The average home renovation costs significantly more than the average annual income, so why take chances? This course will help you to avoid the many pitfalls associated with home renovation and help ensure that your project is both enjoyable and rewarding. You will learn how to choose a design solution which best meets your needs, how to obtain specialist advice and steer your project through the local council planning approval process, how to select a builder, get a competitive price for your building work and ensure that building work is properly constructed and completed on time and budget. The course is conducted by registered architects specialising in residential alterations & additions.

If you want to learn about Home Building and Renovation in Sydney, then this course is for you.

Agenda

During this course the intention is that the following topics will be covered, but not necessarily in the order given. Due to the variable nature of Adult Education classes, parts of the curriculum may be adapted to suit the needs of the class.

Session One – Basics:

• Course introduction
• Clarifying your needs
• Establishing your project budget
• Preparing your project program

Session Two – Constraints & Opportunities:

• Knowing your site & its context
• Working with existing buildings
• Negotiating the approval process

Session Three – Decisions:

• Identifying the problems
• Clarifying your intentions
• Preparing a strategy
• Developing a plan

Session Four – Commitment:

• Communicating your intentions
• Finding the right builder
• Understanding building contracts

The content will be exchanged through a combination of:

• Brief whole group discussions facilitated by presenters
• Small group discussions feeding back to whole group
• Sharp focus on individual students' project status & requirements
• Verbal & visual presentation by presenters
• Worksheet handouts for use by participants during each session

Specifically, the course is intended to assist participants in preparing for their building project, by addressing the following questions:

• How can I maximise my property’s potential?
• How can I be confident about the design for my project?
• How much could my building project really cost?
• How long will it take to complete my project?
• How can I make sure that the Council will approve my project?
• How will I know when to seek professional help?
• How can I find the right builder for my project?
• Is a building project really the answer to my problem?

Objectives

The intended Learning Outcomes for this course are as follows.

By the end of the course, students will have:

• Gained an understanding of home building & renovating as an integrated process through which needs are questioned and refined by a thorough consideration of all constraints and opportunities.

Other Information

Please bring a notepad and pen.

Design & Technology Ctr, cnr Gordon St & Victoria Rd, Rozelle (in the grounds of St. Joseph’s Church). If driving, no entry into Gordon Street from Victoria Road. Last block on your right before Victoria Road. Pedestrian entry opposite Prince Street. Click on the following link for directions:
http://www.sydneycommunitycollege.com.au/site/203

PLS NOTE: All classes need a minimum number of students to go ahead. If your course does not have enough students it will be cancelled and you will be informed. Courses are usually cancelled, when necessary, 2 working days prior to the scheduled start date.***Please be aware that you may be informed of a cancellation &/or change via SMS or E-mail.