Real estate services are the professional activities that support buying, selling, leasing and investing in property. In NSW, only a licensed agent can sell a home for a client. A construction group can advise on feasibility, costs, renovations and development, and that advice often decides the sale price.
This guide is for NSW homeowners, investors and first-time developers. You will learn which real estate services need a license, how to check a licensed home builder, and how to decide between renovating, rebuilding and adding a granny flat before you sell.
What are real estate services, and what do they include in NSW?
Real estate services are the professional activities that support buying, selling, leasing, valuing and investing in property. In NSW they include sales support, market appraisals, property marketing and investment guidance. Some of these functions are regulated. Anyone who sells, leases or manages property for a client must hold a real estate agent license issued by NSW Fair Trading.
Other functions are advisory. A builder can assess what a site will support, estimate construction costs and explain how a renovation changes buyer appeal. That advice sits beside the licensed sale, not in place of it. KK Global Constructions Group lists property sales support, investment property guidance, market appraisals, property marketing and development opportunities among its real estate services.
Which real estate services can a construction group provide?
A construction group can deliver build feasibility, cost estimates, renovation scoping and development planning directly. It cannot sell a client’s property unless it holds a real estate agent licence or works with a licensed agency. The table shows where each service sits.
| Service | Who delivers it in NSW | What a construction group adds |
| Selling a property for a client | Licensed real estate agent | Pre-sale repair and renovation scope |
| Sales appraisal | Licensed real estate agent | Build-cost input that shows what an upgrade adds |
| Formal valuation | Registered valuer | Not provided |
| Build feasibility and cost estimate | Licensed builder | Written scope, quote and timeline |
| Development opportunities | Builder or developer, with council approval | Site assessment and approvals pathway |
This split is the first thing to check when a builder advertises real estate services. Ask who signs the agency agreement, and ask who holds the license.
Do you need a licensed agent to sell a home in NSW?
Yes. To sell a home in NSW, an agent must hold a real estate agent license issued by NSW Fair Trading. Before marketing begins, the agent must sign an agency agreement with you. You can run a free license check on the Fair Trading website or call 13 32 20.
NSW agency agreements take four common forms. An exclusive agreement gives one agent the right to sell, and that agent can claim commission even if you find the buyer. A sole agency also gives one agent the right to sell, but you may find a buyer yourself. An open agreement lets you work with more than one agent. An auction agreement is an exclusive agreement for a property listed for auction. Read the fees, the estimated selling price and the term before you sign. The Fair Trading guide to agency agreements explains each form. If a builder offers to handle your sale, ask which licensed agent will sign the paperwork.
How do you check whether a home builder is licensed in NSW?
Search the builder’s licence number on the NSW Fair Trading licence check before you sign anything. Anyone doing residential building work worth more than $5,000, labour and materials included, must hold a Fair Trading licence for that type of work. On jobs above $20,000, the contractor must also provide Home Building Compensation cover.
1. Ask for the licence number and licence class in writing.
2. Enter the number in the Fair Trading licence check. Confirm it is current and covers your type of work.
3. For work above $20,000, ask for the Home Building Compensation certificate before you pay a deposit. Verify it with the SIRA cover check.
4. Confirm the contract is in writing. Jobs above $20,000 need a full home building contract with a payment schedule.
5. Keep the deposit at 10% of the contract price or less.
Fair Trading has cancelled contractor licences after complaints about defective, incomplete work done without Home Building Compensation insurance. A two-minute search is cheap protection. Licensed home builders should give you their number without being asked.
What are the main NSW home building thresholds?
