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Tim and Cassandra Kavanagh thank their lucky stars their baby Ron will “literally go to anyone who puts his arms out to him”.“He’s super cruisey,” Cassandra laughs.“Our family loves looking after him.”<img alt="IMG_6197 (2)" class="richtext-image full-width" height="1042" src="https://d2t3vhau9g43uy.cloudfront.net/media/images/IMG_6197_2.width-800.jpg" width="800">It’s a good thing, too. Tim and Cassandra are mid-way through the renovation of an ex-government house in Downer, the second stage in what will be a three-part process.Stage 1 was the complete demolition of the interior of the three-bedroom home, Stage 2 (which the family is currently in) is the front yard and front facade, while Stage 3 will be the extension of the home. The result will be a modern four-bedroom, two-and-a-half-bathroom home, in Canberra’s coveted inner north, by the end of 2023.<img alt="IMG_6199" class="richtext-image full-width" height="1063" src="https://d2t3vhau9g43uy.cloudfront.net/media/images/IMG_6199.width-800.jpg" width="800">While they’re not the only Canberrans who’ve seen <a href="/news/the-most-stunning-ex-govvie-transformations-on-the-market-right-now/">huge potential in an ex-government house and decided to renovate</a>, they’re probably only one of a handful brave enough to do so with a baby.For Stage 1 of the renovation, Tim and Cassandra – who both grew up in Belconnen –- had just eight weeks to get the house Ron-friendly. They’d leave their baby sleeping with Tim’s mum and head to the property at night to tear down walls, rip up flooring and completely expose the skeleton of the house.<img alt="IMG_2312" class="richtext-image full-width" height="629" src="https://d2t3vhau9g43uy.cloudfront.net/media/images/IMG_2312.width-800.jpg" width="800">They had just six weeks within that eight weeks to re-erect walls, lay new flooring, restore the roof and get a working kitchen and bathroom in.“I have no idea how but we did it,” Tim says.“It definitely helps that Cass is an incredible project manager and I own [electrician business] Elect Solutions!“By the time we moved Ron in, the interior was about 90 per cent complete.”Now in Stage 2 of the renovation, Cassandra washes clothes from a makeshift laundry out the back. (The current kitchen will become the new laundry / mud room in Stage 3.)<img alt="IMG_6201" class="richtext-image full-width" height="1059" src="https://d2t3vhau9g43uy.cloudfront.net/media/images/IMG_6201.width-800.jpg" width="800">Despite the challenges, Cassandra is absolutely in her element. She’s launched her own Instagram page, <a href="https://www.instagram.com/collaborativedesignco/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Collaborative Design Co</a>, detailing her renovation journey. And while she enjoyed the building process when the couple bought their first home in Watson’s Mount Majura development in 2018, she “adores” renovating.“There&#x27;s something really cool about bringing something that&#x27;s a disaster back to life,” she says.“So Tim and I are on different teams: for our next project, Tim would love to buy something, knock it down, rebuild, and I&#x27;m very much about bringing something back to life.“It’ll have to be scissors, paper, rock to decide!”<img alt="IMG_6198" class="richtext-image full-width" height="1061" src="https://d2t3vhau9g43uy.cloudfront.net/media/images/IMG_6198.width-800.jpg" width="800">Cassandra’s advice to people considering renovating while they have a bub?“Planning and patience,” she says.“It’s so much easier if your family lives close.”Tim: “Our families have been our saviours, they helped us with demolition and took waste away - small things that made a huge difference.”<img alt="IMG_6206" class="richtext-image full-width" height="1066" src="https://d2t3vhau9g43uy.cloudfront.net/media/images/IMG_6206.width-800.jpg" width="800">“It&#x27;s really stressful but such a cool challenge,” Cassandra says.“Also, I think our relationship has gotten stronger, and it&#x27;s really cool being able to have Ronnie around and be a part of it as well.“Ultimately, you’re creating something for the future of that little person which is hugely motivating and inspiring.”

Renovating with a baby: insanity or perfect timing?

