If you are one of many homeowners who love your neighbourhood but not the house you live in, there may come a point when you have to choose whether to renovate or knock down and rebuild. Perhaps the kitchen layout isn’t functional, the bathroom has seen better days and you could really do with a bit more living space.

While there is no one-size-fits-all answer, here we explore each approach to help you make a well-informed decision about which option will work best for you.

To start, consider these questions before making a decision.

Is knocking the house down to build a new one an option in your area?

For some homeowners, the option to knock down their existing property and rebuild is simply not feasible. This may be thanks to a number of surrounding factors including council planning regulations, heritage overlays, block size and so on.

It’s important to do your due diligence before getting underway. Not only to understand the limitations and constraints of your property but to have a clear idea of what exactly you’re seeking to achieve with your home.

How significant are your renovation requirements?

Especially when it comes to older builds, it is important to consider the current state of the home’s foundations. Structural issues, the orientation of the building, and problems such as rising damp or termites need to be evaluated professionally before making a decision.

Once you’ve assessed the home’s structural integrity, it’s also important to consider the scale of work involved to achieve your vision.

For instance, if you’re only looking at a new room or two, then a rebuild is likely going to be overkill for such a small-scale project. However, if you are pondering a large-scale renovation, with a budget into the hundreds of thousands, a home rebuild is a much better economic proposition.

After all, if you love where you live, but your home is feeling a little dated or in need of some serious TLC to remain habitable, knocking down to rebuild will allow you to create something better suited to your needs and what is popular in the local market.

Do you have the budget for a renovation?

When it comes down to it, your budget also plays a deciding role. Many homeowners will find they reach a tipping point at which a renovation becomes so extensive (and expensive) that it makes more sense to knock it down and rebuild.

If more of the house is being renovated than isn’t, then often it’s better to start again.

There’s also some peace of mind that comes with this decision. Namely, a rebuild will often have fewer unknowns given you won’t have to work with older structures and their quirks, which will save time and money. And don’t forget, in the long run, new homes are easier and cheaper to maintain too!

What are you trying to achieve with your home?

Renovating your home is a great way to upgrade certain features. Think kitchens, bathrooms, and outdoor areas. A sympathetic renovation can go a long way while allowing you to maintain the character of the home.

There are limitations, however, especially if you want to enjoy more living space or open-plan living areas. Building a home from scratch offers complete freedom over the layout of your home.

It will also give you a chance to make your home much more sustainable with positioning on the block and taking advantage of low-impact construction practices that builders like Glenvill use.

If you love your neighbourhood, but not your home, choose from one our thoughtfully pre-designed homes available in our Collection Range, which have been created to easily fit into urban blocks.

No matter which beautiful design you choose, you’ll find a Glenvill home that looks, feels and functions exactly how you dreamed it would. Get in touch with one of our expert Design Managers today and learn more about Glenvill Homes’ new build options.