About Us Our business began as a husband and wife team in 1994 when the privatisation of building permits was introduced in Victoria. We work throughout Victoria, including Melbourne, bayside and regional areas. The business got moving with a lot of hard work and literally going door to door, informing people of the changes in legislation (that they no longer had to get building permits issued by local council) and building up a client base from the ground up. We were determined from the outset to not be just another Building Surveyor business that stamps plans and inspects sites. Building Surveying and building permits are the foundation of what we do but it is only one small part of our total service commitment. Being part of a successful building project is immensely satisfying and our team gets particular pleasure from: assisting commercial projects to get completed on time working with other building professionals to increase the value of their services helping owner builders with direction on correct processes Working with a strong team focus KWA has a strong united team with a focus on: being fair and consistent in decision making a personal approach consistent Regulation interpretation the most economical compliance in mind having at least one Building Surveyor in attendance in the office to answer technical enquiries throughout the day so that all projects run smoothly providing additional services to assist all parties throughout the whole process There are so many Regulations that affect all types of projects and it is impossible for a designer, builder or owner to know them all or even where to access the regulations. This is why our service is valuable at any stage of the project. Services Building Assessments Bushfire Site Assessment Before Design During Design Pre Application Advice Protection Works & Notices Building Permits Inspections Ongoing Consultations Get the building assessment experts on board to guarantee the quality of your building regulatory process. Every professional venture requires years of training, expertise and knowledge earned through both failure and success. That’s why athletes have coaches, authors have editors, politicians have advisers and the building industry has Building Surveyors. Your Building Surveyor is your professional building partner Building is a highly regulated industry with complex and ever changing legislation. To keep on top of everything that you need to know in order to build would be almost impossible. At the very least it would require an exorbitant amount of time and research. Building Surveyors know the landscape, rules and requirements. They can do everything from liaising with architects, builders and local government to sourcing essential documents, carrying out building assessments and advising about any structural issues that arise. It’s time to de-bunk the three Building Surveyor myths All they do is issue you a building permit A good Building Surveyor is part of your team, right from the start. The earlier you get them on board, the better they will know your project and the fewer problems you will run into along the way. In fact, a Building Surveyor firm such as KWA see ourselves as your consultant, all the way through from first thoughts to walking in the front door. You can only find them in local government Building permits and inspections were privatized in Victoria under The Building Act of 1993. You can appoint your own Builder Surveyor and you do not have to go through your local council at all. A Building Surveyor will liaise with council on your behalf about any documents, letters, site or building assessments you require. They are the enemy of owner builders It’s very simple. Building Surveyors want to help you get your building project built. They don’t want to stop or hinder this process. They want to make sure it goes as smoothly as possible by making sure you are informed about rules and regulations every step of the way. They can act as an interpreter between all the regulatory bodies, contractors and industry information you have to wade through. They have no vested interest in your property except to ensure it is safe to occupy and it complies with regulations. Vet your Building Surveyor the way you would any professional You only want to work with the very best. This is especially true because once you have appointed a Building Surveyor, you cannot change who you have appointed (unless you go through a lengthy process via the Building Commission). So make sure you are happy with your Building Surveyor, that they know the regulations inside and out and that you can imagine working with them for the duration of your project. Construction Permit Owner Builders Case Studies - Owner Builder Builders and Developers Case Studies - Builder Developers Architects And Designers Access Appraisals On Designs Case Studies - Architects Designers Protection Works & Notices Stay ahead of your timelines with the best building and construction permit experts around Building a house, commercial property or major development is complicated enough. You want to do anything possible to reduce your stress and streamline the process. Working with a Building Surveying service such as KWA puts someone in the know well and truly on your side. The most daunting aspect of any building project is undoubtedly the rules, regulations and legislation. These things aren’t fun - the way that design is. And they are not concrete, visible and easy to grasp – the way that the actual building process it. These aspects to building are convoluted, complicated and can be almost impossible to work out unless you are an industry expert. Building Surveyors do more than just issue building and construction permits Read here about the range of professional services that KWA can assist you with, no matter what you are building or planning. For your convenience, our expertise is grouped into three main categories. But please contact us with any building, construction permit or Building Surveying related enquiry. For developers and builders If you are a developer or builder we have tailored part of our Building Surveying service to assist you in getting your permits and inspections secured fast and in time with your deadlines. Please read more about what we offer developers and builders or contact us straight away if your project is about to begin and you need to expedite the permit and inspection process. For architects, draftpersons and building designers Learn how Building Surveying expertise can add immense value to your architectural or design services. The advantage of including a Building Surveying service consultation as part of your fee proposal or plans you give your clients extra speed, security and peace of mind when it comes to your designs. Give yourself a competitive edge and contact us today. For owner builders If you feel like you need an interpreter between you and the world of building legislation, architects, draftpersons, builders and their technical languages – a Building Surveyor is your best port of call. We love seeing people take their dream homes from a thought to a concrete reality, but we know how daunting some of the rules and regulations can be. That’s why we devised a Top Ten Tips checklist specifically for owner builders. Essential Safety Measures Are you aware of your responsibilities regarding essential safety measures? If you are the owner of a commercial building you are liable and responsible for Essential Safety Measures – whether your building is owner occupied or leased. Changes to the Victorian Building Regulations in 2006 have increased the onus on building owners and it is imperative that you: Are aware of what your responsibilities are Implement and maintain your required essential safety measures Maintain and update all life and building fire safety systems to ensure the safety of occupants in case of fire or emergency Familiarise yourself with this list of essential safety measures or risk severe penalties and costly litigation. Regulation changes apply to buildings constructed pre-1994 All buildings constructed after 1994 would have included Essential Safety Measures on their occupancy permits. So if this applies to you, make sure you are complying with all measures and get in touch with us for a review if you have any questions or doubts whatsoever. Because there were no stated requirements pre-1994, you may need to do more than simply start reporting as of June 2009. It might be a matter of upgrading a number of your building fire safety and other emergency systems. You will then need to create a maintenance schedule to ensure regular inspection and upkeep of the essential safety measures and related equipment.