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When engaging a builder to either build your new home or conduct renovations to your established home it is important to select a builder who will provide you with value for money and is someone you feel you can trust for the long term. A quality builder will provide you with a perfect building experience by managing the product on the ground and getting involved in all aspects of the construction.

When you negotiate your way through the various builders on your journey to selecting the builder best suited to your needs find out exactly what role the builder intends taking, or more precisely, what is the structure of the business. The only way to find out if a builder will be doing all that you expect of him ask a series of simple questions such as:

• Will you be on site supervising the work of sub contractors?
• Will you take responsibility for the schedule of the building process?
• Will you liaise with the relevant institutions on issues relating to finance and contracts?
• Who will be calculating the material and labour needs for this project?
• Will you arrange the necessary inspections with Council?
• Are you able to assist with any further discussions / negotiations with Council or regulatory bodies.

While many builders still carry out all of the traditional functions some companies have become highly developed and are able to offer high levels of supervision during the construction process. You are hiring a builder for a reason and that reason is to make sure that he / she is able to manage the overall building work. You have chosen your builder and you have a right to expect that that is who you are dealing with rather than a sub contractor. You will be sharing a very special relationship with your builder so make sure during the selection phase you select a builder who you can trust based on their reputation.

While all builders will see your building project through to completion you must be satisfied that the builder you select will provide you with the exposure that you desire.. A reputable builder will welcome questions from you when you are trying to find out if he is the right person to make your building dreams become a reality. Expect nothing but the very best from your builder and this includes being available on site and taking care of the finer details of your building project.

What is Your Builder Really providing and What is Your Builder Meant to do (27 KB)

When selecting a builder, there are two important words to remember - Reputation and Experience. Your choice of builder will be one of the most important choices that you will ever make and will mean the difference between a great building experience and an experience which will leave you stressed; emotionally, physically and financially. For those who are looking for a builder for a brand new home, renovations or for a complete rebuild it is important to start considering your choice of builder early in your planning stage.

But why do you need to start selecting a builder early in the process I hear you say; simply because a quality builder will be able to assist in many of the complex decisions you will need to make. By having your builder assist you with problems such as site conditions and the construction design building issues which can easily exceed your budget can be contained. A quality builder will assist you with your decisions so that you can ensure that your construction project will remain within your unique budgetary needs.

The main decision that you are left with is which builder will make your dreams become a reality. This is a decision that you want to make after considering the builders Reputation, Experience, Competence, and Professionalism. Essentially when selecting a builder you want to consider the following criteria:

Reputation – Does the builder have a good reputation with an uninterrupted client list? Generally, a builder who operates in a specific geographical location will have gained a good reputation for providing quality-building services. I recommend that you ask for a client list so that you can contact past clients and gauge their response to your questions. A builder with integrity will include the good and the not-so-good so you get to see a “warts and all” view, just remember that we all have our own perception about an event!

Local Knowledge – When selecting a builder look for one who has extensive building experience in the area of your construction project. This will ensure that your builder will have local knowledge of Council Regulations, building trends, site-specific conditions and most importantly know exactly what can and cannot be constructed in the local area.

Construction Type – You need to select a builder who is experienced in the construction type you are seeking. Look for a builder with extensive building experience in providing constructions in your price range and the style you are looking for.

Financial Stability – As with any business some builders lack the financial stability to provide you with a quality construction. You need to be sure that your builder has a strong financial reputation and the ability to take your construction from inception right through to completion without any financial hiccups occurring throughout the process.

Compatibility - You are going to be spending a lot of time with your builder so make sure when you go through the process of selecting a builder you make sure that you are both compatible. By selecting a builder who is easy to communicate with, personable and professional you can be assured that many stresses will be relieved during the construction process.

There is a lot to consider when selecting a builder, but the most important thing to consider is whether the builder can provide you with exactly what you want. Don’t be rushed into a choice with a pushy builder make sure that you feel comfortable with the builder you select. Selecting a builder is a very important decision and you have to be sure that your choice will result in your dreams becoming a reality without any surprise expenses.

As a final note, I strongly recommend that consideration be given to viewing the “event” as a team process, the building process can and does throw up some interesting questions, particularly when working with existing structures and work “in the ground”. Much more can be achieved by approaching a building project from the mindset of “team”.

