Here’s a quick checklist of what to ask when choosing a renovator to build or renovate your new bathroom:

1.Do you have the appropriate builder’s licence and builder’s insurance?

2. Do you have references and photos of your previous work?

3. Do you provide a warranty on your work?

4. How, when and why can the price on the contact change?

5. Is the start and finish date guaranteed? How long will it take?

6. What is the specialty of the builder? Bathrooms or something else….

7. Does the company do their own work (ie. Have an in-house team) or use outside contractors?

8. When are you available?

Registered  Builders and Qualified tradespeople

The only time a builder does not have to be qualified or registered is for work valued below $5000. You can check if your builder is registered by doing an on-line search with the Building Services Authority (BSA). The link to this service is www.bsa.qld.gov.au. You can also call the BSA on 1300 272 272 to check if your builder is registered.

All Plumbers and Gasfitters and Drainers must be registered with The Plumbing Industry Council. To find out if your plumber is registered you can call 1800 682 021.

All Electricians must be licensed and should carry cards to verify this while on site. If you can any concerns please contact the Electrical Safety Office on 1300 362 320. Tilers, painters and plasterers do not require registration.

Check your builder’s references from previous work
Any renovator who has a good track record will be happy to provide references and photos of their previous work.

Scope of the bathroom renovation
Make sure that the quote and contract clearly cover the work that is to be carried out. If you have any questions at all then ask for them to be clarified. The Renovator you select should specialise in bathrooms. The skills to renovate in this area of the house are very specialised and take many years to develop. A fine eye for detail and expert finishing is what is required to create the perfect bathroom. Many builders are great at the structure but lack the attention to detail that makes the difference