The point in the project where the wrong call costs the most.
Most clients arrive at this stage with two or three builder quotes in hand, from builders they've heard about through friends, advertising or a display home. The quotes look relatively comparable. There might be a $15,000 to $30,000 difference between them, and the cheaper one is looking attractive.
The problem is that even though the quotes look comparable, there are almost always inclusions, exclusions, allowances and provisional sums applied differently that make an unexpected and significant difference to the actual cost and value being represented. By the time we've completed our detailed quote comparison matrix, a $15,000 gap between two quotes can often turn out to be closer to a $90,000 difference in actual value, or even greater. Sometimes the cheaper quote is actually the more expensive option.
After more than 20 years comparing builders' quotes, clients are regularly surprised by the differences we identify. Even extremely detailed people who are very confident in their own comparisons will miss significant differences.
The detail is genuinely difficult. Not just the hundreds of items that go into a new home, but the different ways builders present quotes, how items get described and grouped and what isn't mentioned at all. What's worse, the people presenting the quotes know this and use it to their advantage.
Sometimes the quote that appears cheaper is actually the more expensive option. The detail is genuinely difficult, and the people presenting the quotes to you know it.
Most people pick a builder on price and gut feel. Build Insight WA's four-stage process makes sure you're working with the best builders, in a way that provides better value and reduces risk, so that you can make a confident, informed decision.
Most people make the mistake of not getting enough quotes, or getting too many. We have strong relationships within a large network of builders, and for each project we create a shortlist of 6 to 8 who are available and keen to have a look. After listening to what is most important to you and discussing the options, together we decide on the three builders that will be chosen to provide accurate quotes.
Line by line, with allowances and provisional sums called out, and a written summary of where each builder is genuinely cheaper or genuinely more expensive once the differences have been highlighted and allowed for.
ASIC, credit, licence and reference checks on a specific builder, plus a review of recent project history and timelines. Official and informal finance checks, including any red flags regarding insolvency risk.
Once all of the information is at hand, we show you the results of a weighted comparison matrix that takes into account not just price but also timeline, quality, customer service and financial stability.
Most people spend more time planning a holiday than choosing the builder for a home they plan to live in for years.
The construction industry is a hard one to operate in. Builders go under. Provisional sums blow out. Time gets lost before construction has even started. The main issue isn't that you'll pick a bad builder, although it does happen. It's assuming that getting two or three quotes from builders you've enquired with or been recommended to is enough to know if you're paying the right price. In reality, even if one of the quotes you receive is a good price, there are so many more unknowns and so little protection for you if something does go wrong.
Choosing the right builder for your new home is one of the riskiest and most important decisions you will ever make, but the construction industry is set up in a way that many find overwhelming. So much so that it's not uncommon for people to do less research choosing a builder than they would selecting a new fridge.
Build Insight WA's builder selection process takes the guesswork out of it and provides a comprehensive, detailed comparison service that will make you feel much more confident about your choice, and in the process provide far more value than our fee. Every time.
The first call takes about fifteen minutes. Tell us about the quotes you're holding and we'll work out the right scope, whether that's a full Builder Selection engagement or one of the fixed-fee reports.