRAYER Specialises in spraying roofs to change their colour.
SCAFFOLDER
Safely plan, build and erect scaffolding structures and
platforms for construction above ground level. This is
specialist work that only the pros should do. Pulling down
scaffolding also needs to be done with care. Your builder or
painter would usually organise as needed for work above
ground level height.
SOLAR PANEL
INSTALLER
Install solar panels properly. This job needs to be done by an
accredited person so make sure you check credentials and
get the right person for the job.
STONEMASON
Cut and install stone (such as marble or Caesarstone) for
kitchens, vanity benchtops, fireplace surrounds, feature walls
or any other area where you want to use stone. Your cabinet
maker will often be able to recommend a stonemason.
STRUCTURAL
ENGINEER
Draw up engineers plans for larger scale renovations that
take into account all aspects of a building’s structure and
ensure its stability and compliance with building codes. They
work in conjunction with your architect/draftsman and your
builder. We almost always consult a structural engineer.
TRADE WHAT THEY’LL DO FOR YOU DO I NEED THEM
SURVEYOR
Accurately determines your property’s boundaries, and
prepares maps and survey plots accordingly. Your architect
or draftsman will ask for the Survey. You may already have
one from years prior otherwise you’ll need to get one drawn
up. Here’s what a Survey looks like.
TILER
Install tiles for floors, splashbacks, showers and bathrooms
professionally and quickly. They can also tile or pave outdoor
areas (so too can most landscapers so best to compare their
quotes) and can supply materials and labour to glue and
grout tiles, and in many cases seal tiles and silicone corners.
TREE LOPPER
Someone who will come in and simply ‘lop’ your tree by
renoving the tree’s limbs or branches to stubs. They can
also remove the tree entirely. If you’re wanting to keep the
tree take note that loppers are not educated in the art of
tree pruning and can sometimes do more harm than good
by cutting the tree back in a manner which can cause it to
eventually die. Proceed with caution.
UNDERFLOOR
HEATING INSTALLER
Install underfoor heating prior to flooring going down. This
is specialised work so it needs to be done by either your
builder or by the company who supplies and installs it.
Did you know you can use this under some engineered
timber floorboards? #awesome
WARDROBE INSTALLER
Build and install wardrobes. This person is often a specialist
in their field, particularly for the internal components such as
drawers. You can also use a cabinet maker.
WATERPROOFER
Put down waterproofing layers in wet rooms such as
bathrooms and laundries (and perhaps an outdoor terrace)
prior to tiling and flooring. Some tilers also do waterproofing
as well, so it’s worth asking. You’ll need to get certificates
for approval, so make sure you check their credentials
before hiring them. Don’t scrimp on this trade – if you get
the waterproofing wrong it’s expensive and messy to fix.
#ripuptiles #eek
WINDOW COVERINGS
INSTALLER
Install blinds and curtains. This is a trade that is often forgotten!
Make sure you plan ahead and book someone for this job so
you don’t end up with sheets on your windows. Your curtain
or blind company will usually have their own installers.
12 — THE RENO SCHOOL WHO’S ON MY TEAM? — 13M
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Believe it or not, that table isn’t even exhaustive,
but it does cover pretty much every trade
we’ve used. Lots of these are specialist areas,
so even though you may get lucky and find
a builder who can do some of these jobs (lots
of builders are also plumbers), it might work
out better (and cheaper) for you if you contract
those jobs out to people who do nothing but
that specific thing every single day. This also
means your builder can get on with his building
work rather than get distracted with tasks that
other tradies could be doing.
By now, we hope you are getting a feel for who
you need on your dream team, and which of
those trades you want to deal with directly.
Many of you will probably engage a builder
who in turn will hire the electrician, plumber
etc. It’s helpful to know who your builder hires
so you know who is on site and what info they
need from you to do their job effectively. That’s
why even if you only want to manage one or
two trades yourself, this week’s module is really
important for you to work through because
we’ll teach you how to work with your trades
effectively. And this will ultimately help your
reno run smoother and quicker.
I believe success hinges on finding the right
people to do your job. In the topics that follow,
I’m going to show you exactly how we do it.
PHEW! THAT’S A LONG LIST, AM I RIGHT?
14 — THE RENO SCHOOL WHO’S ON MY TEAM? — 15M
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How to find my dream team!
It’s one thing to know WHO you need ... it’s another to go out
and FIND them! There are loads of ways to get great tradies
on your team and it doesn’t have to be a daunting task. We’ll
share with you the 3 key places we go to find our go-to guys
... and we’ll help you weed out the best from the rest.
WORKED OUT WHICH TRADIES AND EXPERTS YOU NEED FROM TOPIC 1
SOME IDEAS ON HOW YOU’RE GOING TO FIND THE RIGHT PEOPLE FOR YOUR JOB FROM TOPIC 2
A PROCESS YOU CAN FOLLOW FOR BRIEFING TRADIES AND COMPARING QUOTES FROM TOPIC 3
TIPS AND TRICKS ON HOW TO KEEP YOUR RENO ON TRACK BY WORKING CLOSELY WITH YOUR TRADIES (AND YOUR TIMELINE) FROM TOPIC 4
AN UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT TO EXPECT FROM YOUR TRADIES AND ALSO WHAT THEY SHOULD EXPECT FROM YOU FROM TOPIC 5
NUMBERS IN YOUR BUDGET SPREADSHEET
Let’s recap! What’s Next ?MODULE 2 - TOPIC 2
Bonnie, Erin + Lana x
BY NOW YOU SHOULD HAVE...