Five sets of figures cover most NSW residential building decisions: $5,000 for licensing, $20,000 for compensation cover and full contracts, 10% for deposits, six and two years for warranties, and 450 and 60 square metres for granny flats. Confirm each against NSW Fair Trading before you sign, because thresholds can change.
| Rule | Figure | Source |
| Builder licence needed | More than $5,000 (labour and materials); any value for specialist trades | NSW Fair Trading |
| Home Building Compensation cover and full contract | Work worth more than $20,000 | NSW Fair Trading, SIRA |
| Maximum deposit | 10% of the contract price | NSW Government, Fair Trading |
| Statutory warranties | 6 years (major defects), 2 years (other defects) | NSW Fair Trading |
| Granny flat limits | Lot of at least 450 m2; floor area up to 60 m2 | NSW Planning |
What do custom home builders handle from approval to handover?
Custom home builders manage planning, approvals, construction and handover for a house designed around your land and brief. Typical services include new home construction, architectural homes, knockdown rebuilds, duplex and dual occupancy builds, and turnkey packages. KK Global Constructions Group lists all five under its custom home building service.
A knockdown rebuild replaces an existing house on land you already own. A turnkey package delivers a finished, move-in-ready home. Before you sign, ask who lodges the approvals, who pays the certifier and when each progress payment falls due. Contracts above $20,000 must include a payment schedule, so get the answers in writing. Browse the completed and current projects to judge finish quality yourself.
Do home renovations increase property value before a sale?
Renovations can raise a sale price, but the return depends on scope, local sale prices and finish level. Kitchens, bathrooms, extensions and open-plan conversions are the common choices. Spending more than comparable sales in your suburb support rarely returns the full cost. Get a written scope and a local appraisal first.
Pros
• Fresh finishes widen the pool of buyers at inspection.
• Repairs made during the work cannot surprise a buyer’s building inspector later.
• An extension adds floor area that comparable sales can reward.
Cons
• Hidden defects behind walls can push the cost above the quote.
• Approvals can add weeks before work starts.
• Over-capitalising can leave you with a house priced above its street.
Our guide to a home renovation designed around the way you live shows how to scope work around daily use, which also helps resale. Licence rules apply: home renovations above $5,000 need a licensed builder.
How do granny flat builders fit into an investment plan?
A granny flat is a self-contained second dwelling on the same lot as an existing home. It earns rent, houses family or adds resale appeal. In NSW it is generally limited to 60 square metres of floor area on a lot of at least 450 square meters, and only one is allowed per property. It cannot be subdivided and sold separately.
Approval normally comes as complying development, issued by an accredited certifier under the State Environmental Planning Policy (Housing) 2021 and lodged through the NSW Planning Portal. Sites that miss the complying rules need a council development application. Slope, easements and bushfire overlays can add cost or rule a site out, so test the lot before you buy plans. The NSW Planning guide to secondary dwellings lists the controls. Granny flat builders such as KK Global cover detached and attached designs, custom plans, turnkey packages and approval support. Lots under 450 square metres cannot use the complying development pathway.
What does property development involve for a first-time investor?
Property development means adding or reshaping dwellings on land through construction, subdivision or a change of use. A small NSW investor usually starts with a knockdown rebuild, a duplex or dual occupancy, or a granny flat. Each path needs a feasibility check, council or certifier approval, and a licensed builder.
Feasibility compares what the project costs with what the finished property can sell or rent for. Carrying costs matter, because interest, rates and insurance accrue while approvals run. Council rules on lot size and zoning differ by area, so read the local environmental plan before you buy land. Tax and ownership structure change the profit, and a builder cannot advise on either. Speak to an accountant and a solicitor before you sign. KK Global lists development opportunities among its real estate services.
What is the right order to appraise, build and sell?
Start with a market appraisal, then price the work, confirm approvals, verify the builder’s licence and insurance, build in stages and hand the paperwork to your agent. This order stops you spending money before you know what a buyer will pay.
1. Book a sales appraisal with a licensed agent to set a target price.
2. Ask a licensed builder for a written scope and quote.
3. Confirm the approval path: complying with the development certificate or development application.
4. Verify the licence and the Home Building Compensation certificate before you pay a deposit.
5. Release payments against completed stages, not calendar dates.
6. Collect the occupation certificate for new builds, plus compliance certificates and the insurance certificate, for the sale contract.
