The vetting checklist that applies to every Adelaide specialist

This is the same vetting method BuildPilot applies to every Adelaide builder we consider for our shortlist network. The first four checks below are specialist-specific; the rest are the core CBS SA + BII + ASIC checks that apply to every domestic builder working in South Australia.

• Ask their NatHERS rating target and whether they have completed 3+ builds at or above that target in Adelaide - real sustainable builders exceed the 7-star mandate, they do not just hit it
• Ask specifically about their airtightness approach and whether they blower-door test before handover - Passive House targets 0.6 ACH50, conventional builds usually 8-15 ACH50
• Ask their thermal-bridging strategy - continuous external insulation vs. cavity fill vs. thermal-break studs. Adelaide summers punish thermal bridges
• Ask their passive-solar orientation approach for your specific block - north-facing living rooms, high winter sun, shaded summer sun, thermal mass placement
• Verify current CBS SA Builders Licence (BLD number) on the public register at cbs.sa.gov.au/services/find-licensee
• Verify no active or recent disciplinary decisions on the CBS SA register
• Confirm Building Indemnity Insurance (BII) will be issued through QBE (SA sole insurer) for your contract price (all residential work over $12,000)
• Search the ABN on abr.business.gov.au - name, GST status, date of registration
• Confirm the entity is not under external administration on the ASIC register

The NatHERS rating premium curve in Adelaide

7-star (baseline, mandatory 2024+): approx $30-$90 per m² above pre-2024 conventional. 8-star (achievable with mid-range Passive House principles): $150-$350 per m² premium. 9-star (near-Passive-House): $400-$800 per m² premium. 10-star / certified Passive House: $700-$1,200+ per m² premium plus Passive House Institute certification cost. The 7-8 star band has the shortest payback (8-12 years). 9-10 star band pays back in comfort and future-proofing rather than pure energy math.

The four red flags that end the conversation

These four signals correlate strongly with builders who have failed or entered administration in South Australia in the last three years. Any of them means walk away.

• Requested deposit exceeds 5% of contract value on contracts over $12,000 (SA statutory cap under the Building Work Contractors Act 1995)
• Vague or evasive answer on BII eligibility for your specific contract price (QBE is the sole SA insurer - either the builder qualifies or they do not)
• Refusal to name their independent building certifier or to let you speak to them separately
• Aggressive time-limited discount contingent on paying deposit before you have read the contract