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Your builder is an essential member of the supporting cast you’ll assemble to create your ideal home. Your relationship with your builder, whether they are an independent subcontractor or a renowned Rendering Sydney firm, will have a significant impact on the success of your project. Here are some of the things you need to know to deal properly with Australian builders.
Direct Association with a Builder
As a project manager, it can be challenging to work with a builder directly. For things to work right, you, the client, are essentially playing the position of the architect, who has years of expertise and education in building codes, schedules, and materials.
Outline a Contract
The first and most important step, whether you’re running the show on your own or have hired a designer, is to have a contract that details the scope of the job, the expenditure, the date of completion, and what represents unforeseen components that the contractor is permitted to charge for.
Fines
If you’re leasing while the work is being done, you may want to include a timetable of penalties for late completion. Because of the unpredictability of the weather, this plan accounts for days when construction is delayed due to rain but nonetheless assesses a daily penalty to the contractor to spur rapid progress.
Other Pro Tips
- You will only be charged for items that are shipped directly to your work site. Don’t let the contractor acquire supplies for different works that are being done at different sites. Inspect fixtures and cabinets for cracks, chipping, and other damage before installing them in a bathroom or other permanent location.
- If the weather causes a delay in construction, try to remain patient with the contractor. Working amid dangerously high winds and downpours is not a good use of time or money.
- Make sure you engage a reliable certifier to look through the parts of the project that need to be approved by the local government and the providers of utilities like water, gas, and electricity. A reliable certifier acts as an impartial auditor, checking that projects are completed as specified.
- If you don’t agree with the standard of the project at the outset, there’s no use in moaning about it towards the conclusion when it’s too late to do anything about it without spending a fortune.
- Make frequent site visits, and if there’s anything bothering you or leaving you confused, be sure to inform the builder about it. Don’t let them bamboozle you with technical terms or a “she’ll be right” mentality. Since you’re the one footing the bill, you should be kept in the loop.
- If there are any adjustments to your insurance policy that need to be made during construction, be sure to discuss them with your agent. Theft from unfinished or poorly secured renovations is all too prevalent, and it may not be covered by your standard homeowner’s policy because construction companies sometimes have multiple projects going at once and shift workers between sites as needed. Because of this, construction may stop for months at a time, but this is the time to use your best patience and diplomacy. Keep up favourable relations with your builders while subtly requesting that they dedicate a set amount of time each week to your project.
If you are going to be dealing with Australian builders, these are some of the things you need to know. These are expert tips to help ensure that your projects are completed in due time, at the right rate, and with the right quality.
