Choose a bathroom renovator only after verifying their legal business identity, current NSW licences, relevant insurance and recent bathroom experience. Compare itemised quotes and use a written contract covering scope, timing, variations, trades, waterproofing, approvals and handover documents.
Verify licences, insurance and experience
Check evidence independently rather than relying on website claims or price alone.
- Identity and licensing: Ensure the legal business name, ABN and licence details match the quote and contract. Search the current NSW Government licence register and confirm the licence is current, belongs to the contracting party and covers the proposed work.
- Specialist trades: Confirm which licensed trades the job needs, who will engage and supervise them, and who will complete waterproofing or other regulated work. Do not undertake regulated plumbing or electrical work yourself.
- Insurance: Request current evidence of public liability insurance and workers compensation where applicable. If NSW home building compensation cover applies, obtain the required certificate before paying a deposit or allowing work to begin.
- Relevant experience: Review recent bathrooms comparable in scope. Contact references directly and ask about communication, workmanship, delays, variations and defect rectification. Compare independent bathroom renovation reviews with the contractor’s portfolio.
Photographs and reviews are useful, but they do not replace licence, insurance and contract checks.
Compare quotes on the same scope
Give each renovator the same written bathroom renovation scope of work. Then compare what is included, excluded, allowed for or unclear, not just the total price. Confirm whether existing bathroom plumbing should stay or move before comparing allowances.
An itemised quote should identify, where relevant:
- demolition, site protection and waste removal
- plumbing, electrical, waterproofing, tiling and painting
- fixture installation, final cleaning and specified finishes
- prime cost items and provisional sums
- exclusions, assumptions and separately charged work
- payment stages and applicable taxes
- the proposed bathroom renovation timeline.
No reliable price can be set without a defined scope. Layout, site access, property location, materials, labour, current market conditions and defects found after demolition can all change the work. Resolve exclusions, provisional allowances and variation rules in writing before choosing a contractor.
Check the contract and accountability
Use a written contract that meets current NSW requirements for the project. It should state the parties, detailed scope, price, payment stages, start and completion arrangements, warranties, dispute process and how variations must be priced and approved. Do not rely on verbal promises or sign documents with unexplained blanks.
Nominate one person or business responsible for coordinating trades and delivery. The contract should say who will:
- schedule and supervise subcontractors
- protect the property and manage access
- determine whether strata, council or other approvals are required
- manage bathroom waterproofing compliance
- rectify defects
- provide required warranties, compliance records, trade documents and product information at handover.
Approval and documentation requirements vary by property and work. Confirm them before signing rather than accepting a general promise that everything will be “certified”. Contact our bathroom renovation plumbing team if you need a licensed plumber to assess the proposed layout or provide a clearly defined plumbing scope.