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Melbourne full-home renovation costs depend on the amount of structural work, the condition of the existing house and the finish level. A local guide updated in September 2026 lists cosmetic whole-home renovations at about $80,000 to $140,000 and structurally involved renovations at around $140,000 to $300,000+.

Those estimates assume a standard three-bedroom metropolitan Melbourne home; heritage details, slab floors and council overlays can add cost and time. Use the figures as an early budget range, not a quote. Ask for an itemised scope and check whether design, engineering, permits, temporary accommodation and external works are included.

For 2026, Melbourne builder guides place ground-floor extension construction at roughly $1,800 to $4,000 per m² and second-storey additions at about $2,500 to $5,500 per m². These are indicative build rates, not complete project budgets; the final cost depends on the design, existing structure, access, site conditions and finish.

Different 2026 guides give different price bands, so compare like with like. One Melbourne guide notes its rates exclude design, engineering, permits, landscaping and service connections. Request an itemised quote based on the same drawings and inclusions, and ask which site costs or provisional sums remain allowances.

One Melbourne builder’s current guide estimates around 4 to 12 months for full-home renovation construction, with roughly 9 to 18 months overall when design, planning and permit approvals are included. These are indicative ranges only; project duration changes with the scope, structure, approvals, site and material lead times.

Ask for a project-specific program that separates design and documentation, council and building approvals, construction and handover. Confirm who is responsible for each approval and how changes or delays will be communicated. These are market examples, not a 7 Arc Build timeframe.

Many home renovations and extensions need a building permit, but some limited non-structural work may be exempt. A planning permit may also be required depending on the proposed work and the property’s council planning controls. The answer is specific to the scope and site - not simply the suburb.

Where planning approval is required, it must be obtained before a building permit can issue. Building work cannot start until the building permit is issued. Contact your local council for planning controls and a registered building surveyor for building-permit advice.

Victoria’s prescribed planning decision period is generally 60 days for standard applications and 10 business days for eligible VicSmart applications. These are statutory timeframes for a decision - not guaranteed end-to-end approval times or a promise that the council will grant the permit.

The clock can pause when further information or notice steps are required; calculation rules also differ between standard and VicSmart applications. Ask your council which pathway applies before building the time into your project program.

As at 1 November 2026, Victoria’s maximum domestic building contract deposit is 10% for contracts below $20,000 and 5% for contracts worth $20,000 or more. These are legal caps; a builder cannot charge a higher deposit under the current published rules.

The Domestic Building Contracts Amendment Act 2025 has had its commencement date moved to 31 March 2027. The deposit framework may change when the new provisions and regulations commence, so check Consumer Affairs Victoria’s current guidance before signing a contract near or after that date.

From 1 July 2026, Victoria’s Home Warranty scheme applies to eligible domestic building work valued at more than $20,000 for homes or residential buildings up to three storeys, unless an exclusion applies. It generally applies to eligible contracts signed on or after that date; older contracts may remain under Domestic Building Insurance.

Check the project’s eligibility and obtain the Notice of Cover for the specific job - eligibility alone does not automatically cover every project. The maximum assistance is $400,000 per home, subject to limits and exclusions. Home Warranty is not a blanket guarantee for every defect or contract.

Check a Victorian builder through the Building and Plumbing Commission’s (BPC) public registers before signing. Search by practitioner or business name or registration number, then confirm the registration is current, covers the type of domestic building work you need and has no conditions or limits that affect your project.

You can also check the BPC Compliance and Enforcement Register for published disciplinary or prosecution outcomes, noting that not every complaint or enquiry appears. The BPC replaced the Victorian Building Authority as the state building and plumbing regulator on 1 July 2025.

No, you do not need completed plans to make an initial enquiry with 7 Arc Build. You can begin by describing the home, the work you are considering, your priorities and your suburb. Drawings and specifications can be developed as the project scope becomes clearer.

Detailed drawings and specifications are usually needed before construction and help a builder price what is included. Victorian building guidance recommends finalising plans and the scope before building begins, because starting before they are finished can create extra cost or misunderstandings.