Renovate or knock down and rebuild?
The honest answer depends on four things, and sentiment is only one of them.
What condition is the existing structure in?
Footings, roof structure, damp history and previous unpermitted work all matter more than the appearance of the house. A beautiful home sitting on failing footings can be more expensive to save than to replace.
What does the planning overlay allow?
In parts of Adelaide, demolition simply isn't on the table, or a rebuild would come with constraints tighter than what you already have. This is the first thing to check, not the last.
How much of the original do you actually want?
Some people want the rooms; others want the facade and nothing behind it. Being honest about this early prevents paying to retain things you don't value.
What is the street worth?
In established suburbs, the character of the existing home is part of the value. In others, it isn't. That calculation is different in Hawthorn than it is on a new subdivision.
Thinking about a project? A first conversation with us costs nothing and is usually more useful than another evening on Pinterest. Get in touch.
Before you brief an architect.
Twelve decisions that quietly set your budget long before a single trade quotes — and what each one costs you to change later.
- Why site conditions beat floor area, every time
- Where heritage and council overlays actually bite
- The five specification choices that move the number most
- How to read a builder's quote — and what's missing from it