Verify your builder
Questions to Ask a Builder's Past Clients (Not Just a Display Home Tour)
Most builders will happily give you references. Fewer buyers actually call them. And fewer still ask the questions that matter. Twenty minutes on the phone with two or three past clients tells you more than any display home walkthrough or brochure ever will.
Public source: Master Builders Association: choosing a builderSection 1
How to get useful references
Ask the builder for three past clients from the last twelve to eighteen months, ideally on a similar block type, region, and home style to yours. Not just their favourite reference. If the builder is only comfortable giving one name, ask why.
Section 2
Set expectations for the call
These are homeowners, not sales staff. Keep it under 20 minutes, offer to email questions in advance, and be clear you are doing due diligence, not shopping for gossip. Most people are generous with time if you respect it.
Section 3
Communication questions
How often did you hear from your site supervisor? Was it easy to raise issues? When you asked a question, how long did a real answer take? Were meetings rescheduled often? Did the person you signed with stay involved, or did you get handed off?
Section 4
Quality questions
On practical completion, how many defects were on your list? How quickly were they fixed? Anything you found in the first six months that was not obvious at handover? Any trades you would specifically recommend or specifically avoid from the ones they used?
Section 5
Variation and change-management questions
Did anything change from what you originally chose? Who suggested the change and why? Was the paperwork clear? Did you feel informed or presented with a fait accompli? (No dollar questions; just process.)
Section 6
Overall questions
If you were doing this again with the same builder, what would you insist on being included in writing from day one? What surprised you, good or bad? Would you recommend them to your own family?
Section 7
Red-flag answers to listen for
Long stretches of silence you could not reach anyone. Site supervisors changing multiple times. A pattern of "yes yes yes" without follow-through. Trades disappearing for weeks. Defects still unresolved. A general sense of relief in the past client's voice that it is over. All of these signal patterns worth caring about.
Section 8
Green-flag answers to listen for
Named individuals still in the picture (the same site super they had, still with the company). Defects fixed quickly and without argument. Trades they would use again. A calm, positive tone even where things went wrong. Someone who has already recommended the builder to family or friends.
What to do next
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Learn moreThis is general due-diligence guidance drawn from public sources and industry practice. It is not legal, financial, or building advice. Always confirm current licence and insurance requirements directly with Consumer and Business Services SA, and consult a qualified professional for advice specific to your situation.