The owner-builder guide library
Written by a construction professional, reviewed against how builds actually go wrong. Start with your state, or jump to the topic in front of you.
By state
Rules are state business — start with yours
By topic
Or jump to the decision in front of you
Approvals & permits — Permits, certifiers, the legal path
ACT owner-builder licence: the complete guide
How the ACT owner-builder licence works: eligibility, the training requirement, application steps, your obligations on site and when you sell.
NSW owner-builder permit: the complete guide
Who needs an NSW owner-builder permit, the course requirement, costs, insurance obligations and the 6-year disclosure tail — in plain English.
QLD owner-builder permit: the complete guide
Who needs a QBCC owner-builder permit, the course requirement, what you can and cannot build yourself, and the 6-year sale disclosure rules.
VIC owner-builder certificate of consent: the complete guide
How the VBA certificate of consent works, the eLearning assessment, what you can build yourself, and the 6.5-year sale rules — s137B report and insurance.
Trades & quotes — Choosing trades, comparing quotes
Money — Budgets, deposits, finance, traps
Deposit rules and payment schedules, state by state
What deposit a builder can ask for in NSW, VIC, QLD and the ACT, why oversized deposits signal trouble, and how to structure a payment schedule.
The owner-builder finance reality check
Fewer lenders, lower LVRs, stricter evidence: how owner-builder construction loans really work, and the order of operations that protects your money.
The owner-builder money traps guide
The seven traps that cost Australian owner-builders $15k+ — oversized deposits, allowance lowballs, variation creep — and how to spot each one early.
Build stages — Slab to handover, stage by stage
Reading done — want the answer for your build?
Guides cover the pattern; the services cover your project. Start with the free quiz or bring us your quotes.