Useful Information
BSA advises that you read Facts for Smart Building and Renovating before commencing any project. This booklet contains useful information about the building process from start to finish. This booklet also contains additional information for renovators in relation to obtaining plans and quotes.
Do you need to use a licensed contractor?
A licence is required by the individual or company who are signing the contract with you to carry out or organise building work valued at over $3,300 (including labour and materials).
Special kinds of work require a licence no matter what the value. These are plumbing, draining, gas fitting, termite management (chemical), fire protection, pre-purchase building inspections, building design and site classification. Further information on whether a licence is required or not is available at: When is a Licence Required
Most contractors undertaking work on your home will require a licence however there a few exceptions such as demolition, asbestos removal and electrical work where a licence is issued by another governing body.
It is recommended that you use a licensed contractor even for small jobs because the licence indicates that the contractor has met certain minimum standards. In order to enter into a contract with you, they must hold a Contractor Licence (the blue card above). You should make use of the Online Licence Search facility to ensure a contractor is licensed and view their licence history.
It is also important to check the contractor's licence card (name of licensee, licence number, type of work covered and expiry date) and ensure that the person you are dealing with and the name of the cardholder are one and the same. A licensee can only contract to you for the work they are licensed to perform as stipulated on their card and the online search.
The Choosing Your Builder section of BSA's Facts for Smart Building and Renovating contains useful information about where to find a contractor and making an informed decision - click here to view
You are able to report unlicensed contractors to BSA - click here to access more information.
Note - In some circumstances a contractor is required to hold Professional Indemnity (PI) Insurance cover - click here to find out more. Where a contractor has been granted an exemption from holding PI insurance a declaration must be provided - click here for more information.
Obtaining Plans and Quotes
If the job requires construction approval, you'll need plans and specifications which must be included in the contract. They may be prepared by the building contractor or drawn up for you by an independent architect, engineer or building designer.
As the basis for the building work to be done, the plans and specifications form an integral part of the agreement between you and your building contractor. Check them carefully! The Domestic Building Contracts Act 2000 requires builders to perform the contracted work in accordance with the plans and specifications in the contract.
For the purposes of comparison, you should obtain at least three written quotes based on the completed plans and specifications. Note: If your plans and specifications were provided directly by a licensed builder they may be subject to copyright and therefore cannot be used by another builder or building designer. In this case, for comparison, you should check the contractor's quote against those provided for a similar project.
Remember: the cheapest quote is not always the best. Explain clearly to your building contractor, from quote stage, the full details of work you require. Always try to obtain a fixed price. For more information on fixed priced contracts - click here.
Costings and Products
You will be required to choose suitable products (e.g. bathroom and light fittings, floor and wall tiles, electrical appliances, brick and timber goods etc) while being aware of current market price (costings) and availability of products.
This applies if you are able to choose all the fittings, inclusions and materials for your building or renovation project. This applies particularly for those people who will be working under an owner builder permit, constructing an individually designed home or carrying out renovations.
This is a different situation to project built homes where most of these fittings and inclusions are already determined although some modifications to the contractor's design will be allowed under the contract.
Up to date information on products and prices can be found in building magazines, building display centres, home shows, hardware and electrical suppliers. You should give consideration to quality, durability, installation costs, maintenance requirements, warranties and the price of products. Contractors often have bulk purchasing agreements with a supplier making it more economical for them to obtain a product.
