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Do I need permission to renovate my apartment? Here’s what you need to know __________ Itching to get your apartment’s reno underway? This could be the perfect time to get the ball rolling with approvals while you have the extra hours at home. Getting the Owners’ Corporation go ahead can take anywhere up to 6…

Sunday, 5 April 2020 OUR RESPONSE TO COVID-19 As this extraordinary situation continues to evolve, we’re doing everything we can to support our staff, subcontractors and clients. In response to Covid-19, federal and state governments have acknowledged the construction industry as an essential service and determined that it should remain in operation for the time being. We…

Sustainable design – How to cut your home’s future running costs when renovating. Climate change has undoubtedly been the main headline this year with sustainability a leading design trend of 2019. We are all looking at ways to live better and reduce the impact we have on our environment. A major renovation presents a great…

10 Costs That Could Blow Your Renovation Budget __________ So it’s time to create that much-needed extra space with a house extension that you have been dreaming about. You have a budget and great ideas, but you have heard horror stories from renovator friends about hidden costs, nasty surprises and the dreaded budget blowout. The…

Dreaming of Christmas in a newly renovated home? Christmas is nearly upon us again and if you were looking for council approved plans in your stocking this year, you’ll probably be disappointed. The good news is, you can have your whole new extension built by next Christmas, but you’ll have to spring into action right…

Extending your home? 7 design elements that will have a big impact. _______ What kind of architecture do you like? Mark throws the question back at Ava in this fun video, but it got us talking about the architectural styles we love and different design elements that can have a big impact when extending your…

What are some of the planning costs and fees to expect for a typical project _______ Along with architectural drawings, numerous other third-party consultants are required to support your application for approval to build. Below are some of the listed fees and consultant reports usually required that go into your Preliminaries Survey You will need…

Why it pays to get a concept design and cost analysis done _______ You’re busy planning your extension or second storey addition. You might have a fixed budget, need to seek financial assistance, or you may want to know upfront how much this dream reno is going to cost before you pay for council approvals.…

What is the difference between a DA & CDC _______ When building a new home, you have two options to ensure that you are meeting all the regulatory requirements: A Development Application (DA) is a merit-based assessment conducted directly through the local council. The council will have a set of guidelines and parameters that will…

PLANNING A RENO? HERE ARE 4 BIG REASONS TO ENGAGE A BUILDER FIRST _______ Here you are, reno ready. You’ve got big ideas but also a budget you need to stick to. Time to call the architect or designer. Right? Whether to call the architect or builder first is a common question for most people…