BASIX & NatHERS pricing - fixed fees, no surprises
One fixed-fee quote within a business day, everything included, and wholesale rates for builders. Here is exactly how our pricing works and what to look for when you compare quotes.
How our fixed-fee pricing works
Every project gets one fixed fee, quoted from your plans within one business day. The price you accept is the price you pay - no hourly rates, no add-ons mid-job, and free minor amendments while your design settles.
What your fee always includes
- Full assessment by a HERA-registered assessor - modelled in accredited NatHERS software, not a template.
- Optimisation, not just a pass - we balance glazing, insulation and shading to find the cheapest compliant build, which routinely saves more in construction cost than any difference between assessor quotes.
- Certificates ready for DA, CDC or CC lodgement - accepted by councils and certifiers across NSW.
- Minor amendments included - small design tweaks re-issued without a new fee.
- Direct access to your assessor - phone and email, no call centre.
Starting prices
Your exact fee is confirmed from plans, but these are the starting points for our assessment work:
| Project type | Assessment fee |
|---|---|
| Alterations & additions | From $250 |
| Granny flat / secondary dwelling | From $400 |
| Single-storey dwelling | From $500 |
| Double-storey dwelling | From $650 |
| House + attached granny flat | From $750 |
| Dual occupancy / duplex | From $900 |
| Townhouses & multi-dwelling (3+) | Quoted from plans |
| Apartments & Class 2 buildings | Quoted from plans |
| Section J / JV3 (commercial) | Quoted from plans |
Starting prices are a guide only: your fee can be lower or higher depending on the project, and is confirmed once an assessor has reviewed your plans. Prices exclude GST. Government BASIX certificate and Planning Portal fees, and NatHERS software certificate fees, are passed through at cost and itemised on your quote.
Government and software fees (passed through at cost)
Some quotes look cheaper because they leave these out. Two charges sit on top of any assessor's fee, and no assessor can legitimately discount them - we itemise both on every quote:
| Charge | Amount |
|---|---|
| NSW BASIX certificate fee - single dwelling | $50 |
| NSW BASIX certificate fee - multi-dwelling | $80 for the first two dwellings, then $35 each |
| NSW BASIX certificate fee - alterations & additions | $25 per dwelling |
| NSW Planning Portal service fee | $5 per BASIX certificate application |
| NatHERS certificate fee - FirstRate5 / HERO | $45.00 per dwelling (ex GST) |
Verified 18 September 2026. For every fee by project type and software, including apartments and multi-dwelling projects, see our BASIX & NatHERS certificate fees guide.
What moves the price up or down
- Project type - a granny flat or alteration costs less to assess than a two-storey home with a basement; duplexes and multi-dwelling projects take more modelling time.
- Documentation quality - complete, scaled plans keep the fee lean. We tell you upfront if anything is missing.
- Turnaround - standard is 3-4 business days. 24-hour express is available when a deadline is biting.
Builders: wholesale package rates
Running 10 or more jobs a year? We offer wholesale package pricing for NSW builders and drafting firms - a locked-in rate per job type, consistent documentation across your whole pipeline, priority turnaround and one point of contact who knows your standard specs. Most builders find the certainty is worth as much as the discount. Ask about a builder account and we will put a rate card together for your typical jobs.
Comparing quotes? Check these five things
- Is the government lodgement fee included or extra?
- Is GST included in the advertised price?
- Are amendments free, or charged per revision?
- Is the work done by a registered assessor in accredited software?
- Does the fee include optimisation advice, or just a pass/fail result?
There will always be someone cheaper than the quote in front of you. What matters is whether the assessment balances your house correctly - a certificate that over-specifies glazing or insulation to scrape through can add thousands to your build, and one that under-delivers gets picked up by the certifier at the worst possible time. Read more in our guide to the cheapest way to pass BASIX and NatHERS.
FAQ
Pricing - your questions answered
Three parts: our assessment fee (starting from $250 for alterations and additions, $400 for a granny flat and $500 for a single-storey home, excluding GST, confirmed after a plan review), the NSW Government fees ($50 for a single dwelling plus a $5 Planning Portal fee) and, where a star rating is needed, a NatHERS software fee per dwelling. Send us your plans and we will give you a fixed fee within one business day.
You can - and sometimes it works out fine. But the fee difference between assessors is usually under $100, while a poorly balanced assessment can add thousands in unnecessary glazing or insulation, or stall your approval when the certifier queries it. We optimise the design so the certificate is cheap to build, not just cheap to buy.
Minor design tweaks are re-issued free. Substantial redesigns are quoted before any work starts, so you are never surprised.
Yes. We assess from your plans, so a home in Dubbo, Newcastle, Wollongong or Western Sydney costs the same to assess as one in metro Sydney. Only the climate zone modelling changes, not the fee.
A locked rate per job type for pipelines of 10+ jobs a year, priority turnaround, consistent documentation and a single assessor contact who learns your standard inclusions.
Ready to get started?
Send us your plans and we’ll return approval-ready documentation in 3-4 days - with 24-hour express available.