For Melbourne builders + buyers
How to Choose a Home Builder in Melbourne
The three checks every Melbourne buyer should run before requesting a tender. What a valid VBA registration looks like, how to read a contract, and how BuildPilot handles builder matching when the Melbourne edition opens.
Licence regulator
VBA
Victorian Building Authority
Contracts regulator
CAV
Consumer Affairs Victoria
Home warranty
DBI
Domestic building insurance
Live matching
Soon
Waitlist open
Check 1: VBA registration
Every Victorian home builder must be registered with the Victorian Building Authority in the correct practitioner category. The VBA runs a free public register that returns the practitioner name, business name, registration number, category, status (active or otherwise) and any current disciplinary history.
Before you request a tender, before you visit a display, before you fill in a "get a quote" form - open the VBA register and check the builder's status. If the search returns nothing, they are not currently registered to build the class of home you want in Victoria. Full stop.
- Search by business name AND by the registered practitioner's personal name
- Confirm the category (e.g. Domestic Builder - Unlimited) matches your build
- Note the registration number and put it in your comparison spreadsheet
- Read any listed disciplinary actions in full, not just the headline
Check 2: Domestic building insurance
In Victoria, any residential build with a contract value above the current state threshold requires domestic building insurance to be arranged BEFORE the builder takes a deposit. The insurance protects you if the builder becomes insolvent, dies or disappears before the build is complete. A responsible builder will show you the certificate of currency before asking for a cent.
If a Melbourne builder is reluctant to hand you the insurance certificate, or arranges it "later", walk. Contract law and consumer protection are on your side, but not applying them in the first place is far cheaper than enforcing them later.
Check 3: A CAV-compliant contract
Consumer Affairs Victoria publishes what a compliant Victorian domestic building contract must contain - cooling-off period, deposit cap, progress payment schedule tied to defined stages, mandatory warranties, dispute resolution pathway. Every clause in the contract you sign should map back to those minimums.
BuildPilot does not draft or review contracts (we are not licensed). What we do is read them alongside you, flag what looks off, and point you at the licensed practitioner who can help - your solicitor or conveyancer. Our One on One Support is a curator, not a substitute for legal advice.
Frequently asked
How do I check if my Melbourne builder is licensed?+
Open the Victorian Building Authority public register (linked below), search by business name or registered practitioner name, and confirm the registration is current in the right category. It is free and takes about 20 seconds.
What is the difference between a builder licence in SA and VIC?+
Different regulators, different practitioner categories, different insurance requirements. South Australia uses Consumer and Business Services (CBS) with a builder licence; Victoria uses the Victorian Building Authority (VBA) with a practitioner registration. A licence in one state does NOT automatically transfer to the other.
When will BuildPilot match me with Melbourne builders?+
Live Melbourne builder matching is being prepared as the next phase of our Victoria launch. Join the waitlist below and we will email the day it goes live - typically we run a small early-access cohort first before wider release.
Should I use a national brand or a Melbourne local?+
Neither category is intrinsically better. What matters is: current VBA registration, recent build history in your specific council area, references you can call, a contract that maps to CAV's minimums, and a site supervisor you would trust to manage your build for 8-14 months. Both national brands and Melbourne locals can pass or fail on those criteria.
Do I have to pay a deposit before signing?+
No. Victorian domestic building contracts cap the deposit and it is paid AFTER contract signing, not before. If a Melbourne builder asks for money before you have a signed contract in your hand, ask why in writing.
Building in Adelaide instead?
See our Home Builders Adelaide guide