I am on the antipodes: but after a big build or renovation, I invite the whole crew over for a Friday lunchtime BBQ or lunch - usually affixing pictures of the before and after of the construction. Most crew have only seen a small part of the work and are fascinated to see the before and after (much like us on Houzz!)

Hi Donna - Look for a company that offer a 10-year warranty and a product that complies with Australian Standards. There are some companies that provide a 'kit' for your builder to install to make it a little bit cheaper again. There are also products that have a 'rack and pinion' design which minimises maintenance and eliminates the need for a motor pit - just do a google search for "dumbwaiter rack and pinion' . Good Luck!

Going in as an owner builder is a false economy. It takes a builder years to develop the relationships with the right subtrades to ensure the project is built to budget and on time. I can fully understand that you are concerned with cost blowouts, so i will let you in on a little secret to help you avoid this trap. Find a builder who charges for quotes. I know this sounds counter intuitive, but here is the upswing. A builder who charges for quotes is legally obliged to give you an accurate quote, will be less likely to lowball you on PS and PC items, and will take the time to audit your plans to ensure there are no issues. Ask in advance to see a sample of their quotes - it should include a full list of inclusions, BoQ Exclusions, and timeline or Gantt chart as min. There are many brilliant builders in Australia offering this service, and i can recommend a number of them in every state in Australia who will give you exemplary service. good luck!

Highly likely that the builder just received a lump sum invoice from the sub contractor. Generally Earthworks means moving around the dirt on your block, adding more dirt or removing dirt. There’s not much detail to add. Given the works have already happened, it’s likely no one kept any records of the volume of dirt moved around/in/out or how long it took. The request from the builder to the sub contractor would have been along the lines of “make site flat suitable for x slab within building envelope or similar”. Any breakdown they produce now will be, in all likelihood, produced to match the figure charged. And as you don’t know the details of the volume involved you won’t have much basis upon which to query. What outcome were you hoping to achieve.?