Renovating is as much about planning and process as it is about design — and the mistakes that cost the most are almost always avoidable. These renovation advice guides cover budgeting and contingencies, council approvals and certifiers, choosing and managing trades, the right order to run a project, contracts and progress payments, and how to sidestep the surprises that blow out timelines. Start with our in-depth guides to hiring a builder, council approval, what an extension costs and how long a renovation really takes. When it's time to put numbers to your plan, our renovation cost calculator gives realistic 2026 Australian ranges, and the renovation planner turns them into a whole-project budget with a room-by-room checklist. To find and compare vetted trades in your city, use the trade directory. Get three itemised quotes for anything over $2,000, verify licences, and never pay large sums up front.
Renovation Advice for Australian Homeowners
Twenty-two guides, grouped by the stage you are at. Costs are Australian and are given as ranges.
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How Much Does a Granny Flat Cost in Australia? (2026 Guide)
A practical 2026 guide to granny flat costs in Australia: realistic price bands, cost breakdowns, council rules, site factors and ways to save.
What it costs
Price ranges by room and by project, updated for 2026.
Approvals, rules and owner-building
Council approval, owner-builder rules and where the lines sit.
Choosing and working with trades
Finding, checking and managing the people doing the work.
Planning and adding value
Sequencing the job, and what actually returns money.
