Project Planning

Good project planning and management make the job go smoothly and efficiently, to the required quality, timing and budget. Good planning and follow-up is more likely to leave owners with a renovation that performs well for many years.

This section of www.renovate.org.nz covers all those aspects of a renovation – other than the physical construction – that make the job go smoothly and efficiently, to the required quality, timing and budget. Good planning is likely to leave the owners much happier with the renovation. 

The first step is getting it right at the front end, from the designer’s first contact with the owner. At this stage, the owner needs to be clear on where he or she wants to end up. Not getting this first phase right is the biggest cause of renovation headaches.

It is also very important in the early stages to check what work is allowed. Councils have imposed rules around what can be done to houses in certain designated heritage areas, for example. The type of property title can also have an effect – if a house is on a cross-lease title, the owner must get approval from the other owners before carrying out exterior structural changes.

From there, as the designer moves into detailed design, it is necessary to balance a huge range of factors including the owner’s expectations, regulatory requirements, what’s realistic given the budget and existing building, and opportunities for making improvement alongside the renovation.

The next step is ensuring that the construction phase of the project is done to a defined programme.

Planning needs to start when the project is first considered and needs to be carried through design, costing, construction and the follow-up work required when the building work is completed.

The design process

What to consider during the initial consultation and the design process, including budget and feasibility, and opportunities for improving insulation, energy efficiency and other aspects of building performance as part of the renovation. Read more

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Construction planning

How to plan the construction process so that the job goes smoothly and as far as possible meets requirements for quality, timing, and budget.  This includes contract documentation, managing tenders and quotes, what to put in contracts, and how to draw up a construction plan. Read more.

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Follow-up and maintenance

The days when a job was finished when the tools were packed away are long gone. Helping homeowners to understand the maintenance they must carry out is an important part of the follow-up. Beyond that, contractors have significant legal liabilities that apply for up to 10 years after the work is completed. Read more.