Here are some ideas on how you can upgrade your property without building plans. Home renovations can really spruce up a place. But, getting building plans can be tedious and stressful. This article shows you ways you can renovate your property that will not require building plans.

1. Build Small Structures

You can build certain small size outdoor structures such as pergolas, greenhouses, tool sheds, etc. which would not require you to change your building plans, but you will still need permission from your local municipality. Most local municipalities have a form that you can complete for minor building work. Usually, the municipality will want to know what type of structure it is, what its intended function will be and where on the erf the structure will be located.

2. Do Interior Work

As long as the renovations do not affect the structural safety of the property, you are allowed to knock down internal walls to make the space bigger, for example, to create an open-plan appearance that will change the appearance and sense of a home – This will also appeal to potential purchasers.

However, be completely sure that the wall you are knocking down isn`t a load-bearing wall, it is also recommended to check the requirements of your local municipality before doing any renovations. Besides creating the phantasm of extra area, you can also change the windows by switching from the vintage home windows to aluminum windows. Just remember not to alter the size of the doors or windows as this will require amended plans.

3. Paint your home or update roof tiles

Painting the inside or outside can make a big difference. It will give the illusion of a newly renovated home. 

If you have the old, red roof tiles, why not change them to black tiles to give the home a more modernized look. If you are making use of similar materials to what was used before, you will not require approval.

If your property is older than 60 years or is considered a heritage site you will not be able to do any renovations without a permit from the South African Heritage Resources Agency (SAHRA). It is highly recommended that you check the requirements of your local by-laws before doing any kind of renovations.  Building illegally is a big problem and it can cause major long-term problems for homeowners in terms of when it comes to insurance, selling the property, fire hazard, and so forth. It’s always better to be safe than sorry.