FAQs, Misconceptions & Tips
This Page is still Under Construction
Frequently Asked Questions
- Why should I have my new home independently inspected?
- My local council checks that my home has been built correctly don’t they?
- My builder/supervisor says their surveyor will check my home for me?
- My builder/supervisor tells me they are really pedantic and that they’ll keep a good eye on my job for me?
- How many inspections do I need to have?
- What documentation should I bring/provides to you at each inspection Stage?
- When should I call you to carry out each inspection?
- Should I make my progress payment before I receive your report?
- How far in advance do I need to book you?
- Can I attend the inspection?
- How quickly can I get my inspection report?
- How will I know if my builder has fixed the defects you identified?
- Why don’t you do slab and/or footing inspections?
- Mybuilder didn’t/won’t supply me with copies of my engineering drawings?
- Can my builder stop me from using an independent inspector?
- My builder says that if I used a private inspector they must have to sign off on my final inspection list?
- Can you explain the handover process to me?
- Why aren’t the appliances fitted before my handover inspection?
- How do I know my appliances, heating and cooling etc. will work after handover?
- My builder has got the Certificate of Occupancy on my home and now wants to settle?
- Why has my builder sent me my final account when the works are still incomplete?
- Why hasn’t my builder deducted the liquidated damages they own me from their final account?
- Can I settle with some items still incomplete?
- What does the builder’s maintenance actually cover?
Building Misconceptions
- Certificate of Occupancy
- Role of your builders appointed surveyor and inspector
- Role of your banks or financial institutions inspector
- Your 7 year guarantee & last resort insurance policy
Building Tips
- The handover process
- Finished paving and garden heights
- Ongoing house and site maintenance
- Tiling set out
- Stone bench tops
- Colour selection
- Sloping sites
- Soils and reactive sites
- Liquidated damages
- VCAT
Frequently Asked Questions
This section of this site is still under construction. Please call back shortly.
My local council checks that my home has been built correctly don’t they?
This section of this site is still under construction. Please call back shortly.
My builder/supervisor says their surveyor will check my home for me?
This section of this site is still under construction. Please call back shortly.
My builder/supervisor tells me they are really pedantic and that they’ll keep a good eye on my job for me?
This section of this site is still under construction. Please call back shortly.
How many inspections do I need to have?
This section of this site is still under construction. Please call back shortly.
What documentation should I bring/provides to you at each inspection Stage?
This section of this site is still under construction. Please call back shortly.
When should I call you to carry out each inspection?
This section of this site is still under construction. Please call back shortly.
Should I make my progress payment before I receive your report?
This section of this site is still under construction. Please call back shortly.
How far in advance do I need to book you?
This section of this site is still under construction. Please call back shortly.
Can I attend the inspection?
This section of this site is still under construction. Please call back shortly.
How quickly can I get my inspection report?
This section of this site is still under construction. Please call back shortly.
How will I know if my builder has fixed the defects you identified?
This section of this site is still under construction. Please call back shortly.
Why don’t you do slab and/or footing inspections?
This section of this site is still under construction. Please call back shortly.
My builder didn’t/won’t supply me with copies of my engineering drawings?
This section of this site is still under construction. Please call back shortly.
Can my builder stop me from using an independent inspector?
This section of this site is still under construction. Please call back shortly.
My builder says that if I used a private inspector they must have to sign off on my final inspection list?
This section of this site is still under construction. Please call back shortly.
Can you explain the handover process to me?
This section of this site is still under construction. Please call back shortly.
Why aren’t the appliances fitted before my handover inspection?
This section of this site is still under construction. Please call back shortly.
How do I know my appliances, heating and cooling etc. will work after handover?
This section of this site is still under construction. Please call back shortly.
My builder has got the Certificate of Occupancy on my home and now wants to settle?
This section of this site is still under construction. Please call back shortly.
Why has my builder sent me my final account when the works are still incomplete?
This section of this site is still under construction. Please call back shortly.
Why hasn’t my builder deducted the liquidated damages they own me from their final account?
This section of this site is still under construction. Please call back shortly.
Can I settle with some items still incomplete?
This section of this site is still under construction. Please call back shortly.
What does the builder’s maintenance actually cover?
This section of this site is still under construction. Please call back shortly.
Building Misconceptions
Certificate of Occupancy
Most people believe, and most builders would have them believe, that when the Building Surveyor issues the Certificate of Occupancy (at the completion of their home) that it certifies that their home has been built in accordance with the Building Code, Regulations and Act’s; and even with their Building Contract.
FACT:- Section 46 Effects of Occupancy Permits, of the Victorian Building Act 1993 states:- An occupancy permit is not evidence that the building or part of a building to which it applies complies with this Act or the Building Regulations.
The Building Commissions brochure Permits & Paperwork before, during and after building, goes further and states:- An occupancy permit will only be issued to you when items affecting health and safety are in place and fully operational. These include things such as the water supply, smoke alarms, safety glass, handrails and balustrades. It does not mean that all painting is done, that the carpet is laid or that all the fittings are installed, for example. An occupancy permit is issued when your building is “suitable to occupy” from a health and safety point of view. It is not a statement that all the building work is necessarily complete. Nor is it a certificate that states that all building work complies with the relevant legislation or contract.
So, your Certificate of Occupancy does not afford you the protection that most people believe, or are led to believe that it does.
The only way that you can ensure that your home will be properly built to an acceptable standard and quality is to have it independently inspected throughout the course of its construction.
Role of your builders appointed surveyor and inspector
This section of this site is still under construction. Please call back shortly.
Role of your banks or financial institutions inspector
This section of this site is still under construction. Please call back shortly.
Your 7 year guarantee & last resort insurance policy
This section of this site is still under construction. Please call back shortly.
Building Tips The handover process Finished paving and garden heights Ongoing house and site maintenance Tiling set out Stone bench tops Colour selection Sloping sites Soils and reactive sites Liquidated damages VCAT
This section of this site is still under construction. Please call back shortly.
This section of this site is still under construction. Please call back shortly.
This section of this site is still under construction. Please call back shortly.
This section of this site is still under construction. Please call back shortly.
This section of this site is still under construction. Please call back shortly.
This section of this site is still under construction. Please call back shortly.
This section of this site is still under construction. Please call back shortly.
This section of this site is still under construction. Please call back shortly.
This section of this site is still under construction. Please call back shortly.
This section of this site is still under construction. Please call back shortly.