Building-side expertise, working for you — from feasibility to dispute.

A written report you can act on and hand to your bank, business partner or lawyer. It sets out what I found, what it means in dollars, the risks, and one clear recommendation: Proceed, Negotiate, or Do Not Proceed (feasibility uses Viable / Investigate further / Not recommended). The answer is on the first page, with the evidence behind it.

An inspection identifies and rates defects visually to AS 4349. My report goes further: it estimates the cost to rectify, assesses the purchase as a financial decision, and gives a Proceed / Negotiate / Do Not Proceed call. As a registered builder I'm telling you what it'll cost you and whether to walk — not just what's there.

Yes — one of the most valuable things I do. I scope the works, run a fair tender, then normalise the prices so you're comparing apples with apples (the cheapest quote is often the most expensive once the exclusions and provisional sums show up). I vet the builder, negotiate the deal, and help structure the trade packages and contract.

Yes — before you sign, I read it the way the builder who drafted it did: scope and exclusions, provisional sums and PC items, the variation clause, the progress-payment schedule, liquidated damages and the defects-liability period. You get a clear risk summary and the points to negotiate. I cover the building and commercial reality; for legal interpretation I'll refer you to a construction lawyer.

Yes. Security of Payment is one of the strongest tools you have, but the timeframes are unforgiving — miss a deadline and you can lose the right to dispute, or the claimed amount can become a statutory debt. I know the process from the inside: the payment claim, the schedule, the timing and the leverage, and how to position works-done against what's claimed. I coordinate with your lawyer where it heads that way.

Often, yes — if it's caught early. I assess what's actually been built versus what's been claimed and paid, what it'll realistically cost to finish, your exposure if the builder is heading for insolvency, and whether to push on with a new builder or exit. Honest numbers, fast.

James R Sun, Registered Building Practitioner in Victoria (Commercial Builder CB-L and Domestic Builder Unlimited DB-U), with 15+ years across estimating, procurement, contract administration, project delivery and cross-border sourcing — on residential, commercial, multi-unit and modular work. You deal with me directly, not a junior.

The three core reports are fixed for a standard scope, so you always know the entry price. A larger site, a complex dispute or a multi-stage project genuinely takes more work, so it's quoted up front in your engagement letter. You agree the price before any work starts.

Core reports are usually 3–5 business days from receiving what I need. Reports are delivered remotely Australia-wide; site visits are within greater Melbourne (further afield by arrangement). On a cooling-off clock or auction deadline? Tell me — I'll be straight about whether I can meet it.

Yes. I don't sell the build, the finance or the property, so there's nothing for me to push you toward. You're paying for an honest verdict — including "don't do this deal" when that's the right answer. That independence is the whole value.