Try to avoid changes to the design as they will cost you time and money.
Some changes are inevitably as work progresses – maybe materials specified are not available or you change your mind about location of windows, adding a wardrobe or extending eaves.
- Changes to the plans may require an amendment to the Building Consent. This will require an amendment application through council which will mean time to process. Your builder may have to stop work until approved.
- Changes are expensive – the builder has to add a premium because they can affect their programme of works.
- Get the builder to price the change and approve the cost in writing.
Paying the builder
- When you’re building, you make progress payments to your builder. This ensures that you pay only for work the builder has done so you never owe more than the house is worth at each stage.
- When a builder invoices a progress payment, the bank will want to see an updated progress report from the valuer. This is generally one page and tells the bank what the property is currently worth and what the cost will be to complete.
- The bank then pays the money to you so you can pay your builder.
