who’s on my team?

FINDING YOUR DREAM TEAM— 1

WHO’S ON MY TEAM?

1 2 3 4 5 6

MODULE TWO : PDF ONE

2 — THE RENO SCHOOLM

OD

UL

E T

WO

- P

DF

ON

E

Setting yourself up for a successful reno

is all about how you manage the process.

And hiring the right people for your reno is

SO essential – it’s the magic that enables

us to complete our renos quickly. Believe

me when I tell you it’s a hell of a lot easier

to spend extra time during the hiring

process to find the right person than it is

to get the wrong person to do a good job.

Save yourself heartache by getting your

dream team right from the start. We

learned this lesson the hard way. In the

beginning, we were hellbent on getting

the cheapest trades so we could spend

more money on the fun stuff, like a million

pretty throw rugs and pillows. In the end,

this cost us time and money. #neveragain.

‘OK, Erin,’ I hear you say, ‘that sounds

great, but how can I make sure I get the

right people on the job?’ Well, the first

step is working out which trades and

experts you need on your team, and the

next is working out which of those trades you’ll

be hiring and managing yourself. If you’re doing

a large-scale reno, the two main trades you’ll

probably need to focus on finding are a builder

and a landscaper – don’t forget the garden! It

often gets trashed when you have lots of work

being done on a house, so it needs a lot of love

to bring it back to life.

WHO’S ON MY TEAM?

By Erin

4 — THE RENO SCHOOL WHO’S ON MY TEAM? — 5M

OD

UL

E T

WO

- P

DF

ON

E

First, let’s revisit the Scope

of Work (A.K.A. Your Ultimate

Reno To-do List) you created

in last week’s module. Using

that as your guide, run through

the table over the page and

tick any trades you think you

might need for your reno.

Don’t worry if you’re not sure

– just put a question mark in

that box.

WHICH TRADES DO I NEED?

WHO DO I NEED IN MY

DREAM TEAM?

6 — THE RENO SCHOOLM

OD

UL

E T

WO

- P

DF

ON

EWHO’S ON MY TEAM? — 7

The A – Z list of all the

trades and what they’ll do for you...

TRADE WHAT THEY’LL DO FOR YOU DO I NEED THEM

AIR-CONDITIONING

INSTALLER

Install or disconnect air-con systems – both split-system or

ducted. This is a specialist job – not one done by a builder.

ARBORIST

(A.K.A. ‘ Tree Surgeon’)

A qualified person who cares for trees. They’re certified and

trained in correct pruning procedures and are more likely to

follow professional practices to provide better outcomes for

your trees. This is often really important if you have a mature

garden and you are about to embark on a large-scale reno.

Lana’s beloved Bougainvillea needed some attention during

her reno to ensure it survived intact.

ARCHITECT

Design and draw the space according to your brief and submit

plans to council on your behalf. They can also manage the entire

design and construction process, if you want them to. Architects

are tertiary educated and great for new builds and whole house

renos with significant structural changes. They will have many

of their own design ideas, which can be helpful if you feel like

you’ve got no idea.

ASBESTOS

ASSESOR

Will visit your property to identify any areas which may contain

asbestos. They will take samples away to be tested, confirm

any presence of asbestos and provide advice on what material

(if any) needs to be safely and expertly removed. These guys

do not remove the asbestos, they simply confirm its presence

and will revisit the property after its removal to issue a clearance

certificate.

ASBESTOS

REMOVALIST

This person is qualified, licenced and fully trained in the safe

removal and disposal of asbestos. Don’t take any short cuts

here.

BUILDER

Builders can manage everything from reframing a house to

building a bunk bed. They can also hire and manage the other

trades on your build, if you want them to. This guy will be one

of your most important tradies and almost every home reno

needs one.

BUILDING DESIGNER

Great to engage when you’ve got your own ideas but need

some design help to make them a reality. Similar to an architect

but without the tertiary qualifications. They can design and draw

up your house plans and manage the approval process.

BRICKLAYER

(A.K.A. ‘Brickie’)Lay bricks for new walls and facades. This is a bit of a traditional

trade too. Many of them are older and really appreciate a cuppa

and warm smile.

CABINET MAKER

Build quality custom cabinets in any areas you require. These

are the guys that can design and build new kitchens, laundries

and bathroom vanities. Of course, you can get lots of options

off the shelf these days, but if you can afford it, invest in custom.

They also make custom robes, entertainment units, storage

cupboards – anything that you’d call a cabinet.

8 — THE RENO SCHOOL WHO’S ON MY TEAM? — 9


CARPENTER

(A.K.A. ‘Chippy’)Skilled in woodwork and timber construction. Often works

for a builder.

CAULKING SPECIALIST

(A.K.A. ‘ Silicone Guy’)

Seal joints or seams in various structures and some types of

piping. Your builder or tiler can also do this, but we’ve found

that if the job is big – like a whole house reno – it’s actually

cheaper to hire a specialist to do it. #nomoregaps

CONCRETER

Mix and pour concrete. This is usually specialist work

although sometimes your builder and his team can spread

the concrete. You’ll need concrete whether it’s for a slab to

build on, a pool surround, a driveway or a polished concrete

floor in an interior.

