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How Do I... Manage My Relationship With My Builder?

Building a great home takes determination, creativity and a great partnership with your builder, says this expert

Georgia MaddenDecember 5, 2018

Senior writer, Houzz Australia

In this practical series, we ask experts to answer your burning home and garden questions. Here, Stephen Thompson, managing director at Allworth Homes, reveals how to keep your relationship with your builder intact during the often-fraught process of constructing a home.

Katie Sargent Design

When it comes to constructing your dream home, the quality of your relationship with your builder really matters. Not only is this relationship a long one – as long as one to two years if you date it back to the approvals stage – but a positive partnership can also result in lower costs, less stress and a better result. Here’s how to achieve this trifecta.

Allworth Homes

Start by finding the right builder
The first step is to research as many different builders as possible before making your final decision. Here’s how:

View their websites and portfolios to see their work and get a feel for their reputation.
Meet them face-to-face to see how well you connect.
Outline clearly what you want.
Ensure your builder is reputable and that you trust them.
Read reviews from builders’ previous clients.

Katie Sargent Design

Ask the right questions
These include:

Can you achieve what I want?
Do you have the relevant experience?
What are your credentials, licences and insurance details?
Who will be running this job upon commencement, and will they regularly provide me with updated information?
Who is a reliable contact?
What is the timeline for completion?
Can we lock in start dates?
What are the costs involved?

HU-455428047

Be aware of the most common pressure points

Misaligned expectations: Not being on the same page as your builder from the outset can lead to disaster. Make it clear exactly what you expect from your builder by having a defined plan and ensuring that you share the same vision.

Write everything down and schedule regular meetings to check that you are still on the same page and that the project is on track.

Pointing the finger: Rushing to blame your builder without knowing all the facts will quickly sour your relationship. For your contractor to do a good job, it’s important that you trust them. Remember – they are the professional, not you.

If something does go wrong, rather than being accusatory, discuss your concerns in a calm and mature manner in order to keep communication open.

Charm Homes

Delays: Building a home can be a long process and you will find that many things don’t go to plan, including the construction timeframe. The weather is one of the most common delays during a build. It’s unsafe to work in rain or extreme wind, so be aware that building work cannot proceed in these conditions.

Your builder should give you regular updates of how the project is coming along and if anything is running behind schedule. Be patient and know that good building takes time.

Matt Gibson Architecture + Design

Steps to establish a great working relationship

Communicate: Be honest and respectful when speaking with your builder – as they should be with you. If you’re unhappy about something, communicate it in a healthy way.
Don’t assume anything: Make your expectations of your builder clear form the outset and, where possible, have all communications in writing.

rosstang architects

Avoid showing up on-site unplanned: Work health safety rules mean you can’t randomly show up on the job site and make inspections, so stick to supervised, scheduled site visits.

Saunders Building Company Pty Ltd

Have a clear vision: If you constantly change your mind about fixtures or layouts, you’ll frustrate your builder and can cause delays and mistakes. This can slow down construction time and put a strain on your relationship with your builder.

Changes will affect the final price of the job too, which can result in further conflict.

Allworth Homes

Tell us
Can you add any dos or don’ts to this advice? Tell us in the Comments below, share this story with those you’ll be renovating with, and join the conversation.

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Dreaming of building or renovating your home? Find a builder who can turn your vision into a reality.

Comments (6)

See 3 more comments

tretrenta

last year

"Have a clear vision: If you constantly change your mind about
fixtures or layouts, you’ll frustrate your builder and can cause delays
and mistakes. This can slow down construction time and put a strain on
your relationship with your builder." I work for a custom builder and this is far and away our biggest issue in recent times. It is to be expected that changes will happen, but bear in mind there will be ensuing costs and delays. Rework costs more than doing something outright, tradies having to work around an unfinished segment while an owner makes up their mind on a selection charge more because additional attendances are required, and if we have to tell a tradie to not come when booked because that section isn't ready yet, we can lose our slot and they may not be able to come back again for weeks, which can result in a late finish at the end of the project. The best advice I can give is to settle on your plans and a selection for everything before you get quotes. If you have an architect or interior designer, they can do this for you. If not, get a sample specification from somewhere and fill in every box. Doing this will benefit you two ways: You will be able to compare quotes much more easily as they should be identical in content and your build should be much smoother.

broadflint

last year

Read this article in bed this morning, then later on overheard our builder discussing the story with his 2-IC. Certainly hoping to follow the excellent advice given, apart from the unexpected site visits - build is in our back yard, so we’re always onsite! So far everything going smoothly with everyone being courteous and professional.

Lyn Huppatz

last year

Hi Georgia. If I can make a suggestion, could you include a note after photos to show whose project it is. Have people on here thanking you for including them but no one knows which project was/is theirs.