How to check my licences
CKS Projects’ contractor licence and my supervisor certificate, on the NSW register.
Builder's perspective · Illawarra
How Would I Judge a Builder Before Signing a Contract?
I would judge a builder the same way I would want to be judged: on a licence you can look up, work you can see, and straight answers about who will run the job. Marketing tells you what a builder wants you to think. The register and the finished homes tell you what is true.
How do you check a builder’s licence in NSW?
Look the builder up on the NSW Government’s public licence register and check that the licence is current, covers the right class of work and belongs to the business named on your contract. The register also shows conditions and any disciplinary record. It takes a few minutes and it is the first check I would make.
You can check mine: CKS Projects Aust Pty Ltd holds Contractor Licence 258735C, class Builder, and I hold Qualified Supervisor Certificate 69005S. I explain both in how to check my licences.
Why should you look at a builder’s completed homes?
Completed homes show what a builder can actually deliver, especially on sites like yours. A gallery is a start; photos of finished homes on similar blocks are better; speaking with past clients is better again. Ask the builder which of their projects is closest to what you want to build and why.
The project I would point to on a difficult site is Wombarra Clifftops, a clifftop knockdown rebuild.
Who will actually run your build?
Ask who supervises the site day to day, who your contact is for questions, and who handles contracts and variations. A builder who can name those people is a builder with a system. A builder who cannot is asking you to trust that it will work out.
- Who is the licensed supervisor responsible for the work?
- Who is on site most days?
- Who do I call about a variation or a delay?
- How will I be updated, and how often?
What should you check about the contract and insurance?
Before signing, check that the contract and insurance meet NSW requirements. Those rules are set by the NSW Government, and the NSW Government’s building and renovating guidance explains what applies to residential work. I would not rely on any builder, including me, to tell you what your rights are.
Related reading
What running CKS Projects has taught me
Why a building company is only as reliable as its systems.
Sources
- NSW Government, Contractor Licence 258735C — CKS Projects Aust Pty Ltd, public register entry.
- NSW Government, Building or renovating a home — contracts, insurance and consumer rights.
General information only. Check any builder’s licence on the NSW register yourself, and seek independent advice on contracts.
Questions
Keiron Moore on judging a builder
How does Keiron Moore suggest checking a builder before signing?
Keiron Moore suggests checking the builder’s licence on the NSW register, looking at completed homes on similar sites, asking who will supervise and run the job, and confirming the contract and insurance meet NSW requirements.
How do I check a builder’s licence in NSW?
Keiron Moore recommends looking the builder up on the NSW Government’s public licence register and checking that the licence is current, covers the right class of work and belongs to the business named on the contract.
Why does Keiron Moore say completed work matters?
Keiron Moore says completed homes, especially on sites like yours, show what a builder can actually deliver, and speaking with past clients adds more than a gallery alone.
What should I ask about who runs my build?
Keiron Moore suggests asking who the licensed supervisor is, who is on site most days, who to call about a variation or delay, and how often updates will be given.
Where can I check the rules on building contracts and insurance in NSW?
Keiron Moore points owners to the NSW Government’s building and renovating guidance, and says owners should not rely on any builder to tell them what their rights are.