Posts

Builder

Horror Builder Stories You Need To Know About

Looking for a builder? Read this first!

Are you planning on jumping into a relationship with a builder for your next home build or renovation?

Before you do that, have a read of these horror builder stories that we’ve come across that stress the importance of taking the time to find a good recommended builder.

The builder out to rob you

There’s nothing much worse than a builder out to rob you. As many victims will tell you, this type of builder is all about getting as much money from you upfront.

They will be super nice to you when you meet and will promise you “everything” you want – in fact it may look too good to be true and probably a lot cheaper than other quotes.

In an article from the Herald Sun, several people fell victim to a builder who aimed to get as much money from them upfront by rushing the job and doing poor quality work.

According to “Anthony” (one of the victims): “His business model is to do it fast and rough and get the progress payments for the first half of the job then to go very slow and never actually finish the job — and start another one.”

Watch out for this builder especially if he/she is asking for large upfront cash payments. You can end up with poor quality and/or unfinished work.

The builder that avoid contracts

In this article (Source: www.dreambuilder-nightmare.com), Dave shares his own horror story about coming across a builder who seems professional and principled upon first meet but turned out otherwise.

The concrete work done on his home was far from what the expert assessment suggested but the builder refuses to accept the assessment or that his work was not good.

According to Dave, it is best to: “Have everything, and I mean everything, spelled out in great detail in the contract. There are builders association and other websites that give suggestions for what to include in a contract.”

The builders that doesn’t pay his/her contractors

Many builders sub-contract parts of a renovation or building project to other trades like plumbers, tilers, landscapers etc. Bad builders may not pay their trades on time (or ever) which could result in these trades not returning to finish your job. Consequently, you, the home owner ends up suffering the consequences.

That’s why it’s important to work with a reputable builder that has been using the same team of trade subcontractors for years as it would highly likely indicate he/she is a great payer.

Need help finding tradespeople for your place?

Here at Tradebusters®, our FREE and local tradesmen concierge service can help you connect with highly recommended electricians and other trade businesses.

Simply complete our easy job request form and a member from our team will call you back shortly to help you get started.

More useful links:

Home Renovations Sydney

Melbourne Renovations

Perth Renovations

Brisbane Renovations

Meet a Top 3 Local Choice near you:

Whether you are renovating, buying, selling, or moving, The Sydney Top 3 Local Choice directory can help connect you with vetted and reputable local businesses with confidence.

From local tradies, to real estate services providers, property and finance services we have you covered.

See who got a Top 3 spot near you.

Plumbers Sydney

Builders Sydney

Carpenters Sydney

Electricians Sydney

Painters Sydney

Conveyancers Sydney

Mortgage Brokers Sydney

Plumber Parramatta

Don’t Risk a Dodgy Plumber

Don’t Risk Your Pipes!

Over the years, Aussie plumbers have earned a bad rap.

It’s a profession known for ripping off customers or simply doing shonky work.

At Tradebusters, we know there are many great plumbers out there and we believe these are the businesses we should all be supporting.

So, what are the signs of a dodgy plumber and how can you avoid them?

Here are some tips:

Read more

Painters Sydney Eastern Suburbs

Painters Sydney Eastern Suburbs – They Do More than Paint!

The misconceptions about painters

They come to your door with paintbrush in one hand and a gallon of paint in another. Here’s what most people think painters in Sydney’s Eastern Suburbs professionals do. They tape off the room, stand back and rub their belly, and shake their head, as if in a “this is going to cost you” type gesture. They slap the paint on, and with a handshake, take your money. In another scenario, they show up, paint an hour or so, then show up again a couple days later; repeating this routine until with a handshake, they take your money.

Read more

Sydney Painters – How To Find The Best

How to find the best painter in Sydney

Painting is one of the most budget-friendly ways to add new life to a room or house. While painting may seem like an easy DIY job, it’s trickier than it looks.

Careful preparation, the right tools, and quality paints are essential to making sure your fresh coat of paint stays put for many years. Therefore, a qualified Sydney painter is highly recommended. Here’s how to find Sydney painters you know you can trust.
Read more

Home Builders Sydney – 5 Ways To Play It Safe

Planning on building?

The risks associated with building your own home can be life-changing, and not in a good way. Both homeowners and builders have responsibilities to ensure the process goes smoothly, but it’s important to know what these are before signing off on a building contract. Here are five ways to manage the risks and play it safe. Read more

How To Do a Trade Licence Check With NSW Fair Trading

Do this before you hire your next tradie?

If you live in NSW and need to hire a builder or other tradie, did you know that they are required to be licensed to do the work which they perform? A tradie working without the proper licensing in place is breaking the law and will be fined if caught.

It’s possible to check that any tradesperson you are thinking about hiring has the proper licensing in place which ensures that they are qualified to do the work.

It also pays to keep in mind that if you use a tradesperson who isn’t licensed, then you can be held liable for any of the work they carry out.
Read more

Sydney Builder Contracts – What Does NSW Fair Trading Say?

Don’t get caught out with a Sydney builder!  

Picking the right Sydney builder for your home or renovation is perhaps one of the most important decisions you need to make.

Getting it wrong can be costly and extremely heart breaking.

One of the best ways to protect yourself with a builder is to ensure you have a solid contract in place.

Here’s what NSW Fair Trading has to say about builder contracts.

Read more

Dodgy painter

Don’t Risk a Dodgy Painter

Tips to finding the right painter!

It’s  true. A professional painter will save you a lot of time and money because very simply the job is done right, first time around.

But with so many people calling themselves “professional painters”, how do you find the right one?

And how do you make sure you don’t get caught out by a dodgy painter?

Check out our latest tips.

Read more

3 Ways To Not Get Ripped Off By Tradies

It’s all about playing it safe!

Unfortunately, thousands of Aussies get ripped off by dodgy tradies annually. But the honest truth? It really does not need to happen.

Because if you do good upfront research, it really should not happen.

There is a great pool of excellent reputable tradies out there. I hope you agree with me when I say, these are the businesses we should all be supporting!

So how do you find them?

Read more

Don’t Let Your Home Renovation End with Divorce

How to Avoid Personal Conflicts During Renovations

It happens! A home renovation project can be extremely stressful and take the toil on your relationship. It’s a period where your house gets pulled apart, you are forced out of routine, giving up comforts and personal space for months (potentially), and at the same time dealing with project issues and the financial strain of a renovation.

The last thing you want is a difference of opinion over the paint colour to have you walking out the door!

Here are ways to avoid personal conflict within the household when doing a home renovation and most importantly, making sure your relationship stays intact.

Read more