Renovating is expensive. Guessing makes it more expensive.

Reno Rehab helps Victorian homeowners identify risks early, make better decisions and avoid mistakes that could cost thousands.

By Melbourne architect Rob Harris, 20+ years in residential renovation.

Start here

Not sure where your renovation stands?

Answer 5 quick questions and get a tailored roadmap for your project.

Start here — in under a minute →

Free · No sign-up

Your renovation.
Your money.
Your risk.

Enter your budget. See how far it could blow out.

Unexpected costs rarely come from one big mistake.

Wrong builder Wrong contract Missing scope Hidden costs Unrealistic allowances Unexpected variations Late decisions Site surprises

Reno Rehab helps you find those risks before they reach site.

Most homeowners enter the process with no system, no experience and no clear way to know what they have missed.

They make decisions involving hundreds of thousands of dollars while relying on people whose advice, responsibilities and interests they may not fully understand.

One missing item becomes a variation.
One vague allowance becomes thousands more.
One poor decision delays the next.
And the stress follows you home.

By the time the problems reach site, your choices are limited and fixing them is expensive.

From the same desk

Renovation stress is real.
This helps.

1 Minute Reset is a free breathing tool
built for the moments before.

A builder conversation. A site meeting.
A decision you're not quite ready to make.

Sixty seconds. No account.

Try it free →

Reno Rehab helps you understand the process before you commit, so your renovation does not take more from your finances, your family or your life than it should.

#1 problem

Hit unexpected costs — the #1 problem Aussie renovators face

Put their renovation on hold for financial reasons

Of DIY renovations go over the original budget

This isn't for you if…

You want interior styling tips.

Reno Rehab is not an interior styling course. We don't teach paint colours or inspiration boards.

It shows you how the renovation process actually works — what decision comes next, and where homeowners most often get caught out.

You will learn how to:

Test your renovation against your real budget

Understand who you need, and when

Identify permits, easements and property constraints

Choose the right designer, consultant and builder

Follow a clear process to assess and compare builders

Spot red flags before signing or paying a deposit

Uncover missing scope, exclusions and hidden costs in quotes

Understand allowances, contracts, variations and progress payments

Manage decisions during construction

Raise concerns before they become disputes

Identify defects before final payment

Know what documents and approvals you should receive at handover

You don't need more renovation inspiration. You need a process that helps you ask the right questions, recognise the risks, and make better decisions before mistakes become expensive.

Why I built this

You've finally got an architect on your side.

For 25 years, I've helped homeowners turn vague renovation ideas into realistic, affordable plans — and catch expensive mistakes before they reach site.

I've seen how quickly a good project can go bad. I nearly lost hundreds of thousands of dollars to the wrong builder myself.

Reno Rehab is everything I wish every homeowner knew before spending their first dollar.

You do not need to become an expert.

You just need to know what to ask, what to check, and how to make the right decisions.

Rob HarrisRegistered Architect · Melbourne

Why renovations go wrong

The cost of wrong decisions.

Most homeowners don't lose money because they're careless.

They lose money because they're expected to make hundreds of important decisions in an industry they've never worked in.

Budget blowouts Hidden costs Delays Wrong builder Variations Contracts Permits Poor design Defects Stress

Every one of these problems begins with a decision:

—Which builder do I choose?

—Is this quote complete?

—Can I trust this contract?

—Do I really need a permit?

—Is my budget realistic?

—Should I approve this variation?

—Am I asking the right questions?

Most homeowners don't know. Not because they're incapable — because nobody has shown them the process.

That's why Reno Rehab exists. It gives you the knowledge, tools and framework to make better decisions before they become expensive.

Step 01 - Where do I start? Getting your bearings
1. Welcome to Rehab
2. 01 - Your Partner Friendly Renovation Guide
3. 02 - Creating Your Brief
4. 03 - What is Possible On Your Land
5. 04 - The Lingo - Your Construction Dictionary
Step 02 - Meet The Professionals
1. Inside the Build: The Team Behind Your Renovation
2. Mortgage Broker - Darren Matthews - Matfin Home Loans
3. Building Surveyor - Sean McDonnell - Red Textas
4. Interior Designer - Nina DiMarco - YDM Design Studio
5. Interior Designer - Sarah Reid - SR&O Interior Design
6. Builder - Jonathan Lipshut - 360 Constructions
7. Builder - Kieran Hodson - Hodson Building Group
8. Builder - James Dobie - Critique Building & Construction
9. Builder - John Cartwright - Crisp Building Projects
10. Cabinet Maker - Jonathan Wynn - Wynn Joinery
11. Energy Rater - Tamar Boyd - Blue Lotus Rating
12. Pool Barrier Inspector - Adi Dahan - Poolside Inspections
Step 03 - How much is this going to cost?
1. The 4 Construction Budget Checkpoints
Step 04 - Architect, Draftsperson or Volume Builder?
1. The 4 Stages Before You Sign
2. Volume Builders
3. Checking Registration
Step 05 - Planning vs Building Permit: What do you need?
1. Planning Permits and Building permits
2. Should You Be An Owner / Builder?
3. Pools, Spas and Boundary Fences
Step 06 - The Rules That Control Your Design
1. Understanding Your Property
2. Planning, Building and 2nd Dwellings
Step 07 - Designing for Comfort, Efficiency and Lower Running Costs
1. Sustainable Design Explained - Simply
Step 08 - Layout, Cabinetry and Interior Design
1. Understanding Floor Plans
2. Interiors, Cabinetry, Kitchens & Bathroom
Step 09 - Choosing A Builder. The Tender Process
1. The Tender Process
2. After The Quotes Come In
3. Contracts & Locking In
Step 10 - Working with your builder.
1. The Building Process - On Site
2. Inspections and Conflict Resolution
Step 11 - The Home Stretch: What to Check Before You Move In
1. The Completion Sequence
2. Disputes, Mediation & Escalation Guide
Step 12 - The Finishing Touch: Real Stories. Real People.
1. Official Resources, Links & Reference Library (Victoria)
2. Homeowner Case Study — Sharon and Mark's Internal Renovation
3. Homeowner Case Study - Anna and Peter's Double Storey Reno
4. Homeowner Case Study - Adi and Jacqui's Two-Stage Renovation
5. Homeowner Case Study - Julie and Michael's single storey extension
6. Volume Builder Pathways
7. Voices & Stories
8. Congratulations! You have completed Rehab.

