Before You Start: A Pre-Renovation Checklist for Melbourne Homeowners

The best bathroom renovations are decided long before a single tile is laid. The homeowners who end up happiest with the result are almost always the ones who did the groundwork upfront — setting a realistic budget, getting clear on what they actually need, and planning for the weeks of disruption before the first tradesperson arrives. Here's what to work through before you start.

Set a Realistic Budget First

Budget should come before design, not after — it's much easier to design within a number than to design your dream bathroom and then discover it costs twice what you planned. As a general guide for the Melbourne market:

• Small bathroom: roughly $12,000–$22,000
• Standard bathroom or ensuite: roughly $14,000–$25,000
• Luxury renovation (freestanding bath, premium tile, custom joinery): roughly $35,000–$70,000+
• Accessible bathroom modification: roughly $18,000–$35,000

Build in a contingency of around 10% for the unexpected — older Melbourne homes in particular can hide surprises behind the walls, such as outdated plumbing or existing water damage, once demolition starts.

Separate Must-Haves From Nice-to-Haves

Before you fall in love with a Pinterest board, sit down and split your wish list into two columns. This single exercise does more to keep a renovation on budget than almost anything else, because it gives you and your renovator a clear order of priority if trade-offs need to be made later.

Typical must-haves

• Fixing existing waterproofing or drainage problems
• Adequate storage for the household's actual needs
• Good ventilation and lighting
• Layout that works for how the space is actually used (family bathroom vs ensuite)

Typical nice-to-haves

• Freestanding bath
• Underfloor heating
• Premium natural stone finishes
• Smart shower controls or built-in speakers

Measure and Assess the Space Properly

Take accurate measurements of your existing bathroom, including ceiling height, window and door positions, and where existing plumbing enters the walls and floor. Note anything that might affect the renovation, such as an internal wall you'd like moved, or a window whose position limits where a shower can go. This groundwork means your on-site consultation is more productive, since the renovator isn't starting from zero.

Choosing Your Renovator

By this point you should have a shortlist. Confirm each renovator is licensed with the Victorian Building Authority and carries current insurance, ask for a fixed-price quote rather than a loose estimate, and check they offer a genuine workmanship warranty — ten years is a strong benchmark. A free on-site consultation, where the renovator measures the space themselves and talks through your must-have list, is the best way to compare quotes on an apples-to-apples basis rather than guessing at what each figure actually includes.

Understand Permits and Approvals

Most straightforward bathroom renovations that don't involve structural changes or moving external walls don't require a planning permit in Victoria, but building permits and compliance certificates are still typically required for plumbing and electrical work, and your builder should manage these as part of the job. If you're in an apartment or a body corporate–managed property, check whether you need body corporate approval before work begins, particularly for anything affecting shared plumbing risers or common property. If your renovation involves structural changes, such as removing a load-bearing wall or altering the building's footprint, a planning permit may be required — your renovator should flag this during the initial consultation.

Plan Around Daily Life During the Build

A full bathroom renovation typically takes several weeks from demolition to handover, and for most of that time the bathroom itself will be unusable. Plan for this before the first day of work, not on it.

• If it's your only bathroom, arrange access to a second bathroom (a neighbour, family member, or your workplace/gym) for the build period
• Ask your renovator for an expected timeline and check-in points, so you know roughly what's happening each week
• Clear the space fully before work starts, including removing personal items from cabinets and walls nearby
• Warn household members, especially kids, about noise, dust sheeting, and areas that will be off-limits
• Confirm parking and access arrangements for tradespeople, particularly if you're in an apartment building

Ready to Start Planning?

Working through budget, priorities, measurements and logistics before you approach a renovator puts you in control of the process from day one, rather than reacting to decisions as they come up. When you're ready to turn that planning into a fixed-price plan, Elevate Bathrooms offers a free, no-obligation on-site consultation for Melbourne homeowners, backed by licensed and insured tradespeople and a ten-year workmanship warranty on every renovation we complete.