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VariationCheck

VariationCheck Trust Centre

How we review a builder variation, and who reviews it.

VariationCheck is an independent, homeowner-side review of a builder's variation. This page sets out how the review works, the professional capability behind it, our independence, and how your documents are handled.

Construction and commercial capability

Professional capability

Every paid VariationCheck is technology-assisted and reviewed by an experienced construction professional before it is issued. The panel shows the capability we draw on, with the right experience applied to each matter.

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.

How we review variations

  1. 1

    Establish the original deal

    What did the contract, scope and specification already include?

  2. 2

    Identify what changed

    What does the variation actually describe, and why is it said to be needed?

  3. 3

    Reconcile

    Line the variation up against the original scope to see what overlaps.

  4. 4

    Examine the support

    Is the additional cost explained by the detail supplied — quantities, labour, materials, allowances, margin where visible?

  5. 5

    Give you a position and questions

    A clear position, the specific issues, and plain-English questions to send your builder.

Our independence

We work for the homeowner, not the builder. VariationCheck has no commercial relationship with your builder and receives no payment or referral fee from them. Our only fee is the fixed fee you pay us, and it does not depend on the outcome of the review.

What we will and won't tell you

What we will do

  • Tell you what the supplied documents show and don't show.
  • Identify what appears to overlap with the original scope.
  • Point out where the additional cost isn't adequately explained.
  • Give you the exact questions to put to your builder.
  • Tell you when a matter needs a lawyer, a quantity surveyor or a specialist engineer.

What sits outside our scope

  • Give legal advice or advise on your legal entitlements.
  • Certify market pricing as a quantity surveyor.
  • Declare a variation valid or invalid, or promise a saving.

Privacy and document handling

  • Your documents are used only to assess and, if you proceed, complete your VariationCheck.
  • They are never shared with your builder by VariationCheck.
  • They are not published or used for marketing without your permission.
  • You can request deletion at any time.

For privacy or deletion requests, email reviews@variationcheck.au. More detail is on our privacy page.

Illustrative worked example

This is the shape of what you receive. It is illustrative only — actual findings depend entirely on the documents supplied.

Illustrative sample — not a client case

Is this variation justified?

Not yet justified

Needs clarification

On the documents shown: possible overlap with work already included.

Variation claimed

A$7,800

Amount to query

A$3,200

Needs clearer support

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

Practical action

Ask the builder to separate the A$3,200 slab-preparation charge from the excavation already included in the original scope.

Could this save money?

Potentially, if the charge duplicates included work. No saving is established; further evidence may justify some or all of it.

Document-based position

This fictional example identifies a question to resolve, not a legal verdict, approved discount or established saving.

Ready to have your variation looked at?

No payment to submit. We'll tell you whether a paid review is likely to add value before you pay anything.

Check my variation

VariationCheck is independent commercial and construction document review and decision support. It is not legal advice or formal quantity-surveying certification.