Queenslander Raise Readiness Score

01. Do you own the property (or are you under contract to purchase)?

Required for a QBCC owner-builder permit.

02. Do you intend to live in the property after the renovation?

Owner-builder permits require you to occupy the property as your principal place of residence.

03. Do you have a rough budget in mind of at least $200,000 for the project?

A full raise and build-under in Brisbane is typically $250,000-$400,000+.

04. Have you checked whether your property is in a character or heritage overlay?

Character overlays can restrict what changes you can make to a Queenslander.

05. Do you have at least 6-12 months available before you need to start on site?

Planning and approvals typically take 3-9 months before any site work begins.

06. Are you prepared to manage licensed trades directly (or have experience doing so)?

Owner-building requires coordinating multiple trades across many months.

07. Have you had an initial conversation with a structural engineer about the raise?

An engineer can tell you if a raise is feasible on your specific property.

08. Have you checked your council zoning and height-to-boundary rules?

Higher raises can affect setbacks and building envelope calculations.

09. Do you have access to contingency funds of at least 15% above your estimated budget?

Variations are common. A 15% contingency is the minimum for a project like this.

10. Have you read or researched what the owner-builder permit process involves in Queensland?

Understanding the permit requirements before starting is critical.