Skip to main content

The decision of which builder to engage is one of the most important in the building process. With your future home at stake, it’s essential to put in the time and effort at the beginning to ensure you find the right fit for you.

When it comes to selecting your final builder, there are a few things to consider.

Reputation

The first thing to look at is a building company’s reputation. Do some research and find out whether they are well respected in the industry and what the quality of their work is like. This includes reading Google and social media reviews, reviewing their website, exploring their completed projects and reading client testimonials.

Scope

You’ll also want to investigate each builder’s scope of work – are they capable of the type of building you are about to embark on? For example, is your build on a sloping site? Does it have difficult access? Are there any fire restrictions in place? Do heritage features need to be maintained and restored? Once you focus on these elements, it will be easier to narrow down your search.

5 Important Questions to Ask

Before making the final decision, you should also ask each of your potential builders the following questions:

1. Do you have a Builder’s Contractor License?

If the builder is a company, the company needs to hold a Company Builders’ Licence and the nominated supervisor, often the director, needs a Supervising Builders License. Ask for their license number and be sure to validate it here: https://www.qbcc.qld.gov.au/.

2. What insurances do you hold?

Make sure your builder holds public liability insurance for at least $10 million. Construction insurance, which covers the cost of the building up until handover to the owners, can be an annual policy or job-by-job cover. At the time of handover, it is important you take over insurance coverage in case of fire, theft, vandalism etc. You are entitled to ask your builder to provide you with a copy of their certificate of insurance as evidence of cover.

Home Warranty Insurance obtained through the Queensland Building and Construction Commission (QBCC) is required in Queensland before any work commences. This covers structural defects on the building for a period of six years and six months.

However, the insurance company will not pay unless the builder is insolvent. If you are unable to resolve your dispute with your builder through the QBCC’s dispute resolution process, you may be able to apply for assistance under the Queensland Home Warranty Scheme.

3. How much deposit do I need?

The maximum deposit allowable by law is 5%, regardless of what home building contract is used. By asking this question, you will be able check the integrity and knowledge of your builder.

4. Are you Occupational Health and Safety compliant?

If a construction site is closed down by WorkCover, you may face a range of issues, including hefty delays. A conscientious builder will have a full system in place and be able to provide evidence of this.

5. Can we work together?

Building a home involves the involvement of many different parties, which means clear communication is an essential part of a smooth building process. It is really important that your builder can communicate clearly and honestly with you as the client and listen to your needs.

Building can be a stressful time but if both parties place equal importance on honest and open communication, it will alleviate much of the stress. You should be able to “feel” whether you and a builder will be able to communicate well from a very early stage. You will be essentially “married” to your builder and the project for many months to come, so it’s important you get along well and most importantly, that you trust them.

To get help deciding on the best builder for your project, get in touch with Cunningham Constructions today.

Leave a Reply