If you are looking for a qualified construction builder to work on custom home building or renovation projects, there are important qualifications to consider.

Remember, your choice of tradie can largely determine the outcome of the job.

Here are a few considerations to check before hiring a local builder.

Do they hold a licence?

Be wary of unlicensed home builders. There are construction companies with invalid or outdated licences that may put your safety and finances at risk if left unverified.

Double-check licensing requirements before the actual work.

Licensing varies from state to state. The following agencies governing a builder’s licence are shown below.

New South Wales: NSW Fair Trading
Victoria: Building Practitioners Board
Queensland: Queensland Building and Construction Commission
South Australia: Attorney General’s Consumer and Business Services Department
Western Australia: Building Services Board in Western Australia
Tasmania: Department of Justice
Australian Capital Territory: ACT Planning and Land Authority
Northern Territory: Building Practitioners Board

You may check the licence number of your local builder to verify the details including the specific type of building works they are allowed to perform.

Do the contractors carry insurance?

Another vital aspect to check when looking for a builder is insurance.

Working with a construction company with no insurance might cost you significant financial losses against unexpected events such as fire or burglary.

Verify if the construction builders are covered with at least one of the following insurance packages:

Public Liability
Builders Contract Works
Income Protection
Trade Tool

Insuring your property will also cover the expenses that you need to make up for the delay if the local builder leaves the project in the middle of the construction.

Do they have varied training and experience?

Building a new home or renovating an existing property requires specialised skills and training to ensure quality workmanship.

For this reason, hiring a seasoned construction builder to handle the project must be prioritised.

Most competent builders are used to managing building works and permits as well as supervising subcontractors.

Be sure that the local builder strictly complies with the Building Code of Australia and Workplace Health & Safety regulations to avoid legal disputes.

Types of Builder Services

Whether you are restumping your home or building a granny flat, it pays to know what type of service your local builder provides to make the right choice.

There are builders that perform well in a particular field but may not be adept at the other.

Here are some of the common types of building services that you may need, if not now, in the future.

General Building Works

Whether you are doing a minor or major construction project, the process of planning, conceptualising and monitoring is imperative.

General building contractors make the construction phase less hassle for property owners.

These construction builders can assist you from finalising your individual requirements to completing the project and issuing certificates of compliance.

The cost of hiring a general building contractor will depend on the scope of work you may require.

House and Land Packages

Both first-time home buyers or repeat investors can benefit from buying a house and land package.

Whether you want to invest in a house ready to be occupied or purchase a bare land, the process will be less complicated.

Carefully assess the home builder before buying a house and land package.

Research about the profile and check out display homes. In terms of cost, the amount to pay is more likely to thrive if you prefer custom home designs.

Home Extensions

If moving to a new home is not a preference or not within your budget, extending your property would be the best solution.

Construction companies offer a range of home extension services to help increase your property value.

The cost of building a house extension will depend on various factors such as the type of addition and quality of materials used.

You can either extend your home upwards (second storey) or outwards (ground floor), which varies in cost.

Renovation Services

Most homeowners resort to house renovations to improve their lifestyle or simply update their old-looking property.

Home builders and renovators may alter the bathroom, kitchen and bedroom to perform aesthetic and functional improvements.

Home renovation services cost less than buying a new home. The scope of the renovation project will influence how much you will be charged.

Ensure that you negotiate with a reputable construction company to oversee the building work.

Tips on Lowering the Costs of Your Building Jobs

Generally, a home builder’s service cost can vary depending on the size and quality of construction.

Prior to the actual work, consult with a professional building contractor to help you with costings and other aspects that affect pricing.

Plan carefully.

Clearly write down the specifics to acquire an itemised quotation from different construction builders.

Say you are extending your home and looking for alternative ways to save cost.

Extending upwards can be more economical than outward extensions as they do not require additional roofing and foundation.

Create a cost sheet.

A clearly drafted cost sheet enables you to track where your money goes.

You may refer to cost guides to know the indicative price and budget your expenses.

Frequent monitoring can help you avoid running out of finances.

A trusted construction manager will assist you in monitoring the cost and stay within the agreed budget range.

Prioritise quality.

Don’t go cheap when it comes to structural works. Floorings, foundations, interior and exterior sidings require the use of quality materials.

While there are cheap builders that you can find, you do not want to risk property damage or safety.

Clarify all the project details with a local builder before entering into contracts.

The upfront cost may be large but you can save more money if you hire the right tradie.

HIREtrades gives you access to a pool of domestic and commercial builders ready to quote your job. Post your building job now via HIREtrades and receive up to three free quotes from our registered tradies.

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