Thinking of Renovating? Start Here
If you’re thinking about renovating, whether it’s updating a tired kitchen, extending for a growing family, or restoring a period home - the initial steps can feel like a maze. What do you need to do first? Who should you speak to? How much will it cost?
We specialise in guiding homeowners through this early planning stage, especially when heritage rules or architectural design is involved. Here’s where we recommend you begin.
Start With Clarity, Not Just Pinterest Boards
Before jumping into drawings or costing, get clear on what you want the renovation to do for your lifestyle. Are you solving a problem, like poor layout or lack of light, or are you simply needing more space? Try to define your goals, even roughly.
We often find that the best projects begin with homeowners who have a clear sense of why they’re renovating - not just what they want to build.
Understand What Might Affect the Process
In many parts of Melbourne, heritage overlays and local council rules will shape what you can (and can’t) do with your property. This doesn’t mean you can’t renovate - it just means there’s a layer of planning to navigate before any building can begin.
Knowing about these constraints early can help your architect or designer tailor plans that are more likely to be approved - and avoid costly redesigns later.
We’ve created a guide (links below) that explains this overlay process suburb by suburb, to help you get oriented before speaking with professionals.
Budgeting: Get the Foundations Right
No one likes unexpected costs - and one of the best ways to avoid them is understanding what’s included in your quote, and what’s not. Things like prime cost (PC) items and provisional sums (PS) are common areas where the budget can shift, particularly in complex renovations.
If you’ve never renovated before, getting a handle on these terms early makes it much easier to compare quotes and make informed decisions down the line.
Talk to a Builder … Early
Many people wait until after plans are drawn before speaking with a builder, however involving your builder from the start can help ensure the design is feasible, the budget is realistic, and the timeline is well understood.
We regularly work alongside architects from the concept stage to help clients stay aligned on scope and cost. It’s one of the best ways to reduce friction and get clarity early in the process.
Where to From Here?
If you’re at the beginning of your renovation journey, take your time, ask questions, and build a team who understands your goals —and your home.
We’ve put together a set of free planning resources on our Library page, created specifically for Melbourne homeowners. Whether you’re planning around heritage overlays, permits, or just want to understand how quotes work, it’s a good place to start.
And when you’re ready to talk, we’re here to help.