Should you renovate, rebuild, add a granny flat or buy elsewhere?
Renovate when the structure is sound. Rebuild when the house has reached the end of its useful life. Add a granny flat when the lot is at least 450 square metres and rental income is the goal. Buy elsewhere when the land or zoning limits what you can build.
| Option | Best when | Main risk | Approval path |
| Renovate | The structure is sound and the layout can improve | Hidden defects push cost above the quote | Depends on scope: exempt, complying or DA |
| Knockdown rebuild | The land suits you but the house is near the end of its life | Higher cost and a longer timeline | Complying development certificate or DA |
| Add a granny flat | The lot is 450 m2 or more and rent is the goal | Slope, easements or bushfire overlays add cost | Complying development certificate or DA |
| Buy elsewhere | The land or zoning limits what you can build | Search time, purchase costs and a new market to learn | Not applicable |
What do statutory warranties cover after the build?
Every residential building contract in NSW carries statutory warranties under the Home Building Act 1989. Major defects are covered for six years from completion. All other defects are covered for two years. NSW Fair Trading runs a free complaint handling service if a dispute starts.
The warranties require the work to be done with due care and skill, with suitable materials and in line with the law. Builders cannot write their way out of them in a contract. Protect your claim early. Photograph defects, keep emails and report problems quickly, because the clock runs from completion. If the period has passed, Fair Trading and the NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal (NCAT) may be unable to act. Ask your builder to explain how they handle defect reports after handover.
Who are these services not for?
These services are not for buyers who want the lowest price with no written scope, for people who need legal, tax or financial advice, or for anyone expecting a builder to sell a home without a licensed agent. A construction group informs these decisions. It does not replace a solicitor, an accountant or a licensed agent.
Small jobs under $5,000 in labour and materials sit below the NSW licence threshold unless they are specialist trades, so a local tradesperson may suit them better. Owner-builders who supervise work above $10,000 on their own home need an owner-builder permit, which is not a building licence.
How do you start with KK Global Constructions Group?
Request a free consultation, then move through scoping, approvals, construction and handover. KK Global Constructions Group operates from Condell Park, NSW, and takes enquiries Monday to Saturday, 7:00am to 5:00pm, on 0478 820 160 or 0458 888 899.
Read the building process for each stage, meet the team on the about us page, or see the wider KK Global group. When you are ready, book a free consultation. Use these real estate services as a checklist: confirm the licence, confirm the cover, confirm the agent, then confirm the scope in writing.
Real estate services FAQ
Are real estate services the same as property management?
No. Property management covers leasing and running a rental for an owner. Sales support covers marketing and selling a property. In NSW both sit under the real estate agent licence, but they involve different agreements and different duties. Ask any provider of real estate services which one you are buying.
How much does a granny flat cost in NSW?
Cost depends on floor area, site slope, service connections and finish level, so a written quote for your lot is the only reliable figure.
Can I sell a granny flat separately from the main house?
No. A secondary dwelling cannot be subdivided from the main house and sold on its own. It stays on the same title as the principal dwelling, which is why buyers value it as rental income or family space rather than a separate asset.
What is the maximum deposit a builder can ask for in NSW?
The Home Building Act 1989 prohibits asking for more than 10% of the contract price as a deposit before residential building work starts. On jobs above $20,000, also ask for the Home Building Compensation certificate before you pay anything.
How long do I have to claim for building defects in NSW?
Statutory warranties run six years from completion for major defects and two years for all other defects. Report problems early, photograph them and keep your emails, because Fair Trading and the Tribunal may not act once the period has passed.
Do I need a licensed builder for a small renovation?
Residential work worth $5,000 or less in labour and materials generally does not need a builder licence. Specialist work such as plumbing, electrical and air conditioning always does, whatever the cost. Above $5,000, the builder must hold a NSW Fair Trading licence for that type of work.