Renovating a home is one of the biggest financial decisions most Melbourne homeowners will make, and the difference between a smooth project and a stressful one almost always comes down to who you hire. With renovation costs across Melbourne ranging from a few thousand dollars for cosmetic updates to well over $50,000 for full kitchen, bathroom, or extension projects, choosing the wrong company can be an expensive mistake.
The good news is that most red flags show up early, if you know what to ask. Below are the ten questions every Melbourne homeowner should ask before signing a contract, plus what the right answers actually look like.
This is non-negotiable. In Victoria, any renovation work valued at more than $10,000 must be carried out under a major domestic building contract, and the builder must be registered with the Building and Plumbing Commission (formerly the Victorian Building Authority). If a company can’t immediately provide their registration number, walk away.
You can verify a builder’s registration yourself on the BPC’s public register before signing anything. A legitimate renovation company in Melbourne will never hesitate to share this information, and many will list it directly on their website or quote.
For any project worth $16,000 or more, Victorian law requires the builder to hold current domestic building insurance (DBI) covering your specific address before work begins. This insurance protects you if the builder dies, disappears, becomes insolvent, or fails to complete the work to a reasonable standard.
Ask to see the certificate of insurance, not just a verbal confirmation. A reputable renovation company will provide this as a matter of course, and it should match the address of your renovation.
Vague quotes are one of the most common sources of renovation disputes in Melbourne. A proper quote should clearly itemise materials, labour, fixtures, permit costs, waste removal, and any allowances for items like tiles or tapware. It should also state exactly what is excluded, such as asbestos removal, structural surprises behind walls, or council fees.
If a quote feels too good to be true compared to other Melbourne renovators, it usually is. Ask what happens if hidden issues are found once work starts, and get the answer in writing.
Many renovations in Melbourne, particularly those involving structural changes, plumbing relocations, or extensions, require a building permit, and some also require a planning permit from your local council. This is especially true for homes within a Heritage Overlay or Neighbourhood Character Overlay, common in suburbs like Hawthorn, Kew, Brunswick, and parts of the inner north and east.
Ask whether the company manages the permit process themselves or whether this falls on you. A renovation company that regularly works across Melbourne councils will know the specific requirements and overlay rules that apply to your suburb, which can save weeks of delays.
A renovation company that has genuinely completed bathroom, kitchen, or extension projects across Melbourne should be able to show you a portfolio relevant to your specific job, not just generic stock photos. Ask for examples of recent projects in a similar style, scope, or budget to yours, ideally with before-and-after photos.
It’s also worth asking if they’ve worked in your specific suburb or on a similar property type, such as a period home, a double-storey extension, or a small ensuite. Local experience matters because soil conditions, council requirements, and even trade availability can vary across Melbourne’s inner, eastern, western, and outer suburbs.
It’s common for a renovation company to subcontract plumbing, electrical, waterproofing, and tiling work. That’s normal, but you need to know who is doing what. Ask whether subcontractors are licensed and insured in their own right, and whether the same supervisor will be present throughout the project or whether you’ll be dealing with different site managers.
This matters most for trades requiring specific licensing under Victorian law, such as plumbing and electrical work, where unlicensed work can void insurance and create serious compliance issues down the track.
Ask for a written timeline, not just a verbal estimate. A trustworthy renovation company will also be upfront about common causes of delay in Melbourne projects, such as council permit processing times, weather, material lead times, or unexpected structural issues in older homes.
Be wary of any company that promises an unusually fast turnaround for a major renovation. Rushed jobs are where corners get cut, particularly on waterproofing and structural work that won’t be visible until problems appear months or years later.
Almost every renovation uncovers something unexpected once walls, floors, or old plumbing are opened up, especially in Melbourne’s older housing stock. Ask how the company handles variations: do they stop and get written sign-off before proceeding, or do costs simply appear on the final invoice?
Under Victorian building contract requirements, any changes to the scope of work should be documented and agreed to in writing by both parties. If a company is vague about this process, it’s a sign that cost blowouts could become a problem later.
In Victoria, domestic building work covered by a major domestic building contract comes with statutory warranties, including requirements that the work be performed in a proper and competent manner and that materials be suitable for their purpose. These warranties typically apply for six years for structural items and two years for non-structural items.
Beyond the legal minimum, ask whether the company offers any additional workmanship warranty of their own, and how they handle callbacks if something needs adjusting after the job is finished.
A genuine, established renovation company should be happy to connect you with recent clients, ideally from a similar type of project. When you speak to a reference, ask specifically about communication during the job, whether the final price matched the quote, how issues were handled, and whether they’d hire the company again.
Online reviews are useful, but a direct conversation with a past client will tell you far more about what it’s actually like to work with a company day to day.
Final Thoughts
Hiring a renovation company in Melbourne isn’t just about price. It’s about finding a team that’s properly licensed, transparent about costs, realistic about timelines, and accountable if something goes wrong. Asking these ten questions upfront takes very little time compared to the cost and stress of dealing with a poorly managed renovation later.
At Renovation Pro, we work on bathroom renovations, kitchen renovations, alterations, full house renovations, and extensions across Melbourne, and we’re always upfront about registration, insurance, permits, and pricing from the very first conversation. If you’re planning a renovation and want a clear, honest quote, get in touch with our team today.
This article provides general information about renovation industry practices in Victoria and should not be relied upon as legal advice. Requirements can change, and homeowners should confirm current rules with the Victorian Building and Plumbing Commission or Consumer Affairs Victoria before signing a contract.