When you have a unit in a block, it comes with the territory where there are parts of the property that do not belong to you. There are common spaces that you share with others, and these can be difficult to manage when you plan to renovate.
In particular, when you want to change something as visible as the front panel, it may mean working in collaboration with other residents of your unit block. The decisions you make easily when working on an individual property must now be checked by other people whose property and living spaces may be affected.
Joy and Michael Williams, who have renovated many properties over the past decade, are well aware of this challenge. When they decided that the complex in which they owned a property needed some improvement, they knew that the first step was to "visit all the homeowners and contact the owners by email to discuss the project."
"Michael provided brochures and samples for everyone at the corporation's annual general meeting, and then we met at the block as a group. It can be time consuming and difficult, ”says Joy.
But it is worth it in the end, as shown in Joy's final result (see page 14). She mentions that one of the main reasons for the success of their exterior renovation is that they got acquainted with the building infrastructure and its operations – including the sinking fund, the budget for maintenance and repairs, past expenses and planned expenses – so they can effectively plan their major upgrade. Read on to find out how they did it.
"We visited all the homeowners and contacted the owners by e-mail to discuss the project"
FIRST STEP: CHECK WITH YOUR OWNERS
Even if you are just doing a cosmetic renovation, you may need approval from the owners' company, especially if it is outside. It is crucial to know exactly what you are getting into before you really start planning the project itself.
"It was important to review the details of the Owners Corporation certificate, which helps to understand the current financial situation, infrastructure and dynamics of the owners' corporation," said Joy and Michael.
If you are limited in scope after examining the certificate, little things like a nice new front door can add a much-needed touch to the outside of your property.
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You will often need to request a special levy in order to go ahead with an exterior renovation in a corporate setting. Be prepared with some proposals for a special levy structure that you can get agreement from other unit owners.
SECOND STEP: INTEGRATING THE COMMUNITY
Make no mistake – this type of reno is a group effort.
"We could say that the most important step is to involve everyone – or as much as possible -", say Joy and Michael.
What You Do With A Block Of Units Affects Everyone – The Project And Concept Can Be Yours, But Even If You Are Doing The Work, You Want The Neighbors To Be Agree with your plan and support you when you need it. an additional levy, otherwise there could be problems in the future, even on even minor details, such as a slight change in paint colors.
"Michael went to Bunnings and researched the popular exterior colors fashionable at the time. Finally, the group chose a color that we were all happy with, ”says Joy.
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If you want to renovate a block of units, try working with a smaller block, "preferably less than 10 units," say Joy and Michael. This means that your work affects fewer people and that it is easier to reach group consensus.
THIRD STEP: BE MORE COMPLETE
It is difficult to manage when things go wrong in a renovation project, but it is particularly difficult to go wrong when working with a collective group of owners in a unit block.
Finding the right trades can make a huge difference, especially when it comes to major work like rendering walls.
Take the time to carefully discuss the project with the contractors – be clear about what you expect from them. Make sure there is a mutual understanding of what is included in the quotes, as you don't want any unpleasant surprises regarding the cost once the job has started. And of course, get multiple quotes for each job; you don't know where to find the best deal.
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Regarding the selection of trades, Joy and Michael advise to "choose quality rather than a cheaper price." Research previous work by an artisan and look for journals and references. " You want someone who can do big jobs, rather than taking the risk of a cheap and joyful job that is not as experienced.
STEP FOUR: PREPARE THE PROPERTY
Once you have chosen a contractor, arrange for the special financing levy to be adopted as soon as possible. Then do a final consultation so you can start work.
"Contact the contractor to set a start date, then review all final details and do a pre-site inspection," advise Joy and Michael.
"Communicate the start date to all the owners by e-mail and a letter in each mailbox so that everyone is aware of when the project is going on."
You also want to make sure that other aspects of the property are ready for work – for example, doing garden maintenance before you start a paint job, so that one has no impact on the other.
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Before embarking on a cosmetic renovation, pay attention to light fixtures such as pipes, windows and entry doors. An old crumbling window that is in dire need of replacement can become a serious setback if left untreated early. Joy and Michael suggest organizing a "working bee" with other homeowners to help prepare the property.
