Exactly how to choose the right builder for your next home renovation

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18th Sep 2019

Renovations are stressful — that much is fact. When transforming a home, whether it’s a single room or an entire building, there’s so much to consider. From the overall architectural design to the finishing touches like cabinetry and appliances, every step is just as important as the next to making the final product exactly what you dreamed of. But, as anyone who has undertaken any sort of work — renovation or otherwise — on their home will attest, it’s you get that really makes the difference. 

Hiring the right team for the job, whether it’s big or small, is imperative to ensuring the success of your renovation. And where does one start? Choosing a builder can be a tough call, but there are ways to make it easier. Local tradie-finding app, hipages, is a good place to start. Users are able to upload a photo and describe the job needed (big or small) and receive up to three verified responses and quotes, with all communication and payments managed via the app. Accountable and trusted, it’s the app for those that want peace of mind — and who need to know who they’re hiring is good, the first time around. 

It’s the easiest way to manage your home project, and provides you with the ultimate tool to success: the perfect team. hipages is especially good for women taking charge of the build, as it offers assurances not always guaranteed with traditional ways of hiring. It’s secure, trusted, and tracked. According to a hipages poll, 61 per cent of women say they trust the tradies found via hipages, and 67 per cent of women say it was quicker to hire the tradie online, proving there’s merit to doing things a little differently on your next build. 

As for picking the actual builder, there’s plenty you can do to ensure you’ve got the right person. hipages builder, Jonathan Hayes, says research and pre-meetings are key, suggesting a little digging goes a long way. 

hipages builder Jonathon Hayes

“You may opt to visit your state or territory’s builder’s registry online. Here you can see if builders you’re vetting have ever been involved in a building dispute or had any compliance issues or insurance claims made against them. You can also check their insurance history [of a builder] which will provide more information on how many jobs the company has completed since 2010,” he says. After this, Hayes suggests meeting your chosen builder, making sure to take note on whether they kept the meeting time, were late or rescheduled — all indications of what they might be like to work with long term. 

Finally, it’s all about asking questions. “Before making your final decision, find out how many jobs the builder takes on at a time how many employees they have, whether they use subcontractors and if so, do they have a regular group of subcontractors that they call on. These are all essential things to know because when you’re engaging a builder, what you’re really buying into is their employees and their subcontractors,” Hayes suggests. 

With more and more Australians taking on renovation project management themselves, it’s imperative your team is qualified and knowledgeable. More importantly, that they’re on the same page as you. So yes, while picking out colour palettes might be more fun, it’s these all-important steps which will pave the way to the perfect final space. You can thank us later!

To find out more visit hipages.com.au or download the app.

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