Selecting a Builder (26 KB)

Whether you are building your own home or conducting renovations to an established home this is likely to be one of your greatest investments. You have a housing vision, but will this become a reality? As an owner builder you will be forced to take on all the risks and responsibilities that would normally be undertaken by a contract builder who has years of experience and knows how to manage all of the risks involved. Before going it alone as an owner builder make sure you find out all that will be involved for you or your home building experience could become the nightmare your Mother always warned you of.

There are many risks involved as an owner builder including:

• Poor estimation leading to higher building costs
• Faulty work and work that is non-compliant with building codes
• Inability to effectively evaluate the work of tradesmen
• Inability to effectively project manage
• Work continuity
• Work completion
• Where is it that you earn your income, can you afford to have your attention taken away from that?

As you could well imagine these are only some of the risks that are involved as an owner builder. While many people may feel comfortable taking responsibility for these risks it is not a decision that should be taken lightly. If you do not feel comfortable dealing with all aspects of the building process or have any reservations about your ability to manage the building process then it may be a more feasible option to use the services of a qualified contract builder.

By using a qualified contract builder you can be assured that the risk you will be gaining the expertise of a professional who has been in the industry for many years. This expertise alone ensures that the builder knows how to go about all of your building needs with the knowledge and experience to make the right decisions bring your building project in on budget. A quality contract builder has the added advantage of knowing industry trends and expectations so will be able to advise you on the best way of managing your building project.

Building a new home means more than simply having a vision of how you want your new home to look. There are many legal and compliance issues which need to be considered and a qualified contract builder will be able to negotiate this complex web of knowledge ensuring that you will be able to make your vision come to life. A qualified contract builder will be able to take you through the home building process with less stress and with the piece of mind that nothing will be left to chance. While many people have shown success as owner builders, many others have faced their worst nightmare. A qualified contract builder has the years of experience to make sure that your home building project runs smoothly and according to your plans. The only choice that you are now left with is choosing the contract builder who will be able to meet your unique needs!

Owner Builder versus Contract Builder (27 KB)

Whether you need a builder for a new home, renovations, extension or complete refurbishment, you need to be sure that the builder you select will be able to achieve a stunning home, on time, on budget and create great relationships for all the stakeholders.

It is estimated that Australians will spend about 65% of their lives inside their homes so there is enormous value in taking the time to make sure that the builder you choose can ensure your vision becomes a reality.

Before you sign a contract, make sure you get answers to the questions that will identify the builder who is most suited to your needs.

There are many important issues to consider; logistics, costs, site selection, and ongoing customer service being just a few. The following is a suggested list of questions to ask your potential builders -

1. Can you explain your business structure, how does it benefit our job?
2. How much work do you currently have on, when will it complete?
3. What other work do you have to start, how will that impact on our project?
4. What is the expected duration of construction?
5. Do you have any recommendations to improve or speed up the job
6. Can you provide a program (bar chart is visually good!)
7. What is included in your submission?
8. What elements should I take particular note of.
9. What work is not included in the submission, why not?
10. Are their any hidden or extra costs that may come about?
11. Do you have plans and pictures of previous work done?
12. Can you provide a list of your most recent clients, can we speak with them?
13. What are the standard features and what will cost me more?
14. What warranties and guarantees will you / the manufacturer offer to me?
15. Does any work conducted by sub contractors void any warranties or guarantees?
16. How do your prices compare with other builders and why?
17. How long have you been in the industry?
18. What experience do you have?
19. Will I be able to access the home during the building process?
20. Site meetings – When / where?
21. What professional memberships and registrations do you hold
22. Are you insured and to what level, can you provide a Currency Certificate for each?
23. Can I be sure that all construction you carry out will be fully compliant with all laws and regulations?
24. What responsibility do you take if something is found to not to compliant?
25. What is the “defect liability period”, how long and what is covered?
26. Have you done any other work in this area? If so where?
27. Have you ever filed for bankruptcy?
28. If I have any questions during the building process, who should I contact?
29. What hours are you available, how do I contact you?
30. Do you have a dedicated customer service policy before, during, and after the construction-taking place?

Although this is not an exhaustive list, it will make sure that you are on the right in building your confidence to proceed. The domestic building process is complex to execute and the value you should be looking for is one of “support” from your partner (builder) in this project.

Remember, be inquisitive and ask questions, my important recommendation for you, is that you look to make and be part of a team, this mindset encourages a united approach to start and finish the project where everyone partakes and is a winner.

Questions to Ask Your Builder (Before You Sign Anything) (23 KB)