Sometimes the unassuming three-bedroom place you drive past in Stirling every day is home to the most gorgeous bathroom you’ve never seen. Or the two-bedroom brick cottage in Kambah, buried up the back near the golf course, is a modern, cosy, creative dream.Say hello to eight listings we found this week that feature rooms we honestly weren’t expecting.<h2 data-block-key="fn4oh"><a href="https://zango.com.au/sale/52-attiwell-circuit-kambah-act-2902-51017/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">52 Attiwell Circuit, Kambah</a></h2><img alt="Attiwell Circuit KAMBAH.jpg" class="richtext-image full-width" height="530" src="https://d2t3vhau9g43uy.cloudfront.net/media/images/Attiwell_Circuit_KAMBAH.width-800.jpg" width="800">The inside of <a href="https://zango.com.au/sale/52-attiwell-circuit-kambah-act-2902-51017/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">this unpretentious three-bedroom home</a> in the south is nothing short of jaw-dropping. We’re in love with the duck egg-blue subway tiles in the kitchen and laundry, and what about That. Bath. Kambah never looked so good.<h2 data-block-key="35jm1"><a href="https://zango.com.au/sale/26-bunbury-street-stirling-act-2611-50240/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">26 Bunbury Street, Stirling</a></h2><img alt="Bunbury Street STIRLING.jpg" class="richtext-image full-width" height="530" src="https://d2t3vhau9g43uy.cloudfront.net/media/images/Bunbury_Street_STIRLING.width-800.jpg" width="800">Okay, this is the room that inspired the idea for this article. The bathroom of <a href="https://zango.com.au/sale/26-bunbury-street-stirling-act-2611-50240/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">this Stirling home</a>, with matching his and hers basins, a roomy, deluxe bath - and an even roomier shower - is the stuff of dreams when you clock off from the APS at 5pm. Get in quick.<h2 data-block-key="cocpm"><a href="https://zango.com.au/sale/90-macrossan-crescent-latham-act-2615-50918/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">90 Macrossan Crescent, Latham</a></h2><img alt="Macrossan Crescent LATHAM.jpg" class="richtext-image full-width" height="530" src="https://d2t3vhau9g43uy.cloudfront.net/media/images/Macrossan_Crescent_LATHAM.width-800.jpg" width="800">If we said the sexiest lounge room in Belconnen lives inside <a href="https://zango.com.au/sale/90-macrossan-crescent-latham-act-2615-50918/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">this house</a>, would you believe us?<h2 data-block-key="7p14i"><a href="https://zango.com.au/sale/50-67-ern-florence-crescent-theodore-act-2905-50964/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">50/67 Ern Florence Crescent, Theodore</a></h2><img alt="Ern Florence Crescent THEODORE.jpg" class="richtext-image full-width" height="530" src="https://d2t3vhau9g43uy.cloudfront.net/media/images/Ern_Florence_Crescent_THEODORE.width-800.jpg" width="800">It’s a <a href="https://zango.com.au/sale/50-67-ern-florence-crescent-theodore-act-2905-50964/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">classic late 1990s Theodore home</a> from the outside, but inside the kitchen is lit in LED lights and the bathroom is like something from one of your favourite hotels. Well worth an inspection.<h2 data-block-key="6htb4"><a href="https://zango.com.au/sale/1-15-crest-road-crestwood-nsw-2620-50896/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">1/15 Crest Road, Crestwood</a></h2><img alt="Crest Road CRESTWOOD.jpg" class="richtext-image full-width" height="530" src="https://d2t3vhau9g43uy.cloudfront.net/media/images/Crest_Road_CRESTWOOD.width-800.jpg" width="800">Priced at an accessible $339,000 to $359,000, <a href="https://zango.com.au/sale/1-15-crest-road-crestwood-nsw-2620-50896/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">this two-bedroom unit</a> has had a pretty extreme makeover. With its ‘wooden’ splash back, the fully-renovated kitchen is the highlight, and the apartment’s been painted with a modern colour palette.<h2 data-block-key="7oqdm"><a href="https://zango.com.au/sale/148-darwinia-terrace-chapman-act-2611-50929/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">148 Darwinia Terrace, Chapman</a></h2><img alt="Darwinia Terrace CHAPMAN.jpg" class="richtext-image full-width" height="530" src="https://d2t3vhau9g43uy.cloudfront.net/media/images/Darwinia_Terrace_CHAPMAN.width-800.jpg" width="800">Weston Creek has come up with the goods with <a href="https://zango.com.au/sale/148-darwinia-terrace-chapman-act-2611-50929/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">this two-bedroom townhouse in Chapman</a>. Check out the kitchen [insert love heart emoji eyes].<h2 data-block-key="4mnss"><a href="https://zango.com.au/sale/9-woolner-circuit-hawker-act-2614-50910/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">9 Woolner Circuit, Hawker</a></h2><img alt="Woolner Circuit HAWKER.jpg" class="richtext-image full-width" height="530" src="https://d2t3vhau9g43uy.cloudfront.net/media/images/Woolner_Circuit_HAWKER.width-800.jpg" width="800">Quaint cottage on the outside, <a href="https://zango.com.au/sale/9-woolner-circuit-hawker-act-2614-50910/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">modern dream on the inside</a>.<h2 data-block-key="1ljre"><a href="https://zango.com.au/sale/2-tuckett-place-calwell-act-2905-50947/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">2 Tuckett Place, Calwell</a></h2><img alt="Tuckett Place CALWELL.jpg" class="richtext-image full-width" height="530" src="https://d2t3vhau9g43uy.cloudfront.net/media/images/Tuckett_Place_CALWELL.width-800.jpg" width="800">If it’s the kitchen and the bathroom that sell a house, <a href="https://zango.com.au/sale/2-tuckett-place-calwell-act-2905-50947/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">this Tuggeranong gem</a> might well be sold before we even hit publish. Both rooms are a delightful surprise when you view the listing, and the black pinstriped walls in the bedroom are a little unexpected too.

