Renovations Around the Block: C&G on Renovating with Care

Local Community

Are you a Blockhead? Do you wait on the edge of your seat, anxiously awaiting the judges’ votes to see who has won the latest room reveal? You’re not alone! With more than 1.3 million people on average tuning into The Block, it is unsurprising the influence it has on our enthusiasm for renovation. Today, C&G dissects the renovation boom surrounding The Block, and provides some tips on how to best approach your own reno.


Almost at the completion of its ninth season, The Block has taken reality television by storm, and not just on the digital front. Each year The Block airs, the Australian public jumps on board and takes its renovation passion to a new level, “with spending across the nation get[ting] a $251 million boost”, according to information from the Housing Industry Association. Combined with the historically low interest rates, high clearance rates in the property market and the booming spring selling season, home owners are jumping at the chance to make profit from their DIY adventure. 

Considering renovating yourself? Don’t let your DIY dreams run rampant - there are many dos and don’ts when it comes to undertaking home improvements, and your hip pocket will benefit from taking a cautious approach. Last year approximately $380 million dollars was spent by householders employing tradies to fix their botched DIYs (as reported by Your Property Investment). 

Before you begin any renovations, you need to take a trip to your local council. They will be able to inform you of any limits on how much you can extend in any direction, be it due to council planning or heritage restriction. There are a multitude of guidelines to comply with, including how your property looks, how much of your land is covered by building structures and the distance from the boundary of the land to the building. 

Always get the experts in. Consulting with an architect, builder or project manager will always be helpful, as they may be able to suggest ways to save money, or increase the value of your reno. Similarly, plumbers, engineers and sparkies should be your first port of call when your construction dreams become a reality.