What most people get wrong when choosing a builder

Most people about to start a build worry about the same thing: making sure they and their builder are on the same page.

So they do what seems sensible. They create Pinterest boards. They have long conversations about their vision. They ask their builder questions and feel reassured by the answers.

Then the build starts, and something goes wrong.

Maybe it's the marble benchtop that's slightly the wrong shade. Maybe it's the completion date that keeps getting pushed back. Maybe it's the "small variation" that adds $15,000 to the budget.

And suddenly all those conversations feel meaningless.

Here's what actually happened

The problem wasn't that you didn't communicate well enough. The problem is that good communication without a good contract is just nice words with no backup plan.

I learned this the hard way watching my own clients struggle with builds that went sideways, even when they had great relationships with their builders.

Like Sarah, who was building in regional Victoria with a builder she absolutely loved. He was accommodating, friendly, and always answered her questions. But when unexpected rain delays pushed her completion date past Christmas (when her family was flying in from overseas), she had no contract clause to fall back on. All those friendly conversations couldn't get her into her house on time.

Or Kristel, building her second home in Melbourne. She knew exactly what she wanted, had clear visual references, and communicated constantly. But when the paint on her facade came out the wrong shade, the "standard contract" didn't specify the exact finish she'd shown in all those Pinterest boards. She had to accept it or pay thousands more to fix it.

What most people get wrong about alignment

You think alignment happens in conversations. It actually happens in contract clauses.

The contract is where your vision, your budget, and your timeline stop being aspirational and start being enforceable.

That friendly builder who says "don't worry, we'll make sure you're happy"? That promise means nothing if the contract says something different. And most standard building contracts are written to protect the builder, not you.

Here's what creates real alignment:

1. Knowing which specific clauses in your contract prevent the problems you're worried about
   Not generic advice about "documenting everything," but understanding exactly where in your HIA or Master Builders contract it specifies what happens when timelines slip, when materials don't match your selection, or when costs start creeping up.

2. Understanding what your "standard" contract actually allows the builder to do
   Industry standard doesn't mean safe. It means standard for the industry, which is designed to give builders maximum flexibility and homeowners minimum recourse. The risk isn't the template, it's the details you didn't know to look for.

3. Having the tools to communicate when something goes wrong, backed by your contract
   When you spot that crack in the marble or that wrong shade of paint, you need more than a good relationship. You need to know exactly what your contract says you're entitled to and how to reference those clauses without destroying the working relationship you've built.

The real superpower isn't communication. It's contract literacy.

Every week I work with people who thought they were prepared because they'd done their research, asked questions, and chosen a reputable builder. Then they get their contract and realize they have no idea what it actually says about the things that matter most to them.

The ones who walk into their builds with confidence aren't the ones who communicated best. They're the ones who understood their contract before they signed it.

They know where their contract allows for price increases and where it doesn't. They can see which clauses protect them from delays and which ones leave them exposed. They understand their rights when the build doesn't match their vision.

And because they know this before the build starts, they can actually have those alignment conversations with their builder from a position of knowledge, not hope.

What to do next

If you're about to sign a building contract (or you've already signed but the build hasn't started), the best thing you can do is understand what you've actually agreed to.

Not just reading it, but having someone walk you through the specific clauses that will determine whether your build stays on budget, on time, and matches your vision.

That's exactly what I do in my Building Contract Health Checks. We go through your HIA or Master Builders contract together (I work with contracts from all Australian states), and I show you:

• Where your contract allows for cost blowouts and how to prevent them

• Which clauses protect you from delays (and which ones don't)

• What to watch out for before you sign

• How to communicate with your builder when issues come up, using the contract as your backup

I want you to walk away knowing exactly what you've agreed to and feeling confident about signing.

Because a quality build doesn't come from a quality conversation. It comes from a quality contract.

Learn more about Building Contract Health Checks

Happy building 💚

Annelyse