2020-07-01_BuildHome

discovery of asbestos,” he continues. “We know of some
cases where the renovation ended up costing more than
$200,000 than anticipated, which meant the client could
have had a new home for that price.
“Also, a new home will have a better re-sale value down
the track, simply because it is newer. If you are thinking
about renovating, make sure you factor in all the potential
costs up front and then compare it to building new — it
might cost slightly more to build new in some cases, but it
might also mean the home is worth a lot more at the end.”

CHOOSING A DESIGN
Finding the right design, making decisions about floor
plans and finishes, working out what facade will best
complement the streetscape ... these are all big questions
so we asked Rawson Homes’ Knockdown Rebuild
Specialist, Ally Codling, for her expert advice.
“One of the most common things people want from
their new home is space,” says Ally. “We often have clients
coming in that have been in their family home for seven to
10 years and are looking for a better-sized home offering
more space and a more fl exible layout. Just as importantly,
they want to make better use of their land, optimising
their outdoor space, too. This is also the case with clients
who have bought a property in their ideal location with
the intention of knocking it down and rebuilding. Space
maximisation is always a priority.”
Before deciding upon a design, there is much to
consider. “I like to bring the process back to basics. How
many bedrooms and bathrooms do they need, will they be
regularly having guests stay over, will a home offi ce be
required, is there a view they want to capture?” says Ally.
“From there we can work backwards to choose and refi ne a
design that will meet their individual requirements and work
with the size and topography of the site.”

The San Marino Executive shows you

how to maximise your site’s outside

space. mcdonaldjoneshomes.com.au

This Brisbane display home,

the Hayman 39, shows the kind

of master bedroom a KDR can

deliver. porterdavis.com.au

Open-plan living is the goal of most

KDRs. Pictured, the Bordeaux Urban.

mcdonaldjoneshomes.com.au

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feature | knockdown-rebuild