How to Choose a Licensed Builder
What to check before you sign with a builder in NSW — licence verification, home-warranty insurance, written quotes, contracts and the questions worth asking.
Choosing the right builder is one of the most important decisions in any project, and a few simple checks can save a great deal of trouble later. This guide covers what to verify before you sign, whoever you ultimately build with.
In NSW, residential building work is regulated for good reason. Knowing what to look for helps you tell a properly set-up builder from one who is not.
Verify the licence and insurance
Any builder doing residential work in NSW needs to hold the appropriate licence, and you can check a licence on the NSW Fair Trading register. For residential work over the regulated threshold, the builder must also provide home-warranty insurance (the Home Building Compensation scheme) before taking a deposit or starting work. Riversedge holds NSW Builder Licence 345758C. Confirming the licence and insurance is the single most important check you can make.
Quotes, contracts and communication
Look for a clear, itemised written quote rather than a vague lump sum, and a proper written contract appropriate to the value of the work. Ask who will actually run your job day to day, how progress payments are structured, and how variations are handled. A builder who explains these things plainly, and who you can speak to directly, is usually one who runs an organised site.
Questions
- How do I check a builder licence in NSW?
- NSW Fair Trading maintains a public register where you can look up a licence by number or name and see what it covers and whether it is current. It is a quick check and well worth doing before you commit. Riversedge holds licence 345758C.
- What is home-warranty insurance and do I need it?
- Home-warranty insurance (the Home Building Compensation scheme) protects you if the builder cannot complete the work or honour warranty obligations in certain circumstances. For residential work over the regulated threshold in NSW, the builder must provide it before taking a deposit or starting work. If a builder cannot, treat that as a warning sign.