u/Friendly_Doctor8126

I’m an 8-year Mechanical Project Engineer in tunnelling/infrastructure (heavy lifts, plant, delivery).

I’m not trying to jump into a business immediately, but I want to be deliberate about my next move so I build the right experience for it.

I’m starting to feel like staying purely technical might actually limit my options later, but not sure if that’s true.

For those who’ve made the jump:
What role gave you the biggest leverage (skills + network) before going out on your own?

I’m an 8-year Mechanical Project Engineer in construction (mainly infrastructure/tunnelling, plant, heavy lifts, delivery).

I’m not looking to jump straight into a business yet, I’m trying to be more intentional about my next role so I build the right experience for it down the track.

For those with a similar background:
- What roles did you move into that actually helped you transition into your own thing later?
- Was it better to stay technical (e.g. specialist/consulting), move client-side, or go contractor/builder?
- Any moves you wish you made earlier (or avoided)?

Hey all,

Just looking for a bit of reassurance / sanity check before I commit.

I’m based in Sydney (Parramatta LGA) and have been quoted:

- ~$208k for a 2-bed granny flat (non brick) (60m²) + single garage

- Then factoring in the following assumptions:

- ~$18k demolition

- ~$5k driveway concrete

- ~$25k landscaping (front + back)

- ~$1–2k council contributions

Total project cost comes to roughly $250k–$260k all-in

The garage is intentional and it lets me go beyond the 60m² limit, so total usable space is closer to ~85m².

From what I can tell build cost per m² seems mid-range for Sydney.

But I keep second guessing as cost feel high compared to older builds. The company has already advised us that this takes into consideration current global/market situation (as in increase in material, labour and fuel costs have been factored in) and have reassured us that we won’t get any variations in regards to inflation costs. Not sure if this is just the “new normal” ?

For anyone who has built recently (last 12–18 months) or looked into granny flats seriously, does this sound about right for today’s market?

Not trying to chase the cheapest option, just want to make sure I’m not overpaying significantly.

Appreciate any insights

Hey all,

I’m planning to build a granny flat on my property in NSW and got told a separate water meter will cost around $3k.

The plumber mentioned that if I don’t install a separate meter, it could affect water pressure to the main house — but I’m not sure how true that is or if it’s just a way to push for the upgrade.

Has anyone here gone through this before?

- Did you install a separate water meter?

- Did you notice any pressure issues without one?

- Is it actually worth the cost in your experience?

Keen to hear real-world experiences before I make a call.

Cheers