How to find out if a builder is in financial trouble?
Here’s how to check that your builder has a good credit history and the funds to support your new home build.
Start your build with peace of mind that your builder isn’t in financial difficulty.
Allot of my clients have heard about the nightmares of builder going into liquidation and buyers being left with a half-built house that they’ve already paid for. When you’ve worked so hard and waited to save for the deposit, the last thing you want is the heartbreak of builder financial difficulties crushing your dream build plans.
Checking that your builder has the financial backing to last through your build is one of the most important things you can do to protect your new home building project. Choosing a financially sound builder not only minimises the risk of project delays, it also gives you peace of mind that you’ve done the due diligence for a successful building journey.
Here are my top 3 tips give you confidence that your new home builder is financially secure:
1. Request a Credit Report
Most builders work off a credit cashflow arrangement to have the funds to order materials and pay for labour before you pay their progress claim at completion of each milestone. For this to work on your build, your builder needs to have a secure credit history.
You start by asking your builder for a report from their credit agency. If they aren’t willing to share this, there are a few paid online platforms dedicated to verifying the credit history of builders. CreditWatch is a good example. These websites offer comprehensive reports on a builder’s financial health, including credit ratings, financial statements, and business history.
2. Verify Builder's Licence
Verifying that your builder complies with your States registration business requirements is crucial to ensure their aren’t unresolved issues on previous builds that may jeopardise the company. For those building in Victoria, the Victorian Building Authority (VBA) offers a convenient online tool to verify the credentials of registered builders.
3. Request Insurance Certificates
Each contract specifies that types of insurance your Builder must have in place before any deposit is paid or building works start. I always encourage my home building clients to take a proactive approach to Building Insurance by asking their builder for the Certificates of Insurance as a priority after signing the contract. During our Building Contract Consulting calls, I work with clients to ensure the 3 essential insurance policies are in place before works begin to make sure their build is protected through the entire building journey.
So, there you have it—my top 3 tips give you confidence that your builder is financially secure. Leaving the financial responsibility entirely up to the builder is fine, but it’s much smarter to make sure you’ve got the right protections in place so you can have peace of mind throughout your build!
Thanks for reading, and catch you in the next post 😊
Annelyse
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Written by Annelyse, Building Contract Enthusiast, Project Manager, and founder of Build Together Project Management.
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