For homeowners · Coming soonBefore you sign, ask how your building money will be managed.
A building contract is one of the biggest financial commitments you will make. PayLocker is a new way to keep your construction payments connected to your project, and BuildPilot is helping Australians learn about it early.
Choosing who builds your home usually comes down to design, inclusions, price and the builder. It should also include an often-overlooked question: what happens to your money after you pay it?
The payment gap most buyers never see
On many projects, your progress payment lands in a general account, and from that moment nothing structurally connects it to the work it was paid for.
Home-warranty insurance matters, but it generally only responds after a qualifying event such as insolvency, and it is subject to eligibility, triggers and published limits.
That leaves a gap while the build is underway, and it is a fair thing to ask any builder about before you sign.
Where PayLocker fits in your building journey
PayLocker adds a governed payment layer alongside your building contract. Committed funds enter a project-specific pathway rather than an unidentified pool of commingled money, and you get greater visibility of stages, claims, approvals and releases, without exposing a builder’s confidential margin or trade pricing.
How it works
One structured pathway, from funding to final payment.
PayLocker keeps money connected to the project across five steps.
Verify
Every participant is identified, role, licence, ABN and nominated account, so there is no ambiguity over who is entitled to be paid.
Stage
The project’s stages determine when money enters, in line with the building contract.
Fund
Payments arrive into a project-specific account and stay connected to that project.
Approve
Claims are submitted against the work; approvals are recorded as distinct, visible steps.
Release
Where funds are available and an obligation is approved, the entitled participant is paid in the approved sequence, and every decision is recorded.
What it could mean for you
Funds stay identifiable to your project
Committed money enters a project-specific pathway, not a general operating account.
A clearer payment picture
See stages, claims, approvals and releases as the build progresses.
A recorded payment history
A visible record of who approved what, and when.
A better question to compare builders
Ask every builder the same thing, how will my payments be held, approved and recorded?
Why BuildPilot partnered with PayLocker
BuildPilot’s job is to help you make better-informed building decisions. Payment transparency is a genuinely useful, and often missed, way to compare builders, so we’re introducing PayLocker early and helping you register your interest. BuildPilot provides the education and the introduction; PayLocker handles qualification, onboarding, agreements, payment services and ongoing support.
Trust should be checkable
PayLocker is a payment-integrity layer that keeps committed construction funds connected to the project, with verification, approvals, controlled release and a recorded payment history.
What it is not
- Not a bank
- Not an insurer
- Not accounting software
- Not a project-management tool
What it does not guarantee
- That a builder will remain solvent
- That every dispute will be avoided
- That a project will be completed
What it does not replace
- Your building contract
- Statutory home-warranty insurance and consumer protections
- Independent building inspections or professional advice
- The builder’s responsibility for programme, quality and delivery
General information only, not financial, legal or tax advice. Always read the relevant contract and seek professional advice.
Educational videos coming soon
We’ll add PayLocker’s explainer videos here once approved links are supplied.
Building-journey guide coming soon
A supporting article on where payment integrity fits your build, added once the content is approved.
Frequently asked questions
Register your interest
Want to keep your construction money connected to your project? Register your interest and we’ll keep you posted as PayLocker gets ready to launch.