How to Choose a Trustworthy Builder

Congratulations! You've decided to take the next step and build a new home! It can be a little daunting to think about how to find the right builder for you and especially one you can trust.

Before you start researching the list of builders consider writing down some key questions you should ask yourself first.

Are they licenced ?

It's such a silly questions but you would be surprised how many builders licences have been either suspended or are expired. At Prime Structures we have both Class A builders licence in the ACT and equivalent in NSW. In NSW there is compulsory training that must be undertake and courses before renewals are done every year. In the ACT they have recently introduced mandatory (and random) testing of builders when they go to renew their licences.

Here's a handy link to check a builders licence and other trades in NSW:

https://www.service.nsw.gov.au/transaction/check-builder-or-tradesperson-licence

Here's a handy link to check a builders licence and other trades in the ACT:

https://www.accesscanberra.act.gov.au/app/answers/detail/a_id/2918/~/licensed-building-professionals

What type of home are you after?

If a custom home is what you're after, then a custom build specialist is who you need to look for rather than a builder who only allows a choice between a few generic floor plans that they offer.

What is their reputation?

The internet has made doing this research so much easier! Negative reviews are often easy to find as most people that are unhappy will voice their opinions online. You should also consider that happy customers rarely leave reviews unless they have time so it's also a good idea to ask around. Another thing to consider is how well they are respected in the construction industry and whether they have good relationship with various suppliers in the construction industry.

How do they communicate?

When calling a builder, do they return your calls ? Do they initially listen to your ideas for your new home? Do they ask questions on your budget? What is their manner like ? Go with your gut on this one!

Should you choose a small builder?

Look, we may be a little bias at Prime Structures but we truly believe that choosing a smaller builder is a more personal approach to building and allows you to develop a better relationship with your builder than if your were to go with a larger company. Smaller builders also have a set number of homes they build per year which enables them to focus on the type of services they offer and the quality in the homes they deliver. They tend to really look at the quality rather than the quantity of homes they produce in the long run.

Are they local?

A trustworthy builder tends to take pride in their workmanship and so integrate within the community. Builders that are untrustworthy tend to evade their clients or make themselves difficult to contact and more often than not these types of builders ted not to be local.

Do they have proper systems in place?

A good builder will have management systems in place that will clearly give you a schedule of the construction of your new home and keeps track of budgets throughout the build so there are no unexpected surprises/costs. A trustworthy builder is very transparent and will communicate effectively with you to work through any potential hurdles that may or will happen during your build. Again, communication is a big aspect here.

Although these are just a few things to this about, we are more than happy for you to follow us on instagram and drop us a line!

#canberrabuilder #primestructures #dreamhome #howtofindabuilder