How we work

Six clear steps, whatever we're building

You'll always know what stage you're at, what happens next and when you'll hear from us. Here's the shape of every job, what you get at each step, and the rules that protect you along the way.

  1. Chat
  2. Site visit
  3. Design and quote
  4. Approvals
  5. Build
  6. Handover
Start with step oneSteps for your project
Fig. 01 Six steps from the first chat to the keys
Short answerUpdated

Every Construction Xperts job follows the same six steps: a free chat, a site visit, design and an itemised quote, approvals, the build, and handover. You get a written programme before you sign, one point of contact the whole way through, and progress payments tied to finished stages of work. An independent certifier checks the work at set stages, in the ACT and in NSW.

Every job

The same six steps, start to finish

The whole programme, at a glance. Tap any step to see where it sits. The times are typical, and yours are set out in writing before you sign.

Step 6 of 6: Handover

  1. Have a chat

    A free chat about what you want to build, where, and roughly what you'd like to spend.

    Week 1

  2. Site visit

    We come out, walk the block or the tenancy and tell you honestly what's realistic.

    Weeks 1 to 2

  3. Design and quote

    Plans, engineering and an itemised quote you can hold up against anyone else's.

    2 to 10 weeks

  4. Approvals

    We lodge the ACT or NSW approvals and handle the landlord and certifier sign-offs.

    Depends on the job

  5. Build

    Regular updates, site meetings when they're useful and no nasty surprises.

    Weeks to months

  6. Handover

    A final walk-through together, then certificates, keys and your warranty paperwork.

    1 to 2 weeks
At each step

What you have in hand, and what's your call

Each step ends with something you can hold, and a decision that's yours to make. Nothing moves on until you're ready.

StepYou getYou decide
01 ChatA straight answer on whether your budget fits what you want to build.Whether it's worth a site visit.
02 Site visitOur honest read of the block or tenancy: access, slope, services and anything that could add cost.Which way to take the design.
03 Design and quotePlans, engineering, an itemised quote and a written programme.Whether to sign. Take your time and ask us anything.
04 ApprovalsThe approval in hand before any work starts on site.Your final selections, if they're not locked in yet.
05 BuildAn update with photos at each stage, and any variation in writing before the work is done.Any changes, signed off by you first.
06 HandoverThe keys, the certificates and your warranty paperwork.Anything on the walk-through that isn't right. We fix it.
By service

The detail for your project

Pick your kind of job. These are typical times, and your own programme comes in writing before you sign.

New homes

  1. Have a chat

    We talk about your block, what you want, your budget and when you'd like to move in. We'll tell you what's doable for that budget.

    Week 1

  2. Site visit

    We walk the block, order the soil test and contour survey, and check access, slope and where the services are.

    Weeks 1 to 3

  3. Design

    Your own plans adapted to the block, or a fresh design with our drafting partner. The energy rating gets sorted here too.

    4 to 10 weeks

  4. Quote and contract

    An itemised quote with inclusions, allowances and site costs on separate lines. Take your time with it and ask us anything.

    2 to 4 weeks

  5. Approvals

    Building approval in the ACT, or a CDC or DA in NSW, plus any estate sign-off. We lodge it and chase it.

    4 to 12 weeks

  6. Build and handover

    Slab, frame, lock-up, fixing and finishes, with updates at every stage. Then a walk-through together, the keys and your warranty papers.

    9 to 14 months

More about new homes

Knockdown rebuilds

  1. Feasibility visit

    We walk through the house and the block, check zoning, easements, trees and heritage, and give you a realistic budget.

    Weeks 1 to 2

  2. Design

    A new home designed for your block, your street and the way you live now.

    6 to 12 weeks

  3. Quote and contract

    One itemised price covering the asbestos, demolition, site costs and the new build.

    2 to 4 weeks

  4. Approvals

    Building approval in the ACT, or a CDC or DA in NSW, demolition included. We lodge it and chase it.

    6 to 16 weeks

  5. Out with the old

    Services cut off, asbestos removed and cleared, the house demolished and the block cleared for the slab.

    3 to 6 weeks

  6. Build and handover

    Your new home goes up, with updates every step of the way. Then a walk-through together and the keys.

    8 to 12 months

More about knockdown rebuilds

Renovations and extensions

  1. On-site visit

    We look at the house, listen to what you want and talk through what it might cost.

    Week 1

  2. Measure and concept

    A measured survey of the house and a concept design, with an early cost check before you go further.

    3 to 6 weeks

  3. Engineering and quote

    Structural engineering, the energy assessment and an itemised quote you can compare line by line.

    3 to 5 weeks

  4. Approvals

    Building approval or exemption in the ACT, or a CDC or DA in NSW. We lodge it and chase it.

    4 to 12 weeks

  5. Build

    The new part goes up first where it can, then gets joined to the house, so you're living around it for the shortest time.

    3 to 6 months

  6. Handover

    A walk-through together, anything not right gets fixed, then the certificates and warranty papers.

    1 week

More about extensions

Sheds and garages

  1. Site visit

    We check access, levels, setbacks, power and the best spot for the shed.

    Week 1

  2. Design and engineering

    Size, doors and colours locked in, with engineering for your site's wind and soil.

    1 to 3 weeks

  3. Approvals

    We confirm whether it's exempt or needs approval, and lodge it if it does.

