What are the advantages of Renovations instead of Building New?
Renovating the second storey of a home is a more cost-effective solution for getting more use out of your available land. Second-storey renovations may cost less and create less of an inconvenience to your normal routine compared to tearing down and starting over.
Building a new home may also not be an option in your current area. Gold Coast is also an in-demand region. Relocating is not easy for most people in the city.
Luckily, you can often add the features that you want to your current home, eliminating the need to consider building a new one. Keep reading to explore the benefits of second-storey renovations.
This article examines the advantages of renovating a home’s second storey instead of building a new one.
🏘️ What Is a Second-Storey Renovation?
A second-storey renovation involves renovating or remodelling the upper level of a home. It typically results in adding more living space to the upper floor, updating the layout, or incorporating new features.
Common renovations include adding new bathrooms, bedrooms, or living areas. Other ideas may include updating the existing space, such as adding new flooring or reconfiguring the layout to improve the flow of the upstairs living area.
In some cases, the renovation may involve finishing an attic space or adding an entirely new floor to the house. For example, if the home has a single storey, you may decide to add a second storey to create more space.
Adding a second storey to a single-storey home involves removing the roof and building upward. While it still involves a lot of work, renovating the upper floor is still likely to provide many benefits compared to other options for gaining more space, such as moving or rebuilding.
🤔 What Are the Benefits of a Second-Storey Renovation?
Updating the second storey of your home offers many advantages, from adding value to your property to avoiding the need to move. Here is a closer look at each reason to consider adding or renovating a second storey instead of rebuilding or moving to a new home…
💲 More Affordable Compared to Alternatives
Adding a second storey or converting attic space is typically more affordable compared to other options, such as building a new home, knockdown rebuilds, and home extensions. It is typically cheaper to build up, as it requires less labour and material.
Building a new home or rebuilding your current one involves the construction of an entire home, which includes excavating the earth and building a foundation. These steps take time and money.
The average cost of building a basic home in Australia was $473,000 in 2022. Prices tend to be a little higher than average in Gold Coast.
Renovating the upper floor of your home is still a major undertaking but should involve less work and lower costs compared to rebuilding or building a new home.
⌚ Renovations Take Less Time
Along with costing less, renovating the second floor should take less time. Building a new home may take 12 months or longer in Australia, especially when building a multi-storey home.
You should not need to wait as long for the completion of your renovations, which leads to several added benefits, including less of an inconvenience to your normal routine.
A second-floor renovation is likely to be less inconvenient for you and your family. Your new space will be ready in a shorter timeframe, allowing you to get your household back in order sooner.
⭐ Create Extra Living Space
Converting a roof attic or adding a second floor gives you extra living space. Depending on your needs, you may add more bedrooms, a bathroom, or another living room.
Some people convert the upstairs into a second living unit, complete with a kitchen and dining area. These conversions may provide space for aging parents, adult children, or extended family.
No matter how you use the extra living space, the extra room that you gain helps spread your family out throughout the house. You may find that the house feels less crowded, as each member of the household has more room for themselves.
Creating extra living space gives you more room to grow. You gain more space for additions to the family or hobbies.
👍 Avoid the Hassle of Relocating
Building a new home may require you to find a new plot of land unless you intend to knock down and rebuild on your current lot. Renovating allows you to stay put instead of relocating.
Relocating comes with many hassles, including finding the right place to live. Goldy remains one of the most sought-after cities in Queensland, Australia. Finding an empty lot that meets your needs is incredibly difficult.
Moving to another area also involves packing your belongings, changing your mailing address, and becoming familiar with new settings. You may even need to find new schools and places to shop. Renovating allows you to avoid these issues.
A second-floor addition or renovation allows you to stay in the neighbourhood you know and love. You do not need to meet new neighbours and familiarise yourself with new surroundings.
Whether you want more space or extra bedrooms, your newly redesigned home can meet your needs. Renovating may even keep you from moving ever again. After completing the renovations, your home should include the features that matter most to you.
💲 Increase the Value of Your Home
Adding more living space increases the value of your home. Renovating an attic or adding an entirely new second floor adds to the total square metres of the house, which is the main detail used to assess a home’s value.
In nearby Brisbane, the average home is valued at $1,254 per square metre. Your renovation may easily add tens of thousands of dollars to the overall value of your property.
Adding value to your property is beneficial even if you do not plan on moving. After covering the cost of the renovations, you should have more equity available. The additional equity you gain may give you peace of mind, as you can tap into that equity with a loan in the event of a financial emergency.
⛱️ Keep Your Outdoor Space
Building up instead of building out allows you to keep your outdoor space. You use up some of your yard space with a home extension to accommodate the new development.
Renovating the upper floor of a home does not require you to give up any of your yard. This may also help you retain your privacy, as you avoid narrowing the distance between your living area and your neighbours.
You may also give yourself a better view of your yard and the surrounding neighbourhood. The newly renovated upper floor may give you a good vantage point for looking out over your property.
📐 Redesign Your Entire Home
You do not need to stop with the second storey. Renovating the second floor of your home may be an excellent time to think about the design of the first floor.
Some design ideas may also extend between floors, such as a loft or grand foyer with a balcony. Incorporating your renovation ideas into one project may streamline the process of updating your home and result in lower costs and a shorter timeframe for completion.
You can create a more uniform look between floors or tie elements from the upper floor to the lower floor. Focusing on the entire house instead of working on one floor at a time gives you more design options and is more likely to result in a cohesive look across floors.
👷 How to Start Planning a Second-Storey Remodel
The first step in planning a second-storey remodel is deciding what you want to achieve with your renovation. Think about how you want to use your new space. You may want to add one or more bedrooms, a bathroom, or a large, open living area.
After deciding on the main features you want to include in the renovation project, start looking for a qualified custom builder, such as the experts at Risen Developments. We have over 30 years of industry experience handling all types of renovations.
Risen Developments is a family-owned business with a long track record of providing high-quality work, regardless of project size. You can rely on us for a hassle-free renovation process. We work with you to create a design plan that fits your needs. You can avoid the headaches that come with extensive home remodels. We make it easier to include the features that you want most.
From beginning to end, we simplify the process of updating your home. Allow us to transform your ideas into reality. Contact us today to start planning your second-floor renovation.
Craig Preston, Contract Builder on the Gold Coast
Let’s start the discussion. The next step is to contact Craig, the Master builder and proprietor at Risen Developments.
Our no-nonsense Second-storey renovation and construction process has helped make us the preferred choice for many Renovations clientele, bringing their ideas into reality.
Renovating your home can be ideal for families looking to expand their living space and lifestyle options. Please don’t delay, and let’s chat soon! Risen, your local Building and construction company on the Gold Coast, is only a click or call away, so please contact us today at 0404 REN OV8.
