A first-hand account of a KDR project in inner-west Sydney — from the first council inquiry to moving-in day. The good, the bad, and the expensive surprises.
Sarah & Tom Wu
KDR Homeowners
When we bought our 1960s fibro house in Strathfield in 2022, we knew it was in bad shape. What we didn't know was how much we'd learn — the hard way — over the next 18 months.
The house had been a rental for 20 years. The fibro walls tested positive for asbestos. The roof leaked. The wiring was original. We got renovation quotes that came in at $350,000–$400,000 — and we'd still have a 65-year-old bones and a compromised layout. A KDR started making sense.
We hired a town planner for a pre-DA feasibility. Key findings: our 600m² block was not heritage listed (though we were in a street of heritage homes — nerve-wracking), CDC was available due to compliant setbacks, and our R2 zoning allowed a single dwelling of up to 8.5m height.
We chose to go DA anyway because we wanted a second storey that pushed the height slightly. Cost of town planner: $12,000 for the whole engagement.
We used an architect instead of a volume builder's standard plan. It added cost ($28,000 in architectural fees) but gave us a design that maximised our north-facing backyard and created the indoor-outdoor flow we wanted.
Lesson: Don't compromise on design. You live with it for 20+ years.
We'd budgeted $22,000 for demolition. The asbestos assessment came back with "Class A" contaminated materials throughout — not just the fibro but the floor tiles and roof sheeting too. Final demolition cost: $41,000. Surprise: $19,000. Have contingency.
Our DA took 11 months — longer than expected because one neighbouring property objected. The objection was about overlooking and privacy, which required design modifications to our upper floor windows. Lesson: neighbour relations matter. We wished we'd introduced ourselves and explained the project before lodgement.
Build took 8 months. We had a fixed-price contract for $870,000. Final cost after variations: $930,000. Variations included: upgraded kitchen benchtops ($8,000), electrical upgrades we hadn't specified ($12,000), landscaping not in original scope ($25,000), and a structural issue with the slab due to unexpected underground stormwater pipes ($15,000).
Absolutely. We now have a 4-bedroom, 3-bathroom home with a stunning kitchen, north-facing entertaining area, and a value that reflects what we put into it. Current comparable sales in Strathfield suggest our home is worth $3.8M–$4.1M. We paid $2.1M for the land. All in, we're very happy with the outcome — even if the journey had its stressful moments.
Our biggest advice: Build a contingency of 15–20% into your budget, start neighbour conversations early, and don't underestimate demolition costs if your home is pre-1990.
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