Building & renovating

Project planning, budgets, scopes, approvals, structural decisions, extensions, and renovation sequencing.

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Building & renovating guides

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A sound starting point

What to check first

Successful renovations define scope, approvals, risk and sequence before demolition. Early decisions are cheaper to change than work already installed.

Write the scope

List inclusions, exclusions, finishes, performance expectations and responsibilities so quotes can be compared fairly.

Confirm approvals

Check planning, building control, heritage, body corporate and licensed-trade requirements before committing to work.

Hold contingency

Older buildings conceal defects. Keep budget and programme allowances for investigation, lead times and corrective work.

South Africa · Australia · New Zealand

Regional context

Approval names and trade-licensing rules differ across municipalities, Australian states and territories, and New Zealand councils. Confirm the current local pathway, body-corporate or strata consent, heritage restrictions and required certificates before ordering long-lead items or demolishing. Keep written confirmation with the project record.

Plan the work

A better project brief

Investigate existing conditions

Measure, survey services and structure, assess moisture and identify hazardous materials. Price uncertainty explicitly instead of hiding it in optimistic allowances.

Coordinate one issued design

Keep architectural, structural, service and finish information on matching revisions so trades are not building from conflicting drawings.

Control decisions and changes

Record who decides, the deadline, cost, time effect and drawing revision. Verbal changes are difficult to price, schedule and prove later.

Plan handover before starting

List the inspections, certificates, warranties, manuals, spare materials, photographs and defect checks required at completion. Final payment should not be the first time missing records are discussed.

Common questions

Building & renovating quick answers

How much contingency should a renovation have?+

It depends on design certainty and building condition. Complex or older projects normally need more allowance than simple well-investigated work.

What should happen before demolition?+

Complete surveys, service checks, hazardous-material assessment, approvals, protection planning and a documented scope.

Should the cheapest renovation quote be selected?+

Not without checking scope, exclusions, allowances, programme, supervision, registration, insurance and relevant experience. A low total often reflects a different job.

What is a provisional sum or allowance?+

It is an estimated amount for work or goods not fully defined. Record what it includes, how adjustments are calculated and which decisions will convert it into a firm price.

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