DIY project managing

In choosing to be the project manager for your home renovation, you are legally taking on responsibility for the entire project. If anything goes wrong – and it will – it’s on your head. However, it’s not all bad. Many first-timers have done it successfully and found it a rewarding experience.

Owner builder

Amelia Singh project managed the renovation of her Sydney terrace house. She hired an architect to draw up the plans, submitted them to council herself and took out an owner builder permit.

If your renovation will cost more than $5000, you are required by law to take out an owner builder permit. As an owner builder, you have certain obligations such as only hiring licensed tradespeople, organising all the finances and taxes, taking out insurance policies and ensuring the work is completed to a safe standard. Each state has their own regulations, so make sure you get the facts straight before starting.

Hard yakka

Singh was at the site every day, meeting with tradespeople, pitching in and helping when needed.

“Being involved like that means you understand it a lot better, and you can find different way of doing things to reduce costs,” she says.

However, there were problems. Amongst other things, the underfloor heating in the bathroom was placed incorrectly, which led to pipes being punctured. If everything had been in writing, the contractor would have had to pay to fix their problem. As it was, Singh had to pay herself. And although the plans were referred to constantly, a wall was placed short in the kitchen, which meant she had to forgo a pantry cupboard.

Singh suggests talking thoroughly to each contractor.

“Be as clear and concise as possible. Make sure they understand exactly what you mean. Get it all down in writing.

“It’s an enormous amount of work, and the responsibility worried me at the time, but we’d do it again for a small renovation. I enjoyed it. Not paying a licensed builder to project manage substantially reduced the costs involved. And I love walking around the house and thinking, ‘I did this.’”

Being your own project manager can save money and allow you to be hands-on with your home renovation. Just be wary of the problems that can arise before you get stuck in.