Saw your Builders Guide site – v good and lots of info..Including the Mortgage...

Hi Mark, that was addressed to you. Thanks

Hi Sanjay Sorry – just saw this. Thanks for the kind words re our site. We set it up to provide people like you with good, useful and independent advice, so always nice to get good feedback. Re the builders listed on our site, they pay to be there and there’s a mix of Certified, Master and independent builders. We don’t endorse any – you have to do your homework. One key thing a lot of people miss is that builders now have to give their client a ‘Prescribed Checklist’ which is a list of items about which there must be clear understanding – the nature of the job, a contract if over $30k (we recommend one anyway), disclosures around complaints, financial backgrounds and insurance coverage, and more. It is scandalous that this checklist, which is mandatory, appears to only be used by less than half the builders out there.

Thanks Mark. Looking at cases, scandalous is right. Yes, saw all the requirements and recent Act changes. What I am wondering is how all that helps the customer if builders can get away with it. Is implementation/ monitoring lax… and from whom, the Council? any other authority? Difficult for the owner to complain until something has gone quite wrong – a bit like complaining against a dentist or doctor as you can’t do that while you are still in their care. Homefirst guarantees seem quite reasonably priced. Could anyone please share their experience with them or any other insurance for build? Mortgage People – any experience? Many thanks