DRAFTSPERSON

Prepares technical drawings and plans based on your brief.

They often work with architects, but you can also hire them

to work directly with you, draw up your plans and submit

them for council approval, if necessary. They’re generally

more affordable than an architect but are less likely to

provide design direction. Good to use if you know what you

want. We use a draftsman for most of our renovations, except

Bon’s (she used an architect) and Lana’s, (she used a building

designer).

ELECTRICIAN

(A.K.A. ‘ Sparky’)

Install safe and code-compliant electrics throughout your

home for everything from power points to pendant lights,

heated towel racks, security systems and stereo systems.

Bathroom and kitchen renos will almost always require an

electrician. You’ll also need one if you are redoing a whole

house or installing a pool.

ENVIRONMENTAL

CONSULTANT

Complete reports such as a Basix Report, which is required in

NSW if you are lodging a DA in excess of A$50,000. Usually

a building professional or a Basix specialist can submit

these reports. NSW set the benchmark for BASIX so do an

online search to see what’s needed in your state, or ask your

architect/building designer.

FENCE INSTALLER

Build fences – these can be boundary fences or a picket

fence out the front. Some specialise in timber only while

others also work with metal and concrete. Even though your

builder or landscaper might offer to do this, you can often

get a better rate and a better result by getting the pros in

because they do fences day in, day out. It’s not a highly

regulated industry however, so make sure you check their

credentials and previous work. In our experience – good

fencing people are hard to find.


FLOOR INSTALLERInstall new flooring (whether that’s carpet or timber) quickly

and professionally or repair/rejuvenate existing flooring.

GLAZIER

Select, cut, install, replace and remove glass for windows,

doors, pool fences, glass balustrades and shower screens.

They also can install mirrors.

HANDYMAN

Install finishing touches and last-minute details. Don’t forget

things like door hooks and door stoppers! You could get your

builder to do this but unless it’s covered in the scope of work,

he’ll cost more than a handyman.

HYDRAULIC ENGINEER

Deal with the super-fun (#not) and often quite complicated

issues of water drainage and sewage systems to ensure

things are done properly and to code. You’ll need this person

when planning large- scale projects where the water run off

changes with your reno (e.g. at Lana’s Forever Home).

INTERIOR DECORATOR

Will provide similar help to an interior designer but comes

without the qualifications. Our creative director, Bonnie, is

living proof that you don’t need to be qualified to design

beautiful spaces.

INTERIOR DESIGNERWill work with the architect’s plans and recommend how

things should look from an interiors perspective.

LANDSCAPER

Help you master your garden, whether that means creating

the vision of what you want, or doing the actual digging,

planting, mulching and all sorts of other fun things like that.

They can also build decks, pergolas, driveways, landscape

pool surrounds, alfresco areas and lay down paving.

PAINTERPaint the inside or outside of your home. Nothing beats a

professional paint job.

PAVER

Lay down paving wherever required. From pool coping to

a new pathway or alfresco dining area. Some landscapers

do paving, but not all. Make sure you budget for all paving

requirements, as this can be a forgotten cost in a reno.

PLASTERER

Apply wall linings (like Gyprock) and then plaster walls and

ceilings to create a finished look in an interior space. They

can also put in decorative features such as cornices and

ceiling roses.

10 — THE RENO SCHOOL WHO’S ON MY TEAM? — 11


PLUMBER

Work on everything from storm water drains to fitting new shower

heads and installing toilets. A good plumber is worth their weight

in gold. You’ll need one if you’re renovating bathrooms, kitchens,

for whole house renos and if installing a pool.

POOL COMPANY

Most people use a pool company to install their new

pool. They will project manage the whole thing including

landscaping the surrounds (if you want them to). You may be

able to save money by organising the landscaping yourself

– but don’t put it off! There’s nothing worse than a gorgeous

pool with unfinished surrounds.

PROJECT MANAGER

Manages the details of your reno from start to finish and

takes responsibility for timelines and coordinating trades so

they are on site at the right time. Your builder will often be

willing to take this role on – and charge you for it.

ROOFER

Repairs or re-roofs your home. Roofing is another specialist

area that can also be dangerous work. You definitely want to

get the experts in here.

ROOF SPRAYER Specialises in spraying roofs to change their colour.

SCAFFOLDER

Safely plan, build and erect scaffolding structures and

platforms for construction above ground level. This is

specialist work that only the pros should do. Pulling down

scaffolding also needs to be done with care. Your builder or

painter would usually organise as needed for work above

ground level height.

SOLAR PANEL

INSTALLER

Install solar panels properly. This job needs to be done by an

accredited person so make sure you check credentials and

get the right person for the job.

STONEMASON

Cut and install stone (such as marble or Caesarstone) for

kitchens, vanity benchtops, fireplace surrounds, feature walls

or any other area where you want to use stone. Your cabinet

maker will often be able to recommend a stonemason.