8 listings with rooms we honestly weren't expecting

Looking to buy your first home or a new project? Look no further.This modest three-bedroom property in <a href="https://zango.com.au/research/suburb/fisher-act-2611/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Fisher</a> is rich in potential and marketed as “only limited by your imagination”.<img alt="52 Kambalda Crescent FISHER, ACT 2611" class="richtext-image full-width" height="532" src="https://d2t3vhau9g43uy.cloudfront.net/media/images/Screen_Shot_2021-05-15_at_10.36.14_am.width-800.png" width="800">The solid brick property at <a href="https://zango.com.au/sale/52-kambalda-crescent-fisher-act-2611-41421/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">52 Kambalda Crescent</a> dates back to the 1970s and is part of the ACT Government’s Public Housing Renewal Program which sets to deliver the Canberra community with more “modern” and “efficient homes”.Once inside, it is clear the home has a lot of value.There is a traditional fireplace in the living room, high ceilings throughout, and original timber flooring just waiting to be polished.<img alt="52 Kambalda Crescent FISHER, ACT 2611" class="richtext-image full-width" height="528" src="https://d2t3vhau9g43uy.cloudfront.net/media/images/Screen_Shot_2021-05-15_at_10.36.23_am.width-800.png" width="800">Across one level, the three bedrooms are decent in size and the two living rooms are inundated with natural light.There is a separate laundry which opens out to the garden.Selling agent <a href="https://zango.com.au/agents/moira-maloney/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Moira Maloney</a> of <a href="https://zango.com.au/agencies/maloneys-property/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Maloney’s Property</a> said the property “is a blank canvas and very liveable as is”.<img alt="52 Kambalda Crescent FISHER, ACT 2611" class="richtext-image full-width" height="535" src="https://d2t3vhau9g43uy.cloudfront.net/media/images/Screen_Shot_2021-05-15_at_10.36.45_am.width-800.png" width="800">According to Ms Maloney, the property opens itself up to a range of possibilities.“It lends itself to an extension because it has a lovely flat block to push out the living space, or someone could potentially knock it down and rebuild something”, she said.<img alt="52 Kambalda Crescent FISHER, ACT 2611" class="richtext-image full-width" height="530" src="https://d2t3vhau9g43uy.cloudfront.net/media/images/Screen_Shot_2021-05-15_at_10.37.01_am.width-800.png" width="800">The property is situated on a generous block at 731sqm, which offers the possibility to extend or build another house on the block, subjective to council approvals.Ms Maloney said a main selling feature is the “fantastic location.&quot; The property is just a short drive to Westfield in Woden and Canberra’s CBD.Ms Maloney said the property has received a good level of interest, with a number of investors showing a keen eye.<img alt="52 Kambalda Crescent FISHER, ACT 2611" class="richtext-image full-width" height="529" src="https://d2t3vhau9g43uy.cloudfront.net/media/images/Screen_Shot_2021-05-15_at_10.37.20_am.width-800.png" width="800">There is no doubt that this property is perfect for someone with imagination and looking to make memories in a new family home.The median sale price for property in <a href="https://zango.com.au/research/suburb/fisher-act-2611/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Fisher</a> is $660,000, according to the latest <a href="https://zango.com.au/research/suburb/fisher-act-2611/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Zango Data</a>. The median age is 39 and the current population is 3004.<img alt="52 Kambalda Crescent FISHER, ACT 2611" class="richtext-image full-width" height="535" src="https://d2t3vhau9g43uy.cloudfront.net/media/images/Screen_Shot_2021-05-15_at_10.36.03_am.width-800.png" width="800"><a href="https://zango.com.au/sale/52-kambalda-crescent-fisher-act-2611-41421/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">No. 52 Kambalda Crescent</a> heads under the hammer on 25 May at 12:30pm.View <a href="https://zango.com.au/sale/52-kambalda-crescent-fisher-act-2611-41421/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">52 Kambalda Crescent</a> in <a href="https://zango.com.au/research/suburb/fisher-act-2611/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Fisher</a> or contact <a href="https://zango.com.au/agents/moira-maloney/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Moira Maloney</a> on 02 6232 0148 at <a href="https://zango.com.au/agencies/maloneys-property/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Maloney&#x27;s Property</a> see all the other hot listings on <a href="https://zango.com.au/sale/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Zango</a>.

