All advice / Planning and cost
Why the choice matters more than the price
A bathroom renovation costs tens of thousands of dollars and takes weeks. The person you hire controls the quality, the timeline and the outcome. A wrong choice means rework, delays, or a result that does not last.
Sydney has hundreds of bathroom renovators. Some are licensed builders with decades of trade skill. Others are handymen with a website. The gap between them is not always obvious from a quote or a photo.
Check the licence first
In NSW, any home building work over $5,000 must be done by a licensed contractor. The licence is issued by NSW Fair Trading. You can check it on the Fair Trading website in under a minute.
A licensed builder has passed trade and business tests, holds public liability cover, and is backed by the Home Building Fund for work over $20,000. An unlicensed operator has none of this.
Elite Touch Renovations holds NSW Builder Licence 475204C. Adam Dawood has over 25 years of tiling and renovation skill. Omar Dawood is the licensed builder and civil engineer who founded the company in 2022.
Cover and warranty
Ask for proof of public liability cover — at least $10 million is standard for home work. Workers comp cover is also needed if the business has staff.
A written warranty protects you after the job is done. ETR provides a 10-year workmanship warranty on every renovation. Our contract guide explains what should be in your contract, including warranty clauses.
Portfolio and reviews
Ask to see finished projects — real photos, not stock images. A strong portfolio shows a range of styles, steady quality and care in the details.
Read reviews from named customers, not unnamed quotes. Kieran C wrote about our work: "The finished tiling was first class with good falls, neat consistent joints, clean cuts and no lippage."
Ken Chen noted that "Omar, Adam and the team did an excellent job renovating our main bathroom, ensuite and standalone toilet" and that "they were professional, honest and provided us with regular updates throughout the job."
How they talk to you
Good updates are the most common praise in renovation reviews — and the most common gripe when missing. Ask how the renovator keeps you in the loop. Do they send daily progress photos? Do they answer calls and messages fast?
Our design process guide explains how we handle the journey from first ideas to final plans. Farah Dawood leads the design phase, working with each client to turn their vision into a buildable plan.
The quote and what it should include
A proper quote lists every item: demolition, sealing, plumbing, electrical, tiling, fixtures, fittings and clean-up. It states the total price, the payment schedule and the expected timeline.
ETR provides fixed-scope written quotes after a free on-site measure anywhere in Sydney. Our guide to comparing quotes shows you how to read and compare them side by side.
Be wary of quotes that are vague, very cheap, or given without a site visit. A bathroom cannot be quoted well from a phone call or a photo.
Red flags to watch for
No licence number on the quote or website. No written contract. Pressure to sign fast. A request for a large upfront deposit with no staged payment plan. No references or portfolio. No fixed address or ABN.
Our ABN is 92 679 016 721. We are a family-run business — Omar, Adam, Farah and Mohammed Dawood — based in Granville, NSW. We have been renovating bathrooms across Sydney since 2022. Call us on 0411 752 334 for a free on-site measure.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a licensed builder for a bathroom renovation in Sydney?
Yes. Any home building work over $5,000 in NSW must be done by a licensed contractor. The licence can be checked on the NSW Fair Trading website. Unlicensed work is not covered by the Home Building Fund.
How many quotes should I get for a bathroom renovation?
Three is the standard advice. More than three makes it harder to compare without adding much clarity. Make sure each quote covers the same scope so you are comparing like for like.
What questions should I ask a bathroom renovator before hiring?
Ask for their licence number, proof of cover, a written warranty, a detailed quote with what is and is not included, a timeline, a payment schedule, and references from recent projects.
How do I check a builder licence in NSW?
Go to the NSW Fair Trading website and search by licence number or business name. The search shows the licence type, holder name, status and any conditions. It takes under a minute.
What is the Home Building Fund?
A government-backed fund that protects homeowners if a licensed builder cannot finish the work or fix defects — for example, if they become insolvent. It applies to home work over $20,000 in NSW. Unlicensed work is not covered.