Common questions
A few of the questions clients tend to ask before signing on a build. If yours isn't here, send us a note, happy to answer over a call.
General
Where do you build?
Tweed Heads to Brunswick Heads, the Tweed Coast. That stretch covers Tweed Heads, Fingal Head, Kingscliff, Casuarina, Cabarita Beach, Hastings Point, Pottsville, Wooyung, Ocean Shores, New Brighton and Brunswick Heads. All our work stays on this coast.
Do you build outside the Tweed?
We generally build on the Tweed and nearby areas. That focus keeps us close to every build, and it's how we know the sites, the conditions and the trades.
Do you take on renovations as well as new builds?
Both. Alongside new homes we take on major renovations and extensions, held to the same detail, finish and care as a new build.
Do we need an architect already engaged?
Most clients come to us with one. If you don't, we can recommend architects on the Tweed who suit your brief, and we'll work with whoever you choose.
How many projects do you run at a time?
We keep our project load small on purpose, generally running 2-3 projects at a time. This ensures every build gets the attention it needs and the standard stays up.
Building on the coast
How do you build for a coastal site?
We build on this coast every day, so we know how it behaves. Salt, wind, sun and sand all shape how a home needs to be detailed and which materials hold up over time, and we build around that. It's the advantage of working only on this stretch, we've learned what lasts here.
Who actually builds my home?
Your home is built by our own experienced team, alongside a select group of local trades and suppliers we've trusted for years. The standard is set by the architect's drawing and held all the way through to handover.
The build process
What's a typical timeline?
Every project sets its own timeline. Scope, site, materials and the design itself all shape it. Once a start date is confirmed, we hold to it from there. If weather and macro conditions present delays, we identify these as early as possible to develop reasonable and realistic options.
How early should we get you involved?
As early as you like, even at concept stage. Buildability flags, material questions and schedule assumptions are easier to resolve while drawings are still flexible. That said, plenty of clients come to us with drawings already complete, and we'll work from wherever you're at.
Who's our day-to-day contact through the build?
Aaron or Yarran, the same name from your first call through to handover. The people you meet at the start are the people on site, alongside our team of trusted trades and suppliers.
How are decisions and changes documented?
Every variation is written, costed and signed off before it's done. You'll have a clear record at handover of every decision made through the build.
Contract, cost and payments
What contract will we build under?
We're a member of the Master Builders Association and build under a recognised residential building contract that complies with the NSW Home Building Act. It sets out the scope, the price, the payment schedule and how changes are handled, so both sides know where they stand. We'll walk you through it, and we always recommend you have your own solicitor look it over before you sign.
Do you work to a fixed price or cost plus?
For most new builds we work to a fixed price, so you know the cost before we start. Renovations usually suit a cost plus arrangement, since they carry more unknowns and that keeps things fair and transparent as the work uncovers them. Those are what tend to work best, but we're always happy to talk through the right fit for your project.
What kind of budgets do you work in?
Our work sits in the architectural-build tier. Tell us about the project and we'll tell you honestly whether the brief and the budget are aligned, that conversation is free.
Do you provide rough estimates before drawings exist?
We can give an indicative range based on the brief, the site and comparable projects, but a fixed estimate needs drawings to price against.
How is your quote structured?
Itemised against the drawings and specification, with allowances called out clearly and unknowns flagged upfront. What you sign is what we build to.
How are deposits and payments handled?
Deposits on residential building work in NSW are limited by law, and we stay within those limits. From there, payments are made in stages as the build progresses, with each one tied to work that's actually been completed. The full schedule is in your contract and we'll walk you through it before you sign.
What's not included in a build cost?
Architect fees, council fees and connections, geotech, certifier fees, and anything specified outside our scope (for example owner-supplied appliances, or landscaping outside the build line). We list these clearly in the quote.
Insurance and warranty
What insurance covers my build?
Your project carries the insurances you'd expect of an established builder, including the Home Building Compensation cover required under NSW law, along with contract works and public liability. Certificates are available for your records.
What's covered under warranty?
The statutory NSW builder warranty applies, plus a defect period after handover. Specific products and finishes carry their own manufacturer warranties, listed in your handover pack.
What happens after handover?
A walkthrough at handover, then the statutory defect period. We're a phone call away long after that, plenty of clients check in over the years and we're happy to help.
What happens if there's a disagreement?
We'd rather head problems off than resolve them, which is why we keep you across the build the whole way through. If a genuine disagreement comes up, the contract sets out a clear process for working through it, and as a Master Builders member we have established dispute resolution to draw on. In practice, most things are sorted with a phone call.
Contact Us
If you have any questions about these FAQs, please reach out via our contact page.