Dream team: 15 tips for working with a home builder

How will you and your builder communicate? Will you hold regular work-in-progress meetings onsite, or stay in touch via email or WhatsApp?

Also set some boundaries on when you can reach each other. What time does the builder clock off each day, and how would they feel about being contacted on the weekend? Consider your own schedule and whether you want to be reachable around the clock, too. Emergencies aside, only get in touch during the agreed hours.

While day-to-day communication might happen via phone, always put important agreements in writing. Type up notes after a site meeting and email them to your builder – this paper trail could help sort out a disagreement down the track.

There’s always a chance that your start date will be pushed back if your builder is still completing another job. While this may be frustrating, try not to let it taint your attitude when the project gets underway. On the plus side, it suggests that if your own deadline is delayed at the end, the builder won’t leave you in the lurch. Also try to be reasonable about wet-weather delays – they’re out of everybody’s hands.

Once the project kicks off, get to know the builders and tradespeople. If you’re living offsite, or it’s a new build, a friendly “hello” can go a long way towards developing a good working relationship.

When working with a home builder, you want to ensure they feel welcome on the job. Offer them cool drinks on hot days, collect their morning coffee orders, let them park in your driveway if space permits and, if it feels comfortable, offer them access to your bathrooms and wi-fi network.

As the adage goes, there’s no such thing as a stupid question. With that in mind, go to your builder with your queries and let them help assuage your doubts and keep you informed. The more you understand about the project, the smoother it’s likely to run – and feel.

Always contact your builder before showing up onsite, and ask if it’s safe to do so. As your property becomes a full-blown construction site, you may need to wear a hard hat or closed-toe shoes.

You’ll be able to communicate more effectively with your builder if you’re familiar with the relevant terminology. This could involve land and building terms, but also the language to describe your home’s aesthetic – whether it’s a Hamptons-style coastal weatherboard home or a modern design that uses a mix of external vertical and horizontal cladding, the correct wording will help your builder understand your vision and build the home you want.

When a builder or tradesperson is having their break, let them do just that. By all means have a casual chat, but save questions about your project and its progress for when they’re back on the tools. Your builder will appreciate it.

Your build or renovation might seem to serve up an endless stream of decisions. Try to make them in a timely manner – this will keep your builder happy, plus time is money, so it’s likely to save you dollars in the long run.

Not happy with the builder’s work? Take a moment to compose your thoughts, talk them through with your partner or family, and formulate exactly what you want to say – then speak up calmly. Don’t let the builder brush you off with a “she’ll be right” attitude. Your concerns are valid, and a good builder will work with you to rectify the situation.

Remember that your contract is with your builder, not with the builder’s subcontractors. Instructing subcontractors directly or employing them for extra work is a sure-fire way to get your builder offside, so respect the hierarchies that are in place.

A build or renovation is likely to turn your life upside down and take you on a rollercoaster ride of emotions. But when working with a home builder, try to stay optimistic, and accept that mishaps and delays will happen. Read our top tips for decreasing stress during a project here.

Pay the builder promptly and according to your agreed terms, knowing that if you’re late, they may not be able to pay their subcontractors and suppliers. That said, if a builder requests upfront payments for work that hasn’t been completed, you have every right to object. Similarly, only pay for materials that have been delivered to your site.