Before you start your project home
How to choose the right builder
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There are many considerations when choosing a builder for your project home, including checking their licence and previous work, as well as comparing quotes.
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Create a shortlist
Consider creating a set of criteria that will help you focus your research to pick the most suitable project home builder.
You may want to search for companies and contractors in particular locations, check whether they offer designs that match your home vision, and if they offer packages that fit your budget.
You can also research companies through ASIC and ABN searches. Check whether they have an iCIRT rating and check the NSW Fair Trading complaints register.
Most reputable project home builders have websites, and you can also speak with family and friends that have gone through the process to get their advice.
Check licences
Once you have a shortlist of builders you should always check if they have a valid contractor licence.
You can check for a licence online at Service NSW. If you cannot find it, contact Fair Trading to confirm that the company holds a contractor licence.
By law, all contractors must show their licence number on all advertising, stationery and signage.
Make sure you complete this step before you engage the company to avoid contracting unqualified builders.
If you hire an unqualified builder, you may face limitations when trying to resolve any defects or incomplete work.
Check examples of work
Before deciding on your project home builder, view examples of their past and current builds.
You can organise a tour of current exhibition homes at display villages, or you can visit previous build sites and suburbs to get a better sense of the build quality.
You can also request to speak to previous customers about their experience with the builder or read online reviews to understand their reputation.
It’s important to build a strong foundation of trust between yourself and the builder.
Take note of your interactions in the early stages of the process to help you decide if you would like to engage their services for your project home.
Get a preliminary quote
Once you’ve narrowed down the home builders you want to engage with, you should reach out to a sales consultant. The sales consultant will be your first point of contact at the company and will help you choose and customise your home design. They'll be able to provide quotes and answer any initial questions you may have.
At this stage you’ll receive a preliminary quote, which shows the expected cost of the project home build.
Be careful to look at what is included and excluded in the package and use this to compare quotes between builders.
Be aware that this package price is the starting point quote and a final price will not be settled until a contract is signed.
You may be asked to pay a deposit at the preliminary quote stage. Check if the deposit is refundable or not depending on whether you hire the builder. For more information on costs, see End-to-end project home costs.
Questions to ask your builder
There are many questions you'll want to ask your builder throughout the process to help you feel comfortable and confident with your decision.
Consider the questions below before you sign a contract or pay any deposits.
Questions about the build
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- Will my home differ from the display home I have seen?
- What is and is not included in my package?
- Apart from mandatory Home Building Compensation Scheme insurance policy, do you have any additional insurance coverage?
- How will I be kept updated on the progress of my home build?
Questions about costs
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- What is the total cost of the home?
- Are the costs fixed or likely to change?
- What additional costs will I need to cover?
- How much is the deposit?
- When do progress payments need to be made?
- What happens when unexpected costs arise?
Questions about timeframes
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- How long does a build usually take?
- What factors can cause delays to the build?
- What happens when unexpected delays happen?
- Will you compensate me if build delays lead to extra costs for me (such as additional rent or mortgage repayments)?
- What is your extension of time clause?
Questions about approvals and quality assurance
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Questions about tradespeople
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- What subcontractors will you be using?
- What is the builder’s licence number?
Have you checked?
- The builders you want to work with hold a valid licence
- You’ve looked at display homes or previous builds to see the quality of design and build
- You’ve received and compared the preliminary quotes between builders