How to manage the construction process
- Victoria Read
- Jun 27, 2017
- 1 min read
Updated: Apr 28, 2020
The design and dreaming is over, now it’s time to watch your new home arise from your plans. This is a busy time and is fraught with possible problems – but it’s easier than you think as long as you know what to look for.
Five things you need to know
You need a contract with your builder—it’s a legal requirement for projects over $30,000.
Your builder is a crucial partner – you need a good one whom you can trust. Your builder needs to be a licensed building practitioner (LBP) as he is going to sign off the work on your job. Your tradespeople also need to have the correct license/qualifications for the job they are doing
Making changes after building has begun is expensive and can cause delays
Insurance, especially against theft and fire, is essential
You need a Health and safety plan for your building site
Two things you need to do
Keep your architect or designer involved – they will stay on top of what’s going on and to ensure your construction team builds it correctly. They will help you set up and manage your contract, manage changes to the design, your health and safety plan and council compliance. They will check that the builder is following the plans and all materials used are the ones specified and are installed correctly. This is especially important.
When the work is complete, get a Code Compliance Certificate from the council