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Sydney's Dodgy Builder List: What You Need to Know Before Signing

The contract-signing moment is where dodgy builders catch homeowners out. Here's exactly what to verify before you put pen to paper on a Sydney build.

TL;DR Forget hunting for a secret list — the danger point with a dodgy builder is the signature. Before you sign a Sydney building contract, confirm the licence, the HBC insurance certificate, a fixed price, lawful deposit limits, a staged payment schedule and a clear variations clause. Get those right and a dodgy operator can't trap you. This is your pre-signing checklist, in the order to run it. 1. Verify the licence and insurance first Before reading a single contract clause, confirm the builder holds a current, correctly-classed NSW licence and can provide a Home Building Compensation certificate for the work. For most residential work over $20,000, HBC must be in place before you pay a deposit. No certificate, no signature. 2. Confirm it's a fixed price Make sure you're signing a fixe…