In preparation for their growing family, Damien & Aimii converted their unused garage into a work studio with the help of a Refresh Renovations Specialist.
You may think that you can save some money on your home renovation by not hiring a project manager, but this couldn’t be further from the truth! Not only does having your renovation project managed by a professional alleviate your stress, but more often than not, it actually ends up costing you less.
With their family about to grow, Aimii and Damien realised they had to free up their back bedroom. Doing so meant finding a new workspace for Damien. Like many other families, their garage was going unused—collecting unwanted objects from all around the house—so they decided to convert it into a home office.
Aimii contacted Refresh when a previous designer was unable to deliver on what she and her husband wanted to achieve. They were initially quoted over $50,000 for their project, but after their free consultation with their Refresh Melbourne renovation specialist Leigh McDonald, this estimate was slashed by more than $10,000.
“The other designer didn’t really listen to what they wanted,” explained Leigh. “It was when Richard Naudi, the Construction Manager, showed them some photos of wall art, that they realised we fully understood what they hoped to achieve.”
Leigh proceeded to provide Aimii and Damien with concept drawings and estimates. This way, they knew exactly what they were getting for the price they were paying. If the clients didn’t like a certain element, it’s much easier and significantly more cost-effective to change something now, rather than during construction.
“From the initial enquiry right through completion, Leigh provided excellent customer service. He was friendly, knowledgeable and extremely responsive. We were always kept updated and there were no surprises,” tells Aimii.
As an experienced renovation specialist, Leigh was able to foresee any potential issues and provided the homeowners with cost-effective solutions. “The client wanted to replace the garage door with a window, so the garage could only be accessed from within the house. Our team made sure all of the cabinetry was placed in the garage before it was closed up,” explains Leigh.
Aimii instantly fell in love with the wall art designed by Leigh, while Richard designed the table according to Damien’s specifications. Both were made using Plyco panels from decoply.
“The design elements suggested by Leigh and Richard beautifully blend the new facade with the old, and the inside looks really special. It’s a much nicer space than we could have imagined,” confesses Aimii.
Leigh also walked the homeowners through what was required in regards to permits and applicants, all of which Refresh took care of for them.
“We chose Refresh hoping for an easy, all inclusive end-to-end process, and that’s exactly what we got. We highly recommend Leigh and his team,” says Aimii.
Once their garage conversion was complete, it was clear: Aimii and Damien couldn’t be happier with their decision to have their project managed by Refresh.
“The renovation finished on-time and on-budget, and we couldn’t be more pleased with the results!” concludes Aimii.
Do you have any home renovation plans? Get in touch with one of our qualified specialists now to schedule a free consultation!
Leigh McDonald is Renovation Consultant of 27 MAC Pty Ltd, a franchisee of Renovation Franchise , doing business in Melbourne
Actual costs vary by project. Plan ahead to reduce the impact of industry changes or disruptions. For more information see here.
If you would like to find out how Refresh Renovations can support you with a high quality, efficient home renovation, get in touch today. Your local Refresh Renovations consultant will be happy to meet with you for a free, no obligations consultation.