“A Blank Canvas” in Fisher Deemed A Renovators Delight

Been thinking about buying or building a new home, or doing a major reno? Now could be the time to do it with some Canberrans able to access more than $35,000 in grants and stamp duty concessions from today.The Federal Government has announced its brand new HomeBuilder scheme, offering $25,000 cash grants for new home purchases or major renovations. The scheme is designed to help keep the construction sector going and keep people in the building industry employed.To qualify for the scheme, you have to be building a new home worth less than $750,000 or renovating an existing property valued at less than $1.5 million, plus pass an income test.But don’t expect to qualify if you’re just keen to get your DIY on and give your house a freshen up. The grant is only eligible for renovations that cost between $150,000 and $750,000, and you must engage a licensed builder. It also excludes structures separate to the main property, which means adding a swimming pool, tennis court or shed won’t make the cut, and is only available to owner occupiers.To qualify for the HomeBuilder grant, applicants must be earning $125,000 or less if they’re single, or couples must have a combined income of less than $200,000. The scheme is available to people who enter into contracts between June 4, 2020, and December 31, 2020, so unfortunately that means if you’re already in the process of building your dream home, you’ll miss out.And the news gets even better for Canberra residents.On top of HomeBuilder, the ACT Government has announced that stamp duty will be waived or reduced for 12 months on new land or off-the-plan apartments in Canberra.Starting today and running until June 30, 2021, Canberrans who buy new land single residential blocks, or an off-the-plan apartment or townhouse, valued up to $500,000 will not have to pay any stamp duty. For purchases of off-the-plan apartments and townhouses valued between $500,000 and $750,000, stamp duty will be reduced by $11,400.So now might be the time to step up the search for a brand new home, or get working on those renovation plans. Start your search for land or off-the-plan properties now on <a href="/">Zango</a>.

Everything you need to know about the HomeBuilder grant and ACT stamp duty concessions

