by Jemma Pearson While selling up and buying a bigger and better home is part of the great Australian dream, many Sunshine Coast home owners are opting instead to stay put and renovate their beloved old homes..

Whether you are a seasoned renovator or a first-timer, it pays to always do your research, plan as much you can and get help from experts that you trust. Monica Kohler is a project consultant and interior designer from Smith & Sons, a one-stop renovation shop which offers a complete service from concept to completion. Monica says, “I add value to homes, with minimal risk and I improve lifestyles.”

If you’re considering renovating, the first thing you should ask yourself is, why do I want to do this? “People renovate to improve their living standards, to provide the space they may have grown out of, to modernise and to add value to the home,” Monica says.

If you want more space, you may need to consider extending, which will be more expensive than working within your existing floor plan. If you just want to freshen up the home, new floor coverings, paint and updating your wet areas may be enough. If you are renovating to sell, you’ll need to consider the tastes of your potential buyers.

I have come across a lot of people who have gone straight to an architect and paid thousands of dollars for drawings, only to find that the drawings exceed the budget and they don't have the money to build anyway

Monica works with people who buy to renovate as well as those who want to modernise their existing homes. “At the moment I am seeing a lot of people who have had their homes for a number of years. They decide to move on, but then when they start looking to buy, they realise it’s expensive. It is much easier to renovate.”

We all become familiar with our surroundings, such as our neighbours, local schools, shops and amenities. If you are happy with were you live but want a change, it may be much more desirable to renovate than to move. You basically get a new home without the need to re-establish yourself in a new community.

There is a lot of renovation activity on the Coast. “I see a lot of people wanting to adjust their homes to accommodate their lifestyles,” Monica says. But if you’re concerned about overcapitalising on the renovation, you’re not alone. “I’ve had a lot of people concerned with overcapitalising when renovating,” Monica says. “The beauty of renovating with us is that we make sure the project doesn’t exceed a budget, so the home owner won’t overcapitalise. It’s a very controlled project.

People renovate to improve their living standards, to provide the space they may have grown out of, to modernise and to add value to the home

“We meet with the client, offer advice and give recommendations for the best result. Then we will do an estimate for them.”

While each project offers new challenges, and every home owner wants something different for their living space or investment property, there are some renovation trends emerging on the Coast. A merge of indoor and outdoor living is a feature that is being incorporated into the design of new homes and it’s something renovators are also keen to do in their existing abodes. Monica says, “Definitely people want more outdoor living spaces and want more flow from the lounge to that space.” The tradespeople at Smith & Sons are kept busy opening up walls and putting in stacker and bi-fold doors to create that seamless transition between inside out, and opening the home to natural breezes.

The beauty of renovating with us is that we make sure the project doesn't exceed a budget, so the home owner won't overcapitalise. It's a very controlled project

More established beachside suburbs create a lot of work for trades on the Sunshine Coast. “There are a lot of houses in beachside areas that are becoming tired,” Monica says. “We work with a lot of retirees in these suburbs.”

And while many home owners are tempted to handle managing the project themselves, or even becoming a DIY renovator, the experts caution against this. Unless you are a tradesperson or a very experienced DIYer, it’s never a good idea to handle a renovation, no matter how small, on your own. “The biggest thing with renovation is to stick to a budget and get help from the experts because you’ll actually save money,” Monica says. “I have come across a lot of people who have gone straight to an architect and paid thousands of dollars for drawings, only to find that the drawings exceed the budget and they don’t have the money to build anyway.”

The experts at Smith & Sons will give your property a thorough inspection before they work out a concept with a fixed priced agreement. “So there are not a lot of surprises,” says Monica. “We can do an estimate without drawings. The most important thing is to feel very comfortable with your builder because they will be in your home, in your personal space.”

Monica adds, “I just did a beautiful reno in Noosa Waters within its existing floor layout – I just changed some internal walls. We converted a window to a gorgeous set of French doors that leads to a new outdoor area. We replaced the floor tiles with Tasmanian oak timber floors. The bathrooms were remodelled and we put gorgeous travertine tiles on the floor and some simple rectified tiles on the walls to ceiling – there was a lovely sense of quality.

“We put in a new kitchen and the old terracotta roof tiles were sprayed, and there was a lovely exterior render applied which changed the outside to neutral colours. It was the perfect example of a house in a great location that was tired and needed a makeover to open it out and modernise the interiors. It was very well managed and kept on budget. It was basically a new home – unrecognisable from the old one.”

While a renovation is a big step, when done well, with the help of experienced people who know what they are doing, it will add value to your asset and increase the enjoyment of your home for many years.