There is not likely to be a too many large scale projects that you may consider to undertake in your life than when deciding to build a home. Building a new home can be financially and emotionally demanding and require a significant amount of your time. Many people state that they have become somewhat reluctant experts during the build. We have found that the stress and confusion can be somewhat eleviated by employing a building consultant, who is an expert in such matters to assist and advise you.
Building Contracts are usually very generic and most homes in Perth are constructed under a HIA Lump Sum Building Contract which has been written in compliance with legislative requirements. You may find that this and other contracts may seem daunting at first, especially with the new words and terminology with which you may not be familiar. The best advice is to read the contracts fully and ask for clarity regarding any questions you may have - or contact SHS building Consultants for advice. The second piece of advise is to include your own requirements within the contract such as specific brands or even penalties for time delays where you may be out of pocket if the building is not constructed on time.
- What is the Building Commission?
Western Australia’s Building Commission oversees the regulation of building, painting, building surveying and plumbing services. The commission is the regulatory body for building work, building professional and consumer complaints.
- What if the home building work is poor or defective?
Speak with your builder and document the alleged defect. If you do not consider your builders response to be appropriate then organise an independent building inspection. If the builder maintains that there is no defect then you may need to contact the Building Commission of W.A.
It is important to note that Nonregulatory bodies such as the HIA exist primarily to represent members of the organisation- which are the builders and building professionals-who have paid for membership. It is suggested that if you have a complaint regarding workmanship and defects during the build, you should first contact your builder, or organise an independent building inspection of the alleged defect to ensure that the assessment is an independent one.
Contact SHS Building Consultants for clarity on where to find this information, or for specific advice.
- How can I be sure the build is going well and that there are no defects
Organise an independent building inspection at any time of the build to ensure that everything is going well and also to ensure that your concerns are being met.