Not just videos — tools that do the work

Reno Rehab includes 30+ interactive tools to apply the course to your project.

Use them to:

Test your budget

Find missing costs

Compare consultant fees

Understand your permit pathway

Identify property and design constraints

Compare builder tenders

Check risky allowances

Track variations and payments

Prepare for site meetings

Record defects before handover

These are not generic worksheets.

They are built around the mistakes, questions and warning signs I see on real renovation projects.

↓ Check out the tools in the video below

Homeowners' insights

What homeowners wish they knew before renovating.

Renovating means months of decisions, invoices, disruption and uncertainty. Inside Reno Rehab, Melbourne homeowners speak honestly about:

—How they chose between renovating and rebuilding

—What surprised them once construction started

—How delays affected their lives

—What happened when communication broke down

—Where unexpected costs appeared

—How they dealt with difficult builder conversations

—What they wish they had understood before signing contracts or approving payments

These are not polished success stories.

They are real experiences from people who have lived through the process.

Reno Rehab exists so you do not have to learn every lesson the hard way.

↓ Listen to the homeowner interviews

Industry expert insights

Hear what professionals rarely explain before you hire them.

Reno Rehab interviews include:

Builders Interior designers Building surveyor Mortgage broker Energy assessor Cabinet maker Pool barrier inspector Other renovation professionals

They talk openly about the problems they see over and over — unrealistic budgets, incomplete quotes, poor consultant timing, financing pressure, cabinetry and design mistakes, approval issues, compliance problems, avoidable site costs, and the decisions homeowners leave too late.

This is the advice many homeowners only hear after something has gone wrong.

Hear it from those who do this every day.

↓ Hear the full interview library

Your renovation AI companion

An AI Companion by your side.

This is where you ask your personalised AI Companion — trained on Reno Rehab, not the internet.

Reno Rehab CompanionTrained on the 12-step system & 20+ years of experience

I'm having a bathroom and kitchen renovation done. It costs $80,000. My builder has asked for a 25% deposit and said we don't need a contract — is that true?

Use the Builder Red Flag / Green Flag tool first — a 25% deposit request and refusal to use a written contract are serious warning signs. Assuming your property is in Victoria, what your builder has told you is not correct. On an $80,000 renovation, the maximum legal deposit is 5%, which is $4,000 — not $20,000...

Full guided answer continues inside Reno Rehab

General educational guidance only — not legal advice. Confirm with Consumer Affairs Victoria or a construction lawyer.

Ask it about anything on your build:

A quote that doesn't look right A builder request you're unsure about A variation that feels excessive A contract term you don't understand A permit or approval question A defect or handover concern Whether something is a red flag What to do next

It helps you understand the issue, identify the risks, and points you to the exact Reno Rehab step, tool or checklist to use — every time a new question comes up.

The course gives you the process. The AI Companion is there for whenever the next question appears — throughout your entire build.

James · Critique Building Co

Jonathan · 360 Construction

Kieran · Hodson Builders

Jonathan · Wynn Cabinets

Nina · YDM Design Studio

Darren · Matfin Mortgage Broker

Drag, swipe, use the arrows, or your keyboard ← →

The Inner Circle Partner Network

Melbourne's best,
on your team.

Self-Paced members unlock 3 partner offers. Inner Circle members unlock all 15 — interior designers, builders, inspectors, tilers and tradespeople. Real discounts and direct access, hand-picked by Rob.

Tap any partner to see the offer. Contacts & member codes are revealed inside the course after you join.

Landscape & OutdoorUrban Spark StudioFree landscape planning call▾

Award-winning landscape architects — think about the garden and outdoor living early, before it's locked in too late.

Self-Paced: free 20-min online landscape & garden planning call
Inner Circle: extended 40-min call + outline advice + preferential design-fee rates

All members🔒 Unlocked inside the course

Window FurnishingsTip Top Blinds10% → 20% off + free motors▾

Curtains, blinds & awnings — planned early so privacy, light, glare and comfort are handled before you move back in.

Self-Paced: 10% off RRP on curtains, blinds & awnings + a dedicated contact
Inner Circle: total 20% off RRP + a free battery roller-blind motor per $1,500 spent

All members🔒 Unlocked inside the course

Interior DesignStudio AmbleDesign consult (20 min → 40 min + $250 credit)▾

Interior design direction before you lock in kitchens, bathrooms, joinery, lighting & finishes — a considered approach to how the home feels and functions.

Self-Paced: free 20-min video consult + early verbal design direction
Inner Circle: 40-min consult + tailored briefing doc + $250 credit + trade-pricing access

All members🔒 Unlocked inside the course

Interior DesignYDM Design StudioFree 30-min design consult with Nina DiMarco▾

Considered direction on layout, finishes, colours, materials and styling — before you commit to costly selections.

Complimentary 30-min Zoom consult with Nina DiMarco
Early design direction for planning & interior selections
Guidance on finishes, materials, colour, furniture & styling