Renovating in Sydney is rewarding and occasionally bracing. Here is a short, honest guide to what to expect — so the surprises are good ones.
The stages
- Brief and feasibility — what you want, what the site allows, what it might cost.
- Design and documentation — concept, then developed design, then construction documents.
- Approvals — DA or CDC depending on the work; engineering and certifier sign-off.
- Construction — site set-up, demo, structure, services, lining, finishes, defects, handover.
The timeline
From the first conversation to handover, a meaningful renovation typically takes 12–18 months: design and approvals usually 6–9 months, construction 4–9 months. Cosmetic refreshes can be much faster; heritage and complex structural work can take longer.
The cost
In Sydney today, mid-range renovations sit around $3,500 – $5,500 per square metre. High-end work — bespoke joinery, stone, steel windows — sits well above. The biggest cost driver is rarely the size; it's the level of finish.
The most expensive renovation is the one you start with no plan and no contingency.
The most common surprises
- What's behind the wall is usually worse than expected.
- Council approvals take longer than you'd like.
- Selections (tiles, taps, lights) take more time than you expect.
- Living through a renovation is harder than you think.
What helps
A clear contract, a single point of contact, weekly progress meetings, and a contingency budget. None of these are exciting — all of them quietly make a project succeed.