Independent builder variation reviews for Australian homeowners

Before you pay extra, check you’re not paying twice.

We check your builder’s variation for work already included, calculation errors and charges that need clearer support. You receive specific findings and questions to put back to your builder before agreeing to the extra cost.

Check my variation See an example of a charge worth questioning

Start with a free suitability check.

We’ll first check whether a paid review is likely to add value.

Full review: A$395 for one variation up to A$40,000.

No payment or full contract needed to start.

Illustrative example — not a client case

A$7,800 variation. A$3,200 worth questioning.

The variation includes a slab-preparation excavation charge. The original scope also includes slab-preparation excavation.

Finding

Ask the builder to explain the difference and provide the separate quantities and cost support.

Why it matters

If the charge duplicates work already included, resolving it could avoid an unnecessary payment.

A$3,200 is an amount to query—not an established saving. Further evidence may support the charge.

All illustrative amounts are GST-inclusive. No further GST is added.

See the documents and sample review

Before agreeing to the charge

Three checks before you agree to extra costs.

Could you be paying twice?

We compare the proposed extra work with the contract, scope and specifications you supply, looking for work that appears to have been included already.

Do the numbers add up?

We check the supplied quantities, rates, allowances, margins and arithmetic, and flag discrepancies or missing detail.

What should you put back to the builder?

You receive clear findings, the relevant amounts where identifiable, and specific questions to resolve before agreeing to the charge.

About the review

Professional judgement. Not just document processing.

Construction and commercial capability behind your review.

Technology assists the comparison. A construction professional checks findings before release, focusing on scope overlap, cost substantiation and useful questions for your builder.

VariationCheck works for homeowners and receives no payment or referral fee from builders.

See professional capability

Combined experience

85+ years

of construction and project experience across the review panel.

Chartered Civil & Structural Engineering20+ years
Chartered Building Services Engineering20+ years
Project & Infrastructure Management25+ years
Sydney Building & DevelopmentExtensive residential development experience

Capability areas across the review panel. Specialist input is drawn on where a matter requires it; not every review is undertaken by every specialist.

A person at home using a laptop beside a Dalmatian — Home is personal. Your review should be clear.

How it works

Know which costs to query—and what to say.

1
Send the variation
Answer the short online questions and upload the builder’s variation for a free suitability check. These questions do not themselves analyse it.
2
Choose whether to proceed
If suitable, decide whether to continue for the agreed fee and provide the relevant contract, scope or specification we request.
3
Receive reviewed findings
Get professionally reviewed observations and builder questions within 24 hours after payment and complete documents.

Illustrative extract — not a client case

Charge: Slab-preparation excavation — A$3,200
Original document wording: Excavation associated with slab preparation is included in the contract scope.
Issue: Possible overlap; separate quantities and cost support are not supplied in the example.
Builder question: Please explain how the A$3,200 slab-preparation excavation line differs from the excavation included in the original contract scope, and provide the separate quantities and cost support for this additional charge.

Read the full sample review

Technology assists document comparison. An experienced construction professional checks findings before release. VariationCheck receives no builder referral payments.

Read about the review Email a question

Transparent fee

An independent check before you commit to the extra cost.

A$395

One variation up to A$40,000

The fee covers a review against the documents supplied for possible scope overlap, calculation issues and costs needing clearer support, plus findings and builder questions ready to send.

Higher-value or unusually complex variations are quoted before payment. Findings are returned within 24 hours after payment and complete required documents. No saving or outcome is guaranteed.

Your documents are handled with care.

Used only to assess and complete your review, not shared with your builder by VariationCheck, with deletion requests available by email.

Read our privacy information

Free suitability check

Start with the builder’s variation.

The first step is free. We’ll tell you whether a paid review is likely to add value before you pay anything. It is not a free complete review or instant savings assessment.

Prefer to ask a question first? reviews@variationcheck.au

Frequently asked questions

Practical details, plainly answered.

How much does it cost?

The free suitability check has no fee. If the variation is suitable for a full review, the fixed fee is A$395 for one variation up to A$40,000. Higher-value or unusually complex cases are quoted before payment.

What should I send first?

Start with the builder’s variation notice or quote—a PDF or photo is fine. If you proceed, we may ask for the relevant contract, scope or specification.

How quickly will I receive it?

The full review is returned within 24 hours after payment and once all required documents are complete.

Is the review independent?

Yes. VariationCheck has no commercial relationship with your builder and receives no payment or referral fee from them. Our fee does not depend on the outcome.

Will you always find something to challenge?

No. The supplied documents may support the extra charge. We will report what we find rather than manufacture objections. Where something appears to overlap, contains an error or needs more support, we will explain the issue and what to ask next.

Is this legal or quantity-surveying advice?

No. This is construction and commercial document review and decision support. It is not legal advice, engineering certification or formal quantity-surveying certification.

What happens to my documents?

They are used only to assess and, if you proceed, complete your VariationCheck. They are not shared with your builder by us or used for marketing without permission. You can request deletion by email.

Wondering who else can look at a variation? Read our guide: Who can independently check my builder’s variation?

Professional boundaries

VariationCheck provides construction and commercial document review and decision support. It is not legal advice, engineering certification or formal quantity-surveying certification. Findings are based only on supplied documents, no saving is guaranteed, and specialist issues are referred out rather than guessed at.