About
A registered building surveyor you can actually get on the phone.
Cornerstone is a building surveying practice issuing building permits and carrying out inspections across Melbourne and all of Victoria.
You deal directly with the registered building surveyor named on your permit, and that surveyor stays accountable for it from the first assessment through to sign-off. One practice, one fixed fee, one office to ring. Builders tell us that continuity is the reason they keep sending work; owner-builders tell us it's the reason the process made sense. Suppliers, installers and builders referring a customer: here is how that works.
We take on every class of building work across residential, commercial and industrial: new homes, extensions, dual occupancies and townhouses, sheds and garages, retaining walls, verandahs and decks, demolition, warehouses, offices and shop fit-outs, and change of use. Every job is assessed against the Building Act 1993, the Building Regulations 2018 and the National Construction Code, and every fee is fixed before we start.
We also assess unapproved building works and respond to building notices, calmly and with a realistic view of what can be approved.
How we work
Six things that stay the same on every job.
No volume statistics, no slogans. This is what you can hold us to.
- 01
Accountable from permit to sign-off
Your permit is issued under a registered building surveyor who stays accountable for the job from assessment to sign-off. Questions get answered by the person responsible for the answer — one practice, one office to ring.
- 02
Fixed fees, quoted before we start
One number for the assessment, the permit and the mandatory inspections. Levies and any council consent fees are itemised separately, up front.
- 03
Missing information asked for once
We read the whole file before we come back to you, so the request for information is one list — not a drip-feed that stalls the job.
- 04
Builders get volume handled quietly
Repeat work from builders and drafting firms runs on a predictable fee schedule and a direct line. No re-explaining the job each time.
- 05
Owner-builders get straight answers
Whether it's a shed, a retaining wall or a knock-down rebuild, we tell you what's needed, what's exempt and what's going to be a problem before you commit.
- 06
Statewide, with real logistics
Permits and inspections across Melbourne and all of Victoria. Regional jobs are scheduled in runs so inspections aren't held up by distance.
What clients say
Cornerstone Building Surveyors have been a great asset throughout our building process. Frank, in particular, has been excellent to deal with — professional, prompt, and always willing to offer clear guidance and support. His experience and attention to detail make the construction process a smooth and easy trip to completion. Highly recommend Cornerstone to anyone in the building industry looking for reliable and efficient surveyors.
Working with Cornerstone Building Surveyors was an absolute pleasure from start to finish. Their team was professional, knowledgeable, and always willing to go the extra mile to ensure everything ran smoothly. Communication was clear and prompt, and their attention to detail gave me complete confidence throughout the process. It's rare to find a company that combines expertise with such a friendly and approachable attitude. Highly recommend!
Contact
Talk to the surveyor. (03) 9802 9459
Get a quote
Send the plans. Get a fixed fee.
No drawings yet? Send what you have — an address and a rough idea is enough to tell you whether you need a permit and what it'll cost.