5 Questions for Your Renovation Builder

Contracting a builder to tackle your home renovation can be a daunting task, and there’s a lot at stake if you make the wrong decision. After all, you’ll be spending a significant amount of time collaborating, working with and seeing your chosen renovation builder, and it’s up to them to deliver a renovation that meets (and hopefully exceeds) your standards.

That’s why it’s so important that you select someone with the experience, ability and people skills to get the job done right and deliver on your expectations.

So how do you make sure of this?

Asking the right questions will help you weed out the pretenders and give you the ultimate peace of mind that you’ve found a builder you can trust. Here are 5 questions to ask any potential builder before signing that all-important contract.

How many Renovations have they completed?

This is the most obvious question to start with, as you have to make sure your builder is experienced in not only renovations in general but the specific type of project you’re envisioning. Although you might think that all renovation work is the same, there are actually key differences in certain types of renovations and key elements that you’ll want them to have expertise in.

For example, if you want to carry out renovations on a semi-detached home that involves structural changes, you’ll want a builder that has experience in this kind of job and has an understanding of the laws and restrictions that apply to it. Renovation builders can demonstrate their experience through an extensive and in-depth track record of past works.

Can they provide testimonials from past clients?

Any good builder should have no problem providing a number of testimonials from past clients, demonstrating their satisfaction and the hard work and dedication of their builder. Make sure that these testimonials include recent works and not just ones from years ago, and try to see some from renovations that are similar to what you’re planning.

If possible, try to talk to at least some of these clients directly to validify their statements and how genuine they are.

Can they show you their Builders’ Licence?

In Australia, the various states and territories have different laws regarding registered building practitioners and the type of work they can or cannot perform. In Victoria, for example, all building work with a cost of more than $10000 must be performed by a registered builder who’s been approved by the Victorian Building Authority (VBA). Before signing with any builder, make sure that they’re registered and that their registration won’t expire anytime near your estimated completion date.

There are three classes of domestic builders in Australia, so ensure that your builder is qualified to carry out the type of renovations you’re planning. Finally, check that they don’t have any complaints or pending investigations regarding their registration and ability to practise.

What are their total costs and timeframe estimates?

An accurate and precise estimation process is the key to a smooth construction, so the importance of accurate budgets and schedules cannot be underestimated. Ask your builder what their estimation process is and how they make sure of its accuracy, and how long it’ll take them to provide the estimates for your project.

After your initial in-home consultation and discussions regarding the scope of your renovations, your builder should be able to provide a preliminary estimate within two weeks. After the plans and specifications have been decided upon, you can expect a detailed estimate within two to three weeks. If your builder isn’t able to deliver their estimates within these timeframes, enquire as to why and make sure that they’re not overbooked or understaffed.

How do they plan to stay on schedule?

With any renovation process, you want to have a good idea of when you can expect everything to be completed. Asking your builder about how they plan to stay on schedule and tackle any challenges that arise during constriction will help give some insight into how organised and proactive they are.

The length of your renovation project will depend on its scope and complexity, so these questions will demonstrate how prepared they are to take on the job, their experience and how they plan to keep on track of the project schedule. A good builder will have a tried and true plan in place to manage problems that arise during construction and solve them without any major interruptions taking place.