What’s the best approval pathway for my home renovation? When you are looking to build a new home or undertake a major renovation in Sydney, you are generally presented with two options for getting your plans approved: Development Application (DA) or Complying Development Certificate (CDC). While each option presents its own pros and cons, the…

Unexpected costs when renovating a house are unfortunately a fact of life. You really cannot know the true condition of your floors, walls, roof until they are revealed, and unless you have easy access this may not be until you start demolition. However there are also some sneaky unexpected costs that seem to pop up…

So much work goes into a bathroom renovation; many trades from the builder and carpenter to plumber, electrician, waterproofer and tiler. There are so many stages where work can go wrong, however I find its right at the finishing line where tiny hiccups in tile placement or grout colour can really make or break how…

Space can be tight in Sydney to squeeze in a swimming pool! This month Renovating Mums chatted to Jess Canabou about how she went installing a small plunge pool in her back yard in the Northern Beaches. To help her budget Jess managed her pool installation as an Owner Builder…read on >>> Installing a small…

The approvals process for a renovation or build can be a minefield of confusion; does my project need a DA? Or can I submit a CDC? Or is it even Exempt Development? And what do all of these actually mean?!! Renovating Mums chatted to Gregg from Rapid Plans on what each of the different development…

We all want to stay in control of our renovation budget, and a fixed price building contract allows you to do just that. We chatted to the experts from Cape Cod Australia on what a fixed price building contract is, and why it really matters… Your architect or builder will likely give you a “ballpark”…

Looking to create more living space for your family in a semi-detached house? Renovating and adding a second storey addition is a popular option in many of Sydney’s suburbs. However, renovating a semi comes with its own unique form of challenges; common wall neighbours! We chatted to the experts from Cape Cod Australia for their…