Guides for homeowners
Plain-English guides to drafting, approvals and building in NSW, written by our team.
Sam and Amanda AI break down DA, CDC and site questions in plain English. Amanda is an AI presenter, not a real person.
Why Council Asks for More Information (and How to Avoid the Delay)
A request for information can stall a DA for weeks. These are the usual triggers, from missing survey data to drawings that don't match each other, and how to avoid them before you lodge.
Read the guide→
BASIX Explained for NSW Homeowners
BASIX sets energy, water and thermal targets for NSW homes. Here's when you need a certificate, what it changes in your design, and why it has to match your drawings exactly.
Read the guide→
Knock-Down Rebuild in Sydney: What to Check Before You Start Drafting
Before a single line is drawn on a knock-down rebuild, a few site checks decide what you can build. Zoning, heritage, flood, bushfire, trees and sewer lines are the big ones.
Read the guide→
Can My Block Fit a Duplex? A Plain-English Site Check for NSW
Lot size and width, zoning, slope, driveway access and council minimums decide whether a duplex works on your block. Here's how to read your site before you spend on design.
Read the guide→
Granny Flats in NSW: CDC or DA, and What Your Block Needs
Granny flats are popular for family and rental income. Here's what the rules generally require, when a CDC works and when you'll need a DA, and the issues that catch people out.
Read the guide→
Why You Need a Detail Survey Before Drafting
Accurate drawings start with an accurate survey. Here's what a detail and contour survey shows, why it matters for height and overshadowing, and what happens when it's skipped.
Read the guide→
How to Read Your Drawing Set: A Homeowner's Guide
Site plan, floor plan, elevations, sections, shadow diagrams. Here's what each sheet in your set shows, what to check, and how to give feedback that keeps your project moving.
Read the guide→
How to Prepare for a Residential Drafting Project
What to gather before you engage a drafter: site documents, a clear brief, a realistic budget and a sense of the approval path.
Read the guide→
DA vs CDC: Which Approval Path Is Right for Your Project?
A Development Application (DA) is assessed by council on its merits. A Complying Development Certificate (CDC) is a faster path for projects that meet set standards. Here is how to tell which suits your project.
Read the guide→
5 Common Mistakes Homeowners Make With Drafting Plans
An unclear brief, missing site information, overlooked planning controls and late changes. Five common mistakes, and how to avoid them.
Read the guide→Tell us about your project.
Send us your address and what you'd like to do. We'll check the zone, the lot and your council's controls, and come back with the likely approval path and a fee proposal. Every project is quoted on its own.
We reply the same business day.