FIFTH STEP: KEEP A SCHEDULE
When your renovation affects other homeowners, timing is a determining factor. You must work quickly and strictly adhere to the schedule you have given to the community.
"In our case, the duration of the painting process was set at one week, and during this period Michael went there every day to check on progress," says Joy.
Knowing that you are watching them makes entrepreneurs accountable and keeps them from slacking off. You can also spot problems early on; for example, the couple were able to ask the painter to redo a work they were not happy with, so that had no impact on the established schedule.
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Try to get feedback regularly from other unit owners so that they can express their concerns about work in progress early on. It also helps them to feel more involved in the process.
SIXTH STEP: CLEAR THE EXTERIOR
A little extra green will always be an advantage to enhance the appearance of your front facade.
There are different types of plants that you can grow depending on what CO allows. For example, climbers like star jasmine are important space savers that can help your paint job stand out.
You should also consider plants that are durable in most weather conditions so you don't have to risk having to replant often. If you like the idea of ??having a tree to accentuate the front facade, choose a thin and easy to prune species so as not to overwhelm the space.
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Before introducing plants into the front yard of your building, check with the owners' company to make sure it can receive the care and maintenance it needs. Dying plants can give off an air of general neglect.
STEP SEVEN: ADD PERSONALITY WITH LETTERBOXES
A new mailbox is a great way to COST the improvement of the aesthetics of your front facade while remaining functional. Aside from the standalone individual mailboxes, there are many products for multiple units, so that's something else you can decide as a group.
You can choose from elegant and minimalist designs for this modern urban atmosphere. Alternatively, you can opt for vintage looks that create a warm and original atmosphere. There are also mailboxes that only contain letters, but you can also get mailboxes with enough space for small packages. It all depends on what the community needs.
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Uniformity is best when changing mailboxes on a unit block. Mismatched boxes can be shocking and messy for an outside observer, so it's important to find a design that appeals to everyone.
STEP EIGHT: MAINTAINING THE EDGE CALL
Many factors contribute to the attractiveness of reducing the costs of a property, not just your front facade. Things like the condition of the greenery in the building's yard or garden can affect the way potential buyers or tenants see the property as a whole.
"Once the painting is finished and you are ready to sell, it is important to keep the maintenance of the garden and the building up to date for the duration of the sales campaign, because potential buyers can make a drive or walk in front of the property at any time, ”explain Joy and Michael.
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The gardener hired by the CO is generally responsible for the maintenance of the garden in the common areas, but it is always wise to check your responsibilities in terms of maintenance.
CASE STUDY
Joy and Michael Williams knew that the unit block they had purchased in Boxhill, Victoria needed a new paint job, and it was up to them to do it. to do.
The block was managed by an owners society (OC), so the couple examined section 32 of the OC certificate to determine the sinking fund and budget for the planned maintenance and upkeep. Other problems. They also contacted the chairman of the committee, who agreed to give full support to the project, including the exterior painting, landscaping and maintenance.
Joy and Michael contacted the other owner occupants of the block before the annual general meeting, where they presented their ideas. The couple prepared for this by getting quotes from contractors, so they came to the meeting, which made it easy for the others to say yes. Michael also researched fashionable paint shades at Bunnings so that he could provide samples to other unit owners.
"Michael spent 40 minutes to an hour going through the scope of work on site with each of the six contractors to make sure they all understood what they were offering. We made sure to include all of the common areas: the entrance hall, the stairwell, the hallways and all the doors to the units, "says Joy.
Once consensus was reached on the project, the owner company had to issue a special levy to finance it.
"The quote we chose was $ 19,000, which meant that we had to raise an additional $ 14,900 to cover the costs. It was $ 1,490 per unit – a one-time, affordable payment. »
Before the exterior could be painted, repairs and maintenance of pipes, windows and the garden were completed so that the painter could move freely in the building. Once the painting started, Michael went to the site daily to inspect it, gathering comments from other homeowners on the painting job.
The couple's strict attention to detail paid off and the finished product was a success.
"The response from the owners was fantastic! The completion of the work added significant value to our unit, and we also had very good feedback from potential buyers during the open inspections! »
Disclaimer: All products and prices indicated are correct at time of printing. The advice in this article is for general information only and should not be considered financial advice. Please make sure to speak to a qualified professional before making any investment decisions
