Adelaide's Award Winning Bespoke Custom Builder

CALL US NOW ON
TO DISCUSS YOUR PROJECT PLANS

How to Avoid Choosing the Wrong Builder

Are you worried about choosing the wrong builder for your renovation project? This can be a very stressful decision to make. Because how do you know what you’re going to get before you sign on the dotted line?

You could potentially end up being locked in a contract with the wrong builder for the job; resulting in a dodgy build, poor workmanship and structural issues which will leave you feeling unsatisfied, ripped off or maybe even hating your house! A dodgy build could even devalue your home and add a mountain load of stress and anxiety to the project.

But this can be easily avoided by picking a builder who specialises in your type of project and can provide you with a positive and trusting building experience.

Look to the Professionals

This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is iStock-857930984-1024x683.jpg

A professional builder will have systems and processes in place to ensure everything runs smoothly for the duration of your build. Communication will be open and clear, and you’ll have peace of mind throughout your build.

Remember, your project is not the first of its kind. A professional builder has extensive experience and knowledge, and has built many projects similar to yours. They will therefore have no issue addressing your concerns and easing your mind, rather than dodging calls and dancing around your questions.   

There’s No I in Team

Most people think that the small builder, the one man operator, will be the easiest builder to deal with but this simply isn’t true. You might also think that the small builder will have lower overheads and therefore be cheaper but what you’ll really be buying is problems. Having just one person attempting to handle all aspects of your build is likely to see your project spiral out of control. You risk your project being heavily delayed or derailing due to lack of time, communication and resources from a one man builder.  

Getting a builder with a strong team behind him will ensure your project is being managed by the right people, with plenty of time delegated to every aspect of your build. A structured schedule will be followed, assisted by a skilled and reliable list of subcontractors, and there will always be someone ready to answer your questions!

But how do you know you’ve found a builder with a strong team behind him?

Do Your Homework

According to The Advertiser, at least eleven Adelaide home-building companies went bust in 2019 alone.

Unfortunately, many builders think they don’t need to do any financial planning or costing reviews and it’s as simple as adding up the cost for materials and labour, then adding a mark up. This couldn’t be further from the truth! Professional builders are on top of all of their business planning and are frequently reviewing their numbers. This allows them to ensure that they are quoting correctly with margins to suit their business, and therefore be profitable and efficient so you get the best experience possible. 

You may not consciously think this but you actually really want your builder to be profitable because if they’re not, they could go bankrupt during your project, and then you’ve got much bigger problems. To avoid accidentally choosing a builder who risks going bust mid-build it’s important to do your homework and make sure they have a proven track record. How long have they been around for? Do they have positive relationships with their clients and subcontractors? What do their clients and reviews say? Look at their past projects, is the quality there? All of these questions will point you in the right direction. 

Beware of the Salesman

We’ve all fallen victim to a smooth talking salesman at one point or another in our lives. Don’t let yourself fall for a marketing scheme when it comes to something as important as your renovation or new home. 

It’s important to be able to spot empty promises before you get sucked in too far by a salesman posing as a builder. A sweet talking salesperson will promise the world but will only deliver atlases. It’s important to know who will be overseeing your project and if it’s not the person who’s selling it to you, then all you’ll be receiving is false promises that the real builder can’t live up to. 

A professional builder will be there every step of the way, making sure it’s a collaborative effort to see your dream home become a reality. Their motives go much further than simply getting you to sign the dotted line.

Interview Your Builder

Not all builders are the same, so it’s essential to do your due diligence and ensure you’re choosing the right builder for the job. Never be afraid to ask questions, because a professional builder will never be afraid to answer them.

When a business is hiring they conduct interviews to find the right candidate, and there’s no reason you shouldn’t do the same to find the right builder! Be prepared with some important questions and be ready to interview your builder. We’ve written an entire blog outlining the 5 must-ask questions before signing the building contract that you can read here.

How to avoid choosing the wrong builder is one of our 6 Essential Things You Must Do For A Successful Home Renovation, download our free guide here to discover the other five. 

Leave a comment