They spend their days selling other people’s houses and trying to get the best price for their clients in as little time as possible. So what do real estate agents do themselves to get the best outcome when selling their own properties?For agents Natalie Kokic Schmidt and Jason Anasson from McGrath, they not only recently sold their Casey home right in the thick of the COVID-19 restrictions, but they sold it for the price they wanted after only eight days on the market, listed exclusively on Zango.The three bedroom home was the first property the couple bought together, and like many people, Natalie said they debated whether they should rent it out or sell it. They ultimately decided to sell when they found another place they wanted to buy.When it came to listing their home, Natalie says they followed the exact advice they give all their clients.“We&#x27;ve been in the house for nine years now, and we took really good care of it, but we said if we&#x27;re gonna sell we need to do what we tell other people to do when they sell. So we repainted it to freshen it up, we got new carpet, and we put new blinds in throughout, and we also did new light fittings just to brighten it up,” said Natalie.As well as the updates, Natalie and Jason also had their home professionally styled, which is something they also suggest to clients to show off the property in its best light.After marketing the home exclusively on Zango, they had 30 people through within a week, all through private appointments which were essential at the time due to social distancing measures. After just eight days on the market, they accepted an offer.<img alt="NatalieJaseCaseyBefore.jpg" class="richtext-image full-width" height="600" src="https://d2t3vhau9g43uy.cloudfront.net/media/images/NatalieJaseCaseyBefore.width-800.jpg" width="800">Their lounge room before the updates (above) and then after the updates and professionally styled (below).<img alt="NatJaseCasey2.jpg" class="richtext-image full-width" height="480" src="https://d2t3vhau9g43uy.cloudfront.net/media/images/NatJaseCasey2.width-800.jpg" width="800">Natalie said they weren’t nervous about putting the property on the market during the COVID-19 restrictions.“Everything else we had on the market at the time was selling within two weeks, because there&#x27;s not much on the market at the moment,” says Natalie.“We&#x27;re really confident if you put your property on the market right now you don&#x27;t have as much competition, plus it&#x27;s winter and a lot less people list in winter. So again it was just doing what we recommend to others - we wanted to test that ourselves. But we didn&#x27;t expect it to sell so quickly.”For others selling their home, Natalie recommends following the same steps - do any work needed to get the house in tip top shape, and then get the home staged to show potential buyers how the space can be best used.“I recommend getting the property to a point where people can&#x27;t come in and negotiate down, because you&#x27;ve done everything that you possibly can right from the start to make sure that the home gets sold,” she said.“You&#x27;re trying to just remove any barriers for buyers, because buyers are nervous at the moment. Although they are buying, they&#x27;re still nervous, so you want to try and just show them that your home is ready to go - they don’t have to paint it or carpet it or put blinds in. And then adding staging shows them that they can use it.”

The tips and tricks real estate agents use when selling their own homes

‘I’ll get around to it one day’. Whether it’s repainting, repairing or upgrading something around the house, it’s likely you’ve used this excuse at some point. Well thanks to a certain global pandemic, we’ve never spent so much time inside our homes - and may never again in our lifetimes - so now’s the time to tackle those long overdue projects. Even if you’re the least handy person out there with zero DIY experience, here are some home upgrades you could easily have completed by the time we’re all released from iso.<h4>Paint</h4>It may seem like an obvious one, but a fresh coat of paint can completely transform a room. There may already be a room that’s been needing a fresh lick for a while, otherwise, why not experiment with a bold colour in a hallway or bathroom?<h4>Bathroom refresh</h4>If you’re looking to do a full bathroom remodel, you’re probably best to call a professional, but there’s plenty you can upgrade with limited skills. A modern faucet can give your bathroom new life. Just make sure you find a new fixture that fits the existing hole, and it’s an easy switch over with impressive results.<h4>Handle it</h4>One of the easiest ways to do an upgrade? Replace the handles on the cabinetry in the kitchen or bathroom. Even just adding interesting knobs and handles to a flatpack set of drawers or cabinets can completely reinvent it. And while you’re at it, painting the kitchen cabinetry can make it feel like new again without any major renovations (and it’s cost effective too).<h4>Easy tiling</h4>If you’ve got the skills, tiling is something you can do yourself at home, but if you’re looking for something a touch less involved, pick up some tile paint. It’s a simple and cost effective way to freshen up the bathroom tiles or even the kitchen splashback, without needing to rip them out and start again. And for those uncleanable lines between the tiles, grab some grout paint. For easy precision, try a grout pen. Getting that grout just right can be quite a mesmerising way to while away your days in iso.<h4>Give a piece new life</h4>Have you got a piece of furniture around the house that you can’t bear to part with but you’re not a big fan of as it is? If you’re a DIY newbie or even just looking for an easy fix, chalk paint is your friend. Just choose your colour, and paint straight onto the piece, no sanding required, for a velvety smooth, matte finish.<h4>Freshen things up</h4>Getting a bit sick of your living quarters and want something quick and easy to upgrade your space? Try moving things around. Even without buying anything new at all, don’t underestimate the power of switching things up. Reposition your furniture, switch around your art or rugs, or even just find new homes for trinkets and decorative pieces. Check the cupboards too for items you’d love to display but never quite found a good home for them before.<h4>Looking for a new home to decorate? <a href="https://zango.com.au/sale/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">You’ll find it on Zango</a>.</h4>

