Browse Forums General Discussion 1 Oct 10, 2014 9:10 am Is it possible to negotiate a Building Works contract (domestic) so that the client employs the engineer and building surveyor separately to the Builder - that is, they do not directly report to the Builder as the client is the employer? I've negotiated a building contract where some trades were directly employed by myself and not the Builder. After reading (and hearing) the problems that people have with building surveyors not acting in their best interest (and the building surveyor has the contract with the Builder, not the client, although the client pays for the work), I was wondering if clients could employ people such as the engineer and building surveyor so that might mean that they promote the rights of the client a bit more. You would also have more chance of getting the documentation ie certificates, compliance certificates etc. What do people think? Re: Hiring the building surveyor/engineer instead of the Bui 2Oct 10, 2014 10:48 am Until there is a legislative change, I doubt most builders would allow their client to appoint the building surveyor or engineer. You could always appoint your own building surveyor as a second opinion and to identify issues that the builder's BS may have overlooked - many people are doing that nowadays Dale - Building Newbie Proserpine, QLD Re: Hiring the building surveyor/engineer instead of the Bui 3Oct 10, 2014 10:55 am Thanks, Dalemengel. I would always recommend that people have a building inspector to check the work. However, this means that clients are paying for a building surveyor (through the Builder) as well as someone else to also do the work of the building surveyor, effectively paying twice. I know that some people have the Builder's building surveyors not thoroughly check the work done. I also acknowledge that Builders would not be happy with a change in contract but surely people can negotiate it in and it is up to the Builder to say yay or nay? The engineering is the engineering. It's irrelevant how much material you have. Unless it fits the requirements of your design the engineer can't "make"it work. You might… 7 9692 AFAIK, flashing is a minimum standard. Out of curiosity is your window glass stamped with AS requirements in any of the corners of each pane? Im almost certan if theyre… 2 6278 3 6412 |