    Up to 8 weeks, if needed

  4. Slab and footings

    Excavation, formwork and a slab made for the shed and what's going in it.

    1 to 2 weeks

  5. Frame and cladding

    Frame, walls, roof, doors, gutters, plus any insulation or skylights.

    1 to 4 weeks

  6. Fit-out and handover

    Power, lighting, mezzanines or an office fit-out, then a walk-through together.

    1 to 6 weeks

More about sheds

Commercial fit-outs

  1. Site meeting

    We walk the space with you, read the lease requirements and talk programme and budget.

    Week 1

  2. Scope and design

    We build to your designer's drawings, or coordinate the design for you.

    2 to 6 weeks

  3. Quote and programme

    An itemised quote and a week-by-week programme to your opening date.

    1 to 3 weeks

  4. Approvals

    Landlord sign-off, building approval and services design, all coordinated.

    2 to 8 weeks

  5. Build

    Partitions, ceilings, joinery, services and finishes, after hours where it's needed.

    3 to 12 weeks

  6. Certify and hand over

    Final inspections, certificates and a space that's ready to trade.

    1 to 2 weeks

More about fit-outs

Fig. 02 New homes On site 9 to 14 months

Typical times. Your own programme comes in writing, before you sign anything.

ACT and NSW

The rules that protect you

We build on both sides of the border, and the rules aren't the same. Here's what the law says, in plain English.

ACT CanberraNSW Queanbeyan, Googong, Yass and around
Who approves the buildYou appoint a licensed building certifier. They check the plans against the Building Act and the National Construction Code, then issue the building approval.A complying development certificate (CDC) from council or a private certifier, or a development application to council followed by a construction certificate.
Who inspects the workYour certifier inspects at set stages of the build, before the next stage covers the work up.The principal certifier does the critical stage inspections: footings before they're poured, the frame before it's covered, wet area waterproofing, stormwater and the final.
Insurance before work startsA new home, and most structural alterations or additions of $12,000 or more, need residential building work insurance or a fidelity certificate from your builder.Residential work over $20,000 needs home building compensation cover. Your builder must give you the insurance certificate, and you shouldn't pay the deposit until you've seen it.
Your depositSet in your contract. Ask for it in writing and check it against the first stage of work.Capped by law at 10% of the contract price.
When you can move inOnce the work is signed off, a certificate of occupancy is issued for a new home.The certifier issues an occupation certificate after the final inspection.

Plain-English summary, checked October 2026. It isn't legal advice, and rules change, so check the current rules for your job. Sources: ACT residential building work insurance, ACT statutory warranties and insurance, NSW contracts for residential building work, NSW Fair Trading Consumer Building Guide.

Progress payments

You pay as the work gets done, never ahead of it

For a new home, payments usually line up with these stages. Each one is a finished piece of work you can walk out and see.

  1. DepositContract signed and insurance in place
  2. BaseSlab poured or floor system down
  3. FrameWall and roof frames up and inspected
  4. Lock-upRoof on, walls clad, windows and doors in
  5. FixingLinings, cabinets and fit-off underway
  6. CompletionFinished, walked through and signed off

The bars show how far the build has come, not how big each payment is. The stages and amounts are set out in your contract before you sign. Extensions, sheds and fit-outs use fewer, simpler stages.

Along the way

How you stay in the loop

Building is stressful enough without wondering what's going on. This is what you get from us, on every job.

Contact

One person, one number

The same person from the first visit to handover, with a direct number that they actually answer.

Updates

Photos at every stage

A progress update with photos at each stage, and site meetings at the milestones that matter.

Payments

Payments you can predict

Progress payments tied to clear stages in your contract, and never ahead of the work.

Changes

Variations in writing first

If something needs to change, you'll see the cost and the time it adds in writing before any work is done.

Delays

Bad news early

Rain, supply or approval delays happen. You'll hear about them from us the day we know, with a revised programme.

Handover

A proper walk-through

We go through everything together, fix anything that's not right, and hand over every certificate and warranty.

You should never have to ring a builder to find out what's happening on your own job.How we run every build
FAQ

Questions about how we work

How do progress payments work?

You pay in stages as the work is done, as set out in your contract. For a new home that's usually a deposit, then slab, frame, lock-up, fixing and practical completion. You never pay ahead of the work.

Who checks the work during the build?

An independent certifier. In the ACT you appoint a licensed building certifier, who issues the building approval and inspects the work at set stages. In NSW the principal certifier does the critical stage inspections, including the footings, the frame before it's covered, wet area waterproofing and the final.

Does my builder need insurance before starting?

Yes, for most jobs. In the ACT, a new home and most structural alterations of $12,000 or more need residential building work insurance or a fidelity certificate. In NSW, residential work over $20,000 needs home building compensation cover. Your builder must give you the insurance certificate, and you shouldn't pay the deposit until you've seen it.

What happens if I want to change something during the build?

We'll write up a variation showing the cost and any time it adds. Nothing changes until you've signed it.

How often will I hear from you?

At every stage, with photos, and any time something changes. You've also got a direct number for your contact if you want to check in.

What happens at handover?

We walk through the finished job with you, fix anything that's not right, then hand over the keys, the certificates and your warranty paperwork.

Step one is a free chat.

Tell us roughly what you want to build and where. We'll ring you to talk it over, usually the same day.

Get a free quote02 6280 4010
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