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Hiring a builder is one of the biggest decisions you’ll make in your project. But there’s one question we believe tells you more about a builder than
Hiring a builder is one of the biggest decisions you’ll make in your project. You want quality workmanship, clear communication, and a process that feels calm and predictable.
But there’s one question we believe tells you more about a builder than almost anything else.
The most important question to ask your builder is:
“Are you comfortable with me hiring an independent building inspector to check your work?”
That one question protects your project, and it reveals how your builder thinks.
Many homeowners feel nervous asking about inspections. They worry it might offend the builder or create tension before the work begins.
We understand that instinct. Building and renovating feels personal.
But here’s the truth.
A builder who runs a professional site and takes pride in their work will welcome transparency. They will not fear third-party verification.
This question doesn’t create conflict. It sets a standard.
When you ask this question, the best response sounds like:
We love hearing this question because it shows the homeowner understands how building works. They want a quality outcome, and they want to verify it properly.
A defensive response might sound like:
That reaction is a warning sign.
It doesn’t mean the builder is a bad person. It means they don’t welcome accountability. They want you to rely on blind trust.
Blind trust is the most expensive strategy in construction.
Independent building inspectors don’t exist to create drama. They exist to reduce risk.
They inspect workmanship and compliance at key stages of the build. They help catch issues early, when fixes are simple and affordable.
This is where homeowners often misunderstand the system.
Many assume the building surveyor checks everything.
They don’t.
Independent inspections also reduce confusion during the build. Many homeowners struggle to know what “good” looks like at each stage. They see framing, membranes, and rough-in services, and they feel unsure because they can’t compare it to anything. An inspector gives you a professional reference point. Instead of guessing, you get clarity on whether the work meets the expected standard at that stage.
This also helps with decision-making. If an inspector flags something early, the builder can fix it quickly while access is still open. That is far easier than discovering the issue after plaster, tiling, or cabinetry hides the area.
In Victoria, a building surveyor typically attends the site at major stage points, such as:
These inspections matter, but they don’t cover every quality detail homeowners assume someone is monitoring.
Surveyors focus on high-level compliance. They don’t perform deep workmanship audits across every trade and every room.
That’s why independent inspections add value.
This is one of the most important reasons we recommend third-party checks.
In Victoria, building surveyors are not mandated to inspect waterproofing.
Waterproofing is one of the highest-risk areas in any home. When it fails, the damage often appears months or years later.
By the time you notice the signs, the fix can require:
That cost and disruption can be huge.
A staged inspection plan dramatically reduces that risk.
Waterproofing problems don’t always show up as obvious leaks. Sometimes you’ll see small signs first. You might notice swelling in skirting boards, musty smells, grout cracking, or minor paint bubbling. These issues often start quietly and then escalate as water continues to flow through the same weak point.
This is why we recommend checking waterproofing while the area is still visible. Once tiles go down, the repair process becomes expensive and disruptive. You can’t “patch” waterproofing properly from the outside. You need access to the system itself. An early inspection helps you avoid the situation where the bathroom looks finished, but the failure has already started.
Most people think inspections happen only at the end. We recommend a staged approach.
That may include inspections at:
The earlier you identify an issue, the easier it is to resolve.
This approach doesn’t “catch builders out.” It protects the homeowner and the builder.
If you want a practical approach, you can treat inspections like checkpoints that match how the build actually progresses. The goal isn’t to inspect every day. The goal is to inspect when a trade completes a critical layer.
For example, waterproofing is a critical layer because everything relies on it. Framing is a critical layer because it sets the structure of the home, and we want the build quality to be standing in 100 years. Practical completion is a critical layer because you want a professional set of eyes before handover.
When you align inspections with these moments, you protect the project without overcomplicating the process.
This question also makes the project easier to manage.
If something goes wrong later, the conversation becomes:
“Let’s fix what the inspector flagged.”
Not:
“We think something looks wrong.”
Independent feedback keeps communication calm, objective, and practical.
This question also protects you from one of the most common homeowner regrets. Many people only think about inspections after something goes wrong. By then, the conversation becomes emotional. People feel disappointed. Builders feel defensive. Trust starts to weaken.
When you ask early, you remove the personal tension. You normalise the idea that quality should be verified. That sets the tone for a professional build.
A good builder doesn’t take that personally. They understand that you’re protecting your investment and your peace of mind.
If you take one thing from this blog, take this:
Ask the question at the start.
Ask early:
“Are you comfortable with me hiring an independent building inspector to check your work?”
