HIA home building contracts
For homeowners building a new home, renovation or addition who have been given an HIA contract and want the contract pack reviewed before signing.
Fixed $699 fee
Australia's legal and technical building contract review by a Chartered Engineer, Quantity Surveyor and Construction Lawyer / Principal Solicitor.
Spot risks general lawyers may miss, including provisional sums, specifications and drawings inconsistencies, delays and latent conditions. Get peace of mind, cost certainty and a stronger negotiating position.
You receive a comprehensive owner's report plus a negotiation document to issue to the builder before you sign.
What we review
We focus on the two standard form contract pathways owners most commonly need checked before signing. The contract-pack issues are reviewed inside those pathways, not sold as separate products.
This fixed-fee review is limited to the home building contract and construction contract pack. It does not include review of a land purchase contract, land acquisition contract, conveyancing contract or property acquisition documents. If land acquisition documents also need to be reviewed, that is separate work and can be quoted separately.
Master Builders home building contracts
For homeowners building a new home, renovation or addition who have been given a Master Builders contract and want the contract pack reviewed before signing.
What we look at inside the contract pack
Contract documents
- standard conditions
- special conditions
- specifications
- drawings
- schedules
- quote or proposal
Cost and allowance risks
- provisional sums
- prime cost items
- allowances
- exclusions
- likely cost exposure
- unclear scope affecting price
Time and payment risks
- payment stages
- construction period
- delay clauses
- extension of time
- liquidated damages
- progress payment risk
Construction and contract risk
- latent conditions
- suspension and termination
- owner obligations
- builder exclusions
- design responsibility
- inconsistencies between contract, plans, specifications and quote
HIA and Master Builders names and logos are used only to identify the types of standard form contracts we review. We are not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by HIA or Master Builders.
What to upload and what you receive
Upload the contract pack you received from the builder. We review the documents and provide an owner review document and builder discussion document covering the legal, construction, cost and time risks before you sign.
What to upload
- The contract
- Special conditions
- Specifications
- Plans or drawings
- Tender, quote or proposal
- Any emails or documents the builder gave you before signing
What you receive
Owner review document
For your internal use. It explains how the contract works, your duties and responsibilities, and the key legal, construction, cost and time risks.
Builder discussion document
A pull-out document you can take or issue to the builder. It identifies matters to clarify and proposed changes or amendments to raise before signing.
Practical construction contract experience
Why this review is different
Home building contracts are not just legal documents. They include scope, specifications, drawings, allowances, exclusions, payment stages, delay clauses and risk allocation.
Your review is carried out by Albert Merolla, an Australian construction lawyer, Chartered Engineer and Chartered Quantity Surveyor (C.Eng, MCIBSE, MRICS). That combination matters because the risks in a home building contract are often technical and commercial, not just legal.
Unlike generalist contract review services, Domestic Contract Review focuses on residential building contracts and homeowner protection. The review identifies unfair or high-risk terms, clarifies your legal and practical obligations, and checks the contract pack for construction-scope issues that can affect the real cost and administration of the build.
This includes provisional sums, prime cost items, allowances, exclusions, payment stages, variations, technical gaps and incomplete or inconsistent documents.
Start with a $699 fixed-fee review
Upload the contract pack and receive a practical domestic building contract review before you sign.