Earthworks are the first major stage of a build. It’s the work that prepares the land and gets it ready so that foundations, slabs and external areas can be built properly. It involves excavating, levelling, placing and compacting fill, and setting site levels so the building sits where it should and water drains away from it.

For home buyers and property owners, earthworks are important because they can influence cost and time. Here’s all the information you need to fully understand this stage.

Read more “What are earthworks in construction?”

A progress claim, or progress payment claim, is a request for payment for work completed, issued during a build rather than at the end.

Progress claims exist because as construction is delivered over time, materials are ordered, trades are paid, and work is completed in stages. Payments are typically made in stages as the project progresses.

Progress claims also create a record of what work was done, when, and the cost. This is useful for both clients and builders if questions arise later.

Read more “What is a progress claim in construction?”

If you’re building a new home or investing in a commercial build, you’ll hear many job titles like Construction Manager, Foreman, and Superintendent. They’re related, but they typically focus on different levels of responsibility in the construction process.

Understanding these terms will help you understand who to contact when something changes on site and how timeframes are controlled.

A Construction Manager (CM) is usually responsible for organising and controlling the build process, so the project is delivered safely, on time, on budget, and to the required standard.

Many of these responsibilities overlap with broader project management skills, especially planning, communication, risk control and coordinating people across a project.

Read more “What does a Construction Manager do?”

Home building insurance is a broad phrase people often use to describe insurance for a home or actual building work being done. Let’s take a closer look:

What home building insurance typically covers

1) Building insurance (for an existing home you already own)

Building insurance usually covers the physical structure and fixed items covering damage from insured events such as fire, storms, or vandalism. It may include areas of the home such as:

Read more “What does home building insurance cover “

If you’re buying a new home in Perth or surrounding areas, one often assumes everything will be perfect. You get new materials, modern standards, and a builder warranty if something goes wrong. However, new doesn’t always mean without defects. This is why an independent building inspection can be a smart move before handover.

Read more “Should I get a building inspection on a new home in Perth?”

In Perth, construction noise is primarily regulated under WA state law (the Environmental Protection (Noise) Regulations 1997 made under the Environmental Protection Act 1986), and then administered day-to-day by local government councils. Different councils can be stricter in practice, especially via permit or approval conditions. It’s always worth checking the rules for the specific suburb or council area you live in.

Read more “Construction noise start & stop times in Perth”

Are you considering building a new home in 2026? Here are the must haves for building a new home in Australia from the IQ team with a focus on internal features that shape daily comfort, long term functionality, street appeal, and security.

For extra context before locking in new-home selections, HIA’s home building resources can be a useful Australian starting point for planning, contracts and building decisions.

Read more “Must haves when building a new home Australia”

In Perth and surrounding areas when looking to build a new home, you’ll often hear the term “stamp duty” being used a lot. In Western Australia, the official term is actually transfer duty and refers to state government tax charged on certain property transactions. It’s usually paid when ownership of property is transferred to you, for example when you settle on a block of land or a completed home.

Read more “Do I pay stamp duty when building a new home in Perth”

If you’re planning to build a new home or do renovation work in Perth, you’ll quickly hear builders and designers talking about the NCC. The National Construction Council affects almost every part of your home. Areas such as insulation, energy efficiency, safety and structural standards and more fall under their purview.

Read more “What Is the NCC and how does it affect Perth builds?”

Western Australia continues to lead the nation economically. In recent years, WA’s domestic economy has grown more than any other mainland state, with strong business investment, household consumption, governmental infrastructure and industrial spending.  

Read more “Western Australia and the boom in commercial construction”