STRUCTURAL

ENGINEER

Draw up engineers plans for larger scale renovations that

take into account all aspects of a building’s structure and

ensure its stability and compliance with building codes. They

work in conjunction with your architect/draftsman and your

builder. We almost always consult a structural engineer.


SURVEYOR

Accurately determines your property’s boundaries, and

prepares maps and survey plots accordingly. Your architect

or draftsman will ask for the Survey. You may already have

one from years prior otherwise you’ll need to get one drawn

up. Here’s what a Survey looks like.

TILER

Install tiles for floors, splashbacks, showers and bathrooms

professionally and quickly. They can also tile or pave outdoor

areas (so too can most landscapers so best to compare their

quotes) and can supply materials and labour to glue and

grout tiles, and in many cases seal tiles and silicone corners.

TREE LOPPER

Someone who will come in and simply ‘lop’ your tree by

renoving the tree’s limbs or branches to stubs. They can

also remove the tree entirely. If you’re wanting to keep the

tree take note that loppers are not educated in the art of

tree pruning and can sometimes do more harm than good

by cutting the tree back in a manner which can cause it to

eventually die. Proceed with caution.

UNDERFLOOR

HEATING INSTALLER

Install underfoor heating prior to flooring going down. This

is specialised work so it needs to be done by either your

builder or by the company who supplies and installs it.

Did you know you can use this under some engineered

timber floorboards? #awesome

WARDROBE INSTALLER

Build and install wardrobes. This person is often a specialist

in their field, particularly for the internal components such as

drawers. You can also use a cabinet maker.

WATERPROOFER

Put down waterproofing layers in wet rooms such as

bathrooms and laundries (and perhaps an outdoor terrace)

prior to tiling and flooring. Some tilers also do waterproofing

as well, so it’s worth asking. You’ll need to get certificates

for approval, so make sure you check their credentials

before hiring them. Don’t scrimp on this trade – if you get

the waterproofing wrong it’s expensive and messy to fix.

#ripuptiles #eek

WINDOW COVERINGS

INSTALLER

Install blinds and curtains. This is a trade that is often forgotten!

Make sure you plan ahead and book someone for this job so

you don’t end up with sheets on your windows. Your curtain

or blind company will usually have their own installers.

https://therenoschool.com/module-2-bonus/


OD

UL

E T

WO

- P

DF

ON

E

Believe it or not, that table isn’t even exhaustive,

but it does cover pretty much every trade

we’ve used. Lots of these are specialist areas,

so even though you may get lucky and find

a builder who can do some of these jobs (lots

of builders are also plumbers), it might work

out better (and cheaper) for you if you contract

those jobs out to people who do nothing but

that specific thing every single day. This also

means your builder can get on with his building

work rather than get distracted with tasks that

other tradies could be doing.

By now, we hope you are getting a feel for who

you need on your dream team, and which of

those trades you want to deal with directly.

Many of you will probably engage a builder

who in turn will hire the electrician, plumber

etc. It’s helpful to know who your builder hires

so you know who is on site and what info they

need from you to do their job effectively. That’s

why even if you only want to manage one or

two trades yourself, this week’s module is really

important for you to work through because

we’ll teach you how to work with your trades

effectively. And this will ultimately help your

reno run smoother and quicker.

I believe success hinges on finding the right

people to do your job. In the topics that follow,

I’m going to show you exactly how we do it.

PHEW! THAT’S A LONG LIST, AM I RIGHT?


OD

UL

E T

WO

- P

DF

ON

E 1.2.3.4.5.6.

How to find my dream team!

It’s one thing to know WHO you need ... it’s another to go out

and FIND them! There are loads of ways to get great tradies

on your team and it doesn’t have to be a daunting task. We’ll

share with you the 3 key places we go to find our go-to guys

... and we’ll help you weed out the best from the rest.

WORKED OUT WHICH TRADIES AND EXPERTS YOU NEED FROM TOPIC 1

SOME IDEAS ON HOW YOU’RE GOING TO FIND THE RIGHT PEOPLE FOR YOUR JOB FROM TOPIC 2

A PROCESS YOU CAN FOLLOW FOR BRIEFING TRADIES AND COMPARING QUOTES FROM TOPIC 3

TIPS AND TRICKS ON HOW TO KEEP YOUR RENO ON TRACK BY WORKING CLOSELY WITH YOUR TRADIES (AND YOUR TIMELINE) FROM TOPIC 4

AN UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT TO EXPECT FROM YOUR TRADIES AND ALSO WHAT THEY SHOULD EXPECT FROM YOU FROM TOPIC 5

NUMBERS IN YOUR BUDGET SPREADSHEET

Let’s recap! What’s Next ?MODULE 2 - TOPIC 2

Bonnie, Erin + Lana x

BY NOW YOU SHOULD HAVE...

MO

DU

LE

TW

O -

PD

F O

NE

T H E R E N O S C H O O L . C O M

# T H E R E N O S C H O O L

© T H R E E B I R D S R E N O V A T I O N S P T Y LT D 2 0 1 9

who’s on my team?

Documents