Easy home renovations you can tackle yourself while you’re stuck at home

If you&#x27;re on the hunt for a new home, <a href="https://zango.com.au/news/everything-you-need-know-about-homebuilder-grant-and-act-stamp-duty-concessions/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">last week&#x27;s announcement of the Federal Government&#x27;s HomeBuilder scheme</a> may have shaken up your search a bit. The scheme means home buyers could be eligible for a $25,000 grant for either a new home purchase, or if you&#x27;re doing major renovations.Thinking of buying a fixer upper and using the grant for renovations? You&#x27;ll only be eligible if you embark on renovations that cost between $150,000 and $750,000, and you must engage a licensed builder. <a href="https://zango.com.au/news/everything-you-need-know-about-homebuilder-grant-and-act-stamp-duty-concessions/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">You also have to pass a means test and abide by a few other conditions</a>.And there&#x27;s plenty more to keep in mind if you&#x27;re on your hunt for a home to do up. If you’ve watched any of the countless home renovation shows, it’s easy to have a rose-coloured view about the process. You find an unloved house which you can snap up way below market value, give it a bit of TLC, and a quick montage later, you’ve got a stunning, modern house. But not all fixer-uppers are created equal. While a bit of work and some updates can add thousands, some properties can turn into an absolute money pit.Here are some things to keep an eye out for when you’re looking for your own fixer upper:<h4>The location</h4>There are many, many things you can do to update a property. You can even completely knock it down and start again with the block as your blank canvas (depending on government approval). But there’s one thing you can never change about the block - its location. Think about the needs of whoever is going to live in the property, whether that&#x27;s yourself or a tenant, or even a future buyer. The perfect location is different for everybody, whether it’s close to schools, walking distance to shops, close to a university, easy access to the city, or easy access to escape the city.Also check out the surrounding area - the other thing you can’t change are your neighbours. Does it seem like a well-kept area? Is it mostly families? Young professionals? Retirees? Particularly if you want to stay and live in your renovated property, it’s good to know who you’ll be sharing a street with.<h4>The layout</h4>Unless you plan to completely gut the place, one of the other more difficult things to change is the layout. Does the space flow well and is it conducive to the sort of lifestyle you’re planning for the space? Leaving everything where it is and just doing cosmetic upgrades will save a fortune on your renovation. Also take note of where things like the sink, stove, toilet, shower and laundry are. While most can be given a modern upgrade fairly simply and cost effectively, moving them can require major plumbing or electrical work.<h4>The condition</h4>Now for the bulk of the job. Buying a fixer upper obviously means that the property is going to be far from tip top condition. But some problems are far more costly than others.Here you need to take into consideration your budget for the renovation, and your own skills. Are you an experienced renovator? Do you have a builder or tradesperson in the family who can do some of the more complicated work? Or will you have to outsource it all?Fixing some of the more cosmetic issues can be fairly cost efficient, and many can even be completed by someone with basic DIY skills. These include stripping wallpaper and repainting, installing new light fixtures or switches, painting kitchen cabinets or installing new ones, refinishing floors, retiling, landscaping or even adding a deck.Things like fixing the roof, replacing plumbing or electrical, adding or fixing air conditioning, complete kitchen or bathroom remodels, moving walls, or adding extensions to the existing property can be much more costly, and usually require getting professional help.But remember, <a href="https://zango.com.au/news/everything-you-need-know-about-homebuilder-grant-and-act-stamp-duty-concessions/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">to be eligible for HomeBuilder grant, your renovation needs to cost between $150,000 and $750,000</a>, and you must engage a licensed builder, so you&#x27;re more flexible to find a place that requires major upgrades.And make sure you get all the pre-purchase inspections to avoid hidden, costly, surprises.<h4>The legalities</h4>You might have big ideas and dreams, and already have the plans drawn up, but the local government may have very different ideas about what should happen on your property. And unfortunately, what they say, goes. If you want to make changes to the house, there are certain approvals you will need before you start. You can also check the contract of sale for any easements, which may restrict where you can build on the property. Properties that are heritage listed may also have stricter conditions when it comes to renovations - particularly keep an eye out for this in suburbs like Barton, Griffith, Forrest, Kingston, Ainslie and Reid.And even if you’re not making changes to the physical house, you may also need to get approval if you’re building a fence, landscaping, doing work on a verge or nature strip, replacing, modifying or creating a driveway, or adding a swimming pool or spa.Check with the <a href="https://www.planning.act.gov.au/build-buy-renovate/build-buy-or-renovate/approvals" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">ACT Government</a> or <a href="https://www.fairtrading.nsw.gov.au/housing-and-property/building-and-renovating" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">NSW Government</a>, depending on where you live.

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