Always Check Your Builder's
contracts caution checklist
for Australian home building & renovations
- Some Tips from an old hand
- What are the minimum legal contractual terms for residential building work
- What is a contracts checklist
- Getting out of a building contract
- Variations to a building contract
- What is Implied Builders Warranty
- Provisional sum items
- Prime cost items
- Pre-construction contracts
- Types of Building Contracts, Small projects, Large projects, Whole or substantial build projects
- What is fixed price, What is cost plus, What is design and construct
Our background checks reveal risks that a licence search can't
Always Check Your Builder also provides the background checks necessary for you to discover the credit, trading and
complaint or dispute status of your prospective builder.
read more ...
you've searched and found out ...
He's given you 2 brilliant references and his licence checks out
Always Check Your Builder searched and found out ...
3 of his building jobs last year ended up in the courts but yes 2 were perfect.
His truck's been repossessed and he's got 2 defaults against his equipment leases.
His company hasn't filed a tax return in 2 years and his partner is banned from holding a builders licence.
Between them they've had 3 building companies go into liquidation and a heap of sub-contractors won't work for them anymore.
IT'S YOUR CALL
alwayscheckyourbuilder.com.au
What is a contracts checklist?
Because many builders had difficulty with the idea of telling you your rights, it's now required of them by law.
Each state government requires your builder to provide you with a checklist BEFORE you sign anything.
If you answer NO to anything on the checklist, then YOU ARE NOT READY TO SIGN.
The checklist is a minimum and mandatory list of items your builder must present to you in writing and should be something like this:
AUSTRALIAN BUILDING CONTRACT - CUSTOMER ADVICE CHECKLIST
Has an insurance policy or certificate of currency for builder's insurance been issued and provided to you? YES or NO
If not, the contract is conditional upon you receiving either an insurance policy or a certificate of currency for builders'
insurance.
If this contract is conditional upon the Building Owner receiving written approval for finance, has the Building Owner obtained
such approval? YES or NO
If you answer "NO" to any of the following questions, you are not ready to sign the contract.
Has the Building Owner had this contract long enough to read and understand it? YES or NO
Has the Building Owner been provided with evidence that the Builder named in this contract is registered with the Building
Practitioners Board? YES or NO
Are the price and progress payments clearly stated? YES or NO
Does the Building Owner understand how the price is calculated and may be varied? YES or NO
Has the Builder assessed the suitability of the site for the proposed works, and if tests are necessary have they been carried out
before signing the contract? YES or NO
If a Deposit is payable, is it within the legal limit? The maximum under the Domestic Building Contracts Act 1995 is: (i) 10% if
the Price is less than $20,000; or (ii) 5% if the Price is $20,000 or more. YES or NO
Is the work shown and described clearly in the contract, plans or specifications, and any other relevant document such as
engineering computations or soil report? YES or NO
Are the Building Owner's special requirements or finishes included in the plans or specifications? YES or NO
Are the commencement date and completion date clearly stated or capable of being ascertained? YES or NO
Is the procedure for extensions of time understood? YES or NO
Do you understand the circumstances in which you can end the contract? YES or NO