The simple steps before you hand over a cent.
Tick off what you've done.
Each box is a protective step you can confirm — not a rating of any builder.
0 of 6 protective steps done.
This is general information you can use to ask better questions — it's not legal, financial or building advice, and ticking these boxes is not a guarantee against loss. For decisions that matter, talk to a licensed professional.
Plain English. No jargon.
Get it in writing
For residential building work over $30,000 in New Zealand, a written contract is required by law. For anything smaller, get the scope, price, payment schedule and timeline written down anyway. Verbal deals are how disputes start.
Tie payments to milestones
You should pay when something has been delivered — foundation poured, framing up, lock-up reached, practical completion. Paying because a date has arrived, regardless of progress, is how money disappears.
Confirm the right people are on the job
Most residential structural work in NZ requires a Licensed Building Practitioner (LBP). The LBP register is public and shows current licence status and any disciplinary history. Don't take a card for it — look it up.
Check the company on the register
Confirm the company is real, currently in good standing on the NZ Companies Register, and how long it has actually been trading. New shells with confident pitches deserve a second look.
Six patterns worth a second look.
These are common general patterns — they don't prove anyone is acting in bad faith, but they're a fair reason to pause and ask more questions.
- Cash-only deals or pressure to pay outside the contract
- A deposit that's a large slice of the total project value
- Payments demanded by date rather than what's been delivered
- Reluctance to put the quote, scope or variations in writing
- Refusal to provide a company name and NZBN you can look up
- Asking you to apply for the building consent yourself when the work is restricted
You're not alone — here's where to get help.
Ready when you are.
Got the builder's name? Run a free check of their public record before you sign.
General information for New Zealand homeowners. This page is not legal, financial, building or contractual advice. Examples and patterns described here may not apply to every situation — for binding guidance see consumer.govt.nz, building.govt.nz, or talk to a licensed professional.