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Check the Dodgy Builder List Sydney Before Paying a Deposit

The deposit is the riskiest payment you'll make. Here's what to verify — and the NSW deposit rules to know — before handing over a cent.

TL;DR The deposit is where homeowners lose the most to dodgy builders, because once it's paid it's hard to get back. Before you pay anything, confirm the builder's licence, get their Home Building Compensation certificate, and check the deposit sits within NSW's legal cap. If any of those fail, don't pay. A legitimate builder never needs a large cash deposit before insurance and a contract are in place. Why the deposit is the danger point A dodgy builder's simplest play is to take a big deposit and underdeliver, stall, or vanish. Cash paid before a contract and insurance are in place is largely unprotected. Treat the deposit as the moment to be most careful, not least. Know the NSW deposit cap NSW law caps deposits on residential building work. A builder demanding a deposit above the legal…