Better Builds

Better Builds is an Australian builder broker that matches homeowners with verified builders and negotiates on their behalf. They are not a builder, do not manage the build, and do not hold money. The process starts by filling out a brief online, which takes about three minutes and is completely free.

The service operates across Australia-wide, covering 1264 suburbs mapped from government planning data across 7 states and territories. They work under 262 councils and 208 planning instruments, ensuring matches are based on actual mapped data rather than just postcodes.

Better Builds uses a specific 'Four-Point Builder Check™' before matching anyone. This includes checking licences with state regulators, sighting public liability insurance, re-checking solvency on a schedule, and confirming the builder actually services the specific area.

The matching process involves reading planning data for the specific block, including zone, overlays, hazards, and heritage requirements. They then identify builders who have done similar work on similar blocks in that specific location.

The company highlights that construction is the most insolvency-affected industry in Australia, citing 2361 initial external administrator reports for construction companies in 2024–25 according to ASIC. They note that a licence can be current while a company is weeks from administration.

Better Builds provides a single recommendation rather than a list of quotes or a bidding war. If two builders are genuinely like-for-like, they lay out the pros and cons of each clearly before you decide.

The service is completely free at every stage, with no cost to the homeowner at any point. The brief goes directly to the company, not to a list of builders, and details are never sold.

The company states they are deliberately narrow, focusing on doing a small service properly rather than offering a broad service vaguely. They aim to provide a specific match based on the brief rather than a generic list.

Homeowners can start the process by clicking 'Start my brief' on the website, which takes about three minutes. The form asks about the block, budget, style, non-negotiables, and when they want to move in.

The company operates out of South Yarra, Victoria, at 11 Wilson Street, and is owned by Tidalwave Marketing Agency Pty Ltd with ABN 58 684 852 640. They provide a direct email address for contact.

The website states that the recommendation is provided same day after the brief is submitted. The process is designed to be quick, taking only three minutes to complete the initial brief.

The company does not hold money for the build and does not manage the project. They simply match the homeowner with a verified builder and negotiate on their behalf before the deal is made.

The service covers various building types including new homes, knockdown rebuilds, granny flats, extensions, renovations, acreage builds, unfinished builds, duplexes, sloping blocks, sustainable homes, and first home builds.

The company explicitly states they do not sell, auction, or share enquiry data. They provide a real answer if they have no verified builders in a specific area rather than promising a shortlist.

The contact page notes that response times are the same business day because there is no automated routing or call centre. They aim to provide a personal response rather than an instant automated one.