Client references 35 points
Three recent clients, each called by phone. We ask about communication, programme, cost control, defects and handover — and whether they would hire the builder again.
The standard
How we vet.
Every builder and trade on the register has passed the same checks, carried out by a construction manager — not a call centre, not a form. Then they pass them again every twelve months.
Base checks
Before anything else, the paperwork. An applicant who falls short on any of these does not go further.
- Licence
- A current contractor licence, in the right class for the work, held by the business or its nominated supervisor. Checked on the NSW Government licence register.
- Licence conditions
- Any conditions, suspensions or disciplinary history recorded against the licence.
- HBCF eligibility
- For builders: eligibility for home building compensation cover through icare, and the eligibility report behind it.
- Insurances
- Public liability and workers compensation. Current certificates of currency, with expiry dates tracked.
- Director history
- Every director checked against ASIC records for companies that have previously entered external administration.
- Trading history
- How long the business has traded under its ABN, and how long its principal has worked in the trade.
- Public complaints
- Public complaint records, Building Commission NSW orders and published NCAT decisions.
Trades also provide examples of their compliance paperwork — for instance a Certificate of Compliance for Electrical Work, or a waterproofing certificate.
The assessment
Then the part that paperwork can't show. Applicants are scored out of 100 across three parts, weighted towards the work itself.
100
Project reviews 40 points
Three completed projects reviewed by a construction manager: scope, plans and at least twenty photographs per project, including the rough-in. We look at the work behind the finishes — setout, framing, waterproofing, services and detailing.
Live site visit 25 points
A construction manager walks a current job with the principal: how the site is run and kept, the quality of work in progress, and how trades and safety are managed.
There is a minimum score to join. We don't publish it, so the standard can't be rehearsed.
What each tier adds
The larger the work, the more we ask. Builders apply for the tiers that match the jobs they do; each tier has its own small number of places.
| Requirement | Kitchen & Bathroom$20k–$100k | Medium Renovation$100k–$400k | Large Renovation, Second Storey & Extension$400k–$1.5M | Residential New Build$1.5M–$4M | The Prestige Collection$4M+ (by invitation) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Base checks, including HBCF eligibility | Required | Required | Required | Required | Required |
| Three client references, by phone | Required | Required | Required | Required | Required |
| Three completed projects reviewed | Required | Required | Required | Required | Required |
| Live site visit on a current job | Required | Required | Required | Required | Required |
| Building contract and variation form reviewed | Required | Required | Required | Required | Required |
| Subcontractor references | Required | Required | Required | Required | Required |
| Supplier reference | Not required | Not required | Required | Required | Required |
| Architect or designer reference | Not required | Not required | Not required | Required | Required |
| Accountant's letter confirming solvency | Not required | Not required | Not required | Required | Required |
| Invitation to join | Not required | Not required | Not required | Not required | Required |
Trades pass the base checks and the full three-part assessment. There is one list per trade, with a fixed number of places.
After joining
A place on the register is held, not owned.
Every twelve months
Every member is vetted again against the full standard. Their profile shows the date of their latest vetting.
Licence and insurance
Expiry dates are tracked. If cover or a licence lapses, the listing is paused until it is renewed.
After every introduction
We ask the homeowner how it went. What we hear feeds the next review.
Removal
Membership can be removed. That is what gives the badge its meaning.
A member can lose their place if, for example:
- a licence or required insurance lapses and is not renewed;
- they no longer meet the standard at their annual review;
- a company they direct enters external administration;
- a complaint about their work is substantiated; or
- anything they told us during vetting turns out to be untrue.