Step 1 / 5
How much are you changing?
- Start with what stays, what goes and what moves.
- Compare the same scope before comparing prices.
Planning budgets, including GST
- Essential Refresh
- $10,000–$20,000
- Selected cosmetic updates; suitable existing layout and wet-area work retained.
- Standard Renovation
- $30,000–$45,000
- Full strip-out and renewal, standard fixtures and finishes, generally keeping the layout.
- Premium Renovation
- $45,000–$70,000+
- Custom joinery, higher-spec finishes and more detailed design. Complex work can exceed this range.
Indicative bathroom planning ranges, including GST. Your written quote follows inspection and agreed selections. Size, access, structural repairs, hazardous-material removal and service relocations can change the budget.
More guidance
A surface refresh may retain the room layout and sound underlying work while replacing selected visible items. A full renovation usually removes old finishes and addresses the wet area, fixtures and services as a coordinated job. A reconfigured bathroom changes where fixtures sit, so the new design has to be assessed against the existing plumbing, structure and space.
Write down what stays before choosing finishes. A new vanity beside an existing shower is a different job from replacing both, removing tiles and moving a drain. Ask each contractor to describe exactly what they will remove, rebuild and leave in place. That is the starting point for a fair comparison.
Update selected finishes or fixtures. Retained wet-area work must be suitable.
Step 2 / 5
Look beyond the tiles.
- Condition: repairs, substrate and waterproofing.
- Services: plumbing, lighting and ventilation.
- Selections: tile size, fixtures and cabinetry.
More guidance
The room's size matters, but its condition and layout can matter more. Existing water damage, substrate repairs, waterproofing, ventilation, electrical changes and plumbing routes can alter the work after inspection. Tile format, extent of tiling, custom joinery, screens and fixture choices also change labour and materials. A compact apartment bathroom can still need careful delivery, lift access and waste removal.
Separate choices you control from conditions the inspection must confirm. Put your must-haves first: for example, a walk-in shower, more storage or easier cleaning. Mark optional upgrades such as feature tile or custom cabinetry. This keeps an attractive finish from hiding an unresolved service or wet-area question.
Step 3 / 5
Capture the room you have.
- Photograph every wall and any visible damage.
- Sketch fixture positions; add measurements if known.
- Mark each item: keep, replace, move or undecided.
More guidance
Make one page with the current floor plan, photos of every wall, approximate measurements and the age or known history of the room. Then list four columns: retain, replace, move and undecided. Include the shower, toilet, basin, bath, storage, lighting, ventilation and door. Add selected products only when you know them; otherwise describe the performance or look you want.
For each quote, create matching rows for demolition and disposal, repairs, waterproofing, plumbing, electrical, tiling, fixtures, joinery and finishing. Note who supplies each item, what is excluded, and what happens if hidden damage is found. A provisional allowance is useful only when the item and adjustment process are explicit.
Step 4 / 5
Compare the scope. Clarify the gaps.
- Match inclusions, exclusions and who supplies each item.
- Ask how allowances and changes affect cost and timing.
- Keep written answers; read QBCC's guide before signing.
QBCC: understanding the Consumer Building Guide
More guidance
Compare each quote against the same scope and product list. Check demolition, disposal, trades, access protection and making good. Mark every allowance, exclusion and undecided item. For each one, ask what is included, who supplies it and how a change would affect the price or timing. Keep the written answers with the proposal.
Illustrative example: one proposal includes a shower screen while another leaves it for you to supply. Put both on the same comparison row and confirm supply and installation before comparing totals. A lower headline price alone does not establish better value.
Before signing, read QBCC's Consumer Building Guide and ask the contractor to clarify the proposed payment stages and process for agreeing changes. QBCC explains that variations can affect cost and time. An indicative planning budget still needs a site assessment and written scope; it is not your contract price.
Step 5 / 5
Bring a clear starting point.
- Pick your must-haves and optional upgrades.
- Bring building rules if you live in a unit.
- A site inspection informs the written scope and price.
More guidance
Bring the worksheet, photos and a priority order. Say which decisions are fixed and which are open to advice. If the room is in an apartment, bring the building's renovation rules and identify access constraints early. You can then discuss the finish you want alongside the work needed to deliver it, rather than trying to reverse-engineer a price from a picture.
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