For Melbourne home buyers
What to Look for in a Kitchen Renovator in Melbourne
Kitchen renovation is the highest-frequency Victorian residential work. Cost band $25,000-$85,000 in 2026. Vetting focus: cabinetry manufacture, stone-benchtop supply chain, plumbing/electrical trade coordination, and the two-week turnaround myth.
VBA class
DBU or DBL
depending on scope
Cost band
$25k-$85k
2026, mid-market to premium
Duration
3-5 weeks
demo to hand-over
Warranty
6 years
DBC Act structural, per contract cabinetry
The vetting checklist that applies to every Melbourne specialist
BuildPilot does not yet match Melbourne builders. Until we do, this is the vetting method we would use ourselves. The first five checks below are specialist-specific; the rest are the core VBA + VMIA + ASIC checks that apply to every domestic builder working in Victoria.
- Ask if cabinetry is made in-house vs outsourced to a joinery - in-house typically delivers tighter tolerances and fewer install issues
- Ask their preferred stone-benchtop supplier and turnaround time (natural, engineered, quartz, sintered) - stone lead time is the number-one kitchen-reno delay
- Ask about plumbing rough-in and electrical rough-in coordination - who books the licensed plumber and licensed electrician
- Ask how they handle the "no kitchen" gap - client-supplied induction cooktops, temporary sinks
- Verify current VBA registration and category on the public register at vba.vic.gov.au/practitioners/register
- Verify no active or recent disciplinary decisions on the VBA disciplinary decisions list
- Confirm Domestic Building Insurance (DBI) will be issued in the builder's name for your contract price under VMIA (all residential work over $16,000)
- Search the ABN on abr.business.gov.au - name, GST status, date of registration
- Confirm the entity is not under external administration on the ASIC register
The two-week kitchen turnaround myth
Marketing sometimes promises a "two-week kitchen". Reality: cabinetry manufacture is 3-5 weeks lead time, stone template-to-install is 2-3 weeks after cabinetry, tiling adds a week, plumbing/electrical adds a week. Realistic Melbourne kitchen renovation timeline is 3-5 weeks on-site, plus 4-6 weeks of pre-site design, order and manufacture. Anyone promising 2 weeks is either sub-scoping or cutting corners.
The four red flags that end the conversation
These four signals correlate strongly with builders who have failed or entered administration in Victoria in the last three years. Any of them = walk away.
- Requested deposit exceeds 10% of contract value (Victorian DBC Act caps deposits at 5%)
- Vague or evasive answer on DBI eligibility for your specific contract price
- Refusal to name the Registered Building Surveyor or to let you speak to them independently
- Aggressive time-limited discount contingent on paying deposit before you have read the contract
Frequently asked
Do I need a Building Permit for a Melbourne kitchen renovation?+
Only if you move structural walls, or if the total works exceed the DBC Act threshold and involve a licensed trade. A cosmetic like-for-like kitchen (same layout, no structural changes) usually does not need a Building Permit - but it always needs licensed plumbing and electrical.
What is the typical stone benchtop lead time?+
2-3 weeks from template to install for engineered stone and quartz. Natural stone (Calacatta, Carrara) 4-6 weeks. Sintered stone (Dekton, Neolith) 3-4 weeks. Order stone at contract signing not at demo start.
Are DBI-covered kitchen renovations available in Melbourne?+
DBI (Domestic Building Insurance) is compulsory in Victoria for domestic building work over $16,000. That threshold covers most mid-market and premium kitchen renovations. Verify DBI is issued in the builder's name.
Can I re-use my existing kitchen appliances?+
Yes - freestanding oven, dishwasher, rangehood can transfer. Integrated dishwashers usually need to be replaced (different depth for new cabinetry). Cooktop transfer depends on gas connection.
Building in Adelaide instead?
Read our Adelaide equivalent