Start with the same scope
Two prices can describe very different jobs. One may cover the house alone; another may include the shed, driveway, pool and specialist work. Send each contractor the same information and ask them to make exclusions clear in writing.
Describe the next use of the site too. A cleared block and a site prepared to your builder’s levels are different outcomes. If you need slab removal, excavation or a particular handover level, discuss it explicitly rather than assuming it is included.
| Part of the quote | What to clarify |
|---|---|
| Buildings and structures | House, additions, sheds, garages, fences and any shared or retained structures. |
| Ground and hard surfaces | Slabs, footings, driveways, paths, pools, stumps and below-ground items included or excluded. |
| Approvals and specialists | Who arranges each input, who pays its fees and what remains your responsibility. |
| Asbestos and other findings | What existing reports cover and how a discovery that changes the scope will be assessed. |
| Removal and disposal | Waste streams, transport, disposal costs and the records to be supplied. |
| Handover | Cleanup, retained features, documentation and the agreed finished condition. |
Check approval and specialist fees
We coordinate approval paperwork, certifiers, arborist reports and licensed trades for the agreed project. Ask which fees are included and which depend on further assessment. Coordinating an application does not guarantee that it will be approved.
In NSW, eligible demolition may follow the complying development pathway if the relevant requirements are met. Property constraints, including heritage considerations, can affect the available pathway. Confirm the requirements for your site with the appropriate council or certifier before committing to a start date.
Ask what needs to happen before the start
A proposed demolition date depends on the work that comes before it. Discuss approvals, access, utility disconnections, asbestos assessment and any work around trees or retained structures. These dependencies matter if a builder is waiting to take over the block. If heavy rain makes the site unavailable, confirm a revised planned date and update the builder and other booked trades before they attend.
NSW’s knockdown-rebuild guidance includes approvals, plans, licensed utility disconnections and waste planning. Share what you have already arranged so tasks are neither assumed nor duplicated.
Check allowances, exclusions and changes
Ask what the price assumes about the building and the site. An allowance should identify the work it covers, what still needs to be confirmed and how the final amount will be agreed. An exclusion should tell you what you will need to arrange separately.
Agree how a change will be raised before additional work proceeds. Ask who you will speak with, what information you will receive and how the effect on cost or timing will be recorded. If unexpected material is uncovered, stop the affected work and arrange assessment by the appropriate professionals. Agree any resulting scope, cost and timing changes before that work resumes. Keep the accepted quote and any agreed changes together.
What to send with your enquiry
Send the information you have, even if your building plans are not final. Identify anything still being decided.
- Property address and the work you want removed.
- Photos and available plans showing the house, access and retained features.
- Existing asbestos, engineering, tree or other relevant reports.
- Sheds, pools, slabs, driveways and vegetation you want included.
- Your proposed next use of the site and any builder’s handover requirements.
- Preferred timing, approvals already sought and trades already engaged.
Common questions
Can you give a demolition price from photos?
Photos help establish the likely scope and the questions to resolve. The information needed for a reliable quote depends on access, the structures, existing reports and site conditions. Tell us what you know and what still needs assessment.
Does the cheapest quote cover the same work?
Not necessarily. Compare the removals, exclusions, allowances, specialist fees, disposal and finished-site requirements. Ask about an unclear item before treating two totals as equivalent.
Does cleared-site handover mean ready to build?
Only to the extent agreed in the scope. Engineered levels, new drainage, compaction or further ground preparation should not be assumed. Share your builder’s requirements before the demolition scope is settled.