Contract Conditions
Why You Might Not Find A Builder Rating
Can’t find a quality rating for your builder? Perhaps you should check your contract before you sign it. Apparently some builders require customers to sign a contract that: ‘Prohibits them from publishing anything about the builder without the builders express…
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Unfair Contracts
Did you know that there is legislation in Australia that protects you from unfair contracts? Fair Contracts The two most common house building contracts are: The HIA Standard Contract. The Master Builders Association Standard Contract. Both these contracts are considered…
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When Did Your Construction Contract Start?
If there has been delays in a house building contract the question of compensation comes up (see this link: Liquidated Damages ) A key factor in assessing damages is knowing when the construction contract started; as it isn’t written in the signed contract. In order to avoid…
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Builder’s Christmas Shutdown
Every Year I hear complaints of “Everything has stopped on my House Build for a month” What can make it worse is when the builder ‘Tries’ to claim an ‘Extension of Time’ for the Build. What Does The Contract Say?…
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Specification
Control of costs is really important if you don’t want to run over budget on your new home. One of the key areas in controlling costs is understanding the specification of the house. One of the traps that many people…
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New House Guarantees and Warranties
I’m always a bit suspicious of guarantees and warranties! In my opinion most Guarantees are really just a piece of paper that explains how the Guarantor will fulfill their legal liabilities. (In some cases they explain a process which is less than fulfilling…
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Cost Plus Contracts – Avoid
What Is A Cost Plus Contract Basically it is a contract where you agree to pay all the builders ‘Direct Costs’ plus a ‘Fee for Administration and Profit’. Rather than a quotation the builder provides an estimate with the actual cost…
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Beware of Escalation Clauses
What Are Escalation Clauses These are a way of allowing for inflation. Basically it provides a way for the builder to increase his costs in line with inflation. The Clause will quote an inflation index which can be used to…
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Using Your Own Building Inspector
I frequently hear of people being told by their Builder “You can’t use your own Building Inspector!” If your builder says that, he is trying to Con You! ……or Breaking The Law! Here is an explanation based on my last…
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Australian Standards
A lot of people people misunderstand how Australian Standards apply to Contracts so here is a quick guide. Standards Australia All Australian Standards (AS) are published by Standards Australia. which is a non-government organisation. It’s role is to meet Australia’s need…
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