Renovating your first home feels exciting and a little daunting. Good drawings steady the ship. They translate your brief into clear instructions for council, consultants and builders. Before you ask a drafter to start, line up the information that shapes scope, cost and timing. The list below keeps things practical, so you can move from idea to approved plans without wasted effort.
1) Define the brief that fits your life
Write one page that states the aim of the renovation, the rooms involved and the outcomes you want. Note must-haves and nice-to-haves, preferred materials and any design cues you like. Add rough dimensions from a tape measure and photos of every wall, ceiling, window and service point.
2) Budget, Allowances, and A Simple Cost Plan
Set a realistic range with a contingency. Builders often ask for clarity on finishes, appliances and fittings, so list brands or performance levels rather than vague notes. If prices shift, decide what can move to stage two. This discipline protects approval drafting Perth from constant change.
3) Gather the Site and Ownership Documents
Your drafter will check boundaries, setbacks and overlays that affect height, fire and flood resilience, and streetscape controls. Collect a current certificate of title and plan, any covenants or easements, and the latest feature and contour survey. Add bushfire, flood or coastal risk information if relevant, along with heritage or character area notes. Titles and plans come from the state titles office or your conveyancer.
A licensed surveyor supplies the feature and contour survey. Bushfire and flood mapping are published on state portals and by local councils. Water authorities provide sewer and water service locations. Heritage and character guidance are usually available from a council duty planner.If you’re comparing packages, many drafting services Perth providers request these documents upfront so pricing and timelines don’t wobble later.
4) Approvals Pathway and Timing
Most renovations need a building permit after design and documentation. Some also require a planning approval first, especially when streetscape, height, heritage or privacy controls apply. Ask your drafter to sketch the sequence: concept, planning set if required, detailed drawings, permit, tender, construction. Pencil in review windows for each stage so feedback lands on time.
5) Services and Structure, You Already Have
Locate the mains, meter box, switchboard, hot-water system, gas bottles or mains connection, sewer inspection points and stormwater. Photograph subfloor spaces and roof space where safe. Note wall types such as brick veneer, double brick or timber frame, and any cracking or moisture. This helps your drafter coordinate engineering early, which trims redraws later.
6) Comfort, Sustainability, and Future Use
Decide your targets for daylight, cross-ventilation, insulation levels and shading. If you plan to add solar PV or batteries later, say so now. Nominate durable surfaces for high-wear zones. Small, early choices can reduce energy bills and maintenance.
7) Neighbours, Privacy, and Overlook
In tight streets or small lots, sightlines matter. List windows that look towards neighbouring private open space and any level changes that invite overlooking. Your drafter can respond with sill heights, screening or window placement that meets planning rules and keeps good amenity.
8) Selecting A Drafter and Clarifying Deliverables
Compare experience, response times and the inclusions in a typical drawing set. Ask how redlines are handled, how many revision rounds are included and what formats you will receive. If you are shortlisting a drafting company Perth, look for consistent sheet standards, clear annotations and coordination with engineers and energy assessors. For homes, the right partner will calmly guide you through concept options, then lock detail only when decisions are firm.
9) Local Standards And WA-Specific Practicalities
Setbacks, private open space and overshadowing rules vary by council and lot type. So do bushfire attack levels and coastal wind categories. For a suburban extension, residential drafting Perth practices understand local plan-checking habits and common request items, which shortens the approval cycle.
10) Consultants You May Need
Simple renovations still benefit from timely input. Typical additions include a structural engineer for beams, lintels and footings; an energy assessor for compliance and star ratings; a surveyor for an updated feature and contour survey; a building certifier for permit lodgement in some jurisdictions; and a bushfire consultant where BAL applies. Lock the order of engagement so advice arrives before drawings firm up.For retail or office drafting, searching commercial drafting services near me can help you find teams familiar with tenancy and landlord standards.
11) Common Friction Points and How To Avoid Them
- Scope drift: lock your must-haves first and park extras for stage two.
- Late survey: book the survey early to avoid a standstill.
- Unknown services: mark sewer and stormwater paths before planning bathroom or kitchen locations.
- Neighbour objections: share concept massing early and stay open to small adjustments.
- Rushed selections: set a shortlist of fixtures and finishes before detailed drawings begin.
12) Final Pre-Start Checklist
Tick these off before day one: a one-page brief with photos and a room list; a budget range with contingency and staged options; a current title and a booked survey date; services located and photographed; an approvals path agreed and a simple timeline mapped; a shortlist of finishes, fixtures and appliances; a cloud folder created with tidy file names; and a consultant list with contact details and likely fees.
When you prepare well, drawing time drops and review comments ease. If you would like guided support from a Perth team that focuses on homes, explore residential drafting services for staged packages that suit first-time renovators. Clear inputs lead to clear drawings. That is the fastest way to move from idea to permit, then on to site with less stress.