Recommendations for rebuilding after flood
Published: 16 February 2012
With flood-affected homes and businesses widespread across South West Queensland, Master Builders has prepared some basic guidelines for rebuilding and repair work, once the first stage of clean up has been completed.
Master Builders Downs & Western Regional Manager, Tony Ryder said electrical safety should be your first priority when returning to your home or business.
“If your home or business has been inundated with water, or if your electrical distribution board has been submerged, you should contact your power provider to determine the right steps to take before power can be restored. Even if you didn’t lose power, we recommend using a qualified electrician to check circuits and appliances,” Mr Ryder said.
“Once power has been restored, plumbing and gas fixtures are usually next on the priority list. We recommend you use a licensed plumber to ensure any on-site sewerage facilities and hot water units are working satisfactorily.
“Once electrical and plumbing issues are addressed and in working order, other repairs can commence. Master Builders has produced some basic guidelines that you can follow to make the rebuilding and repair process a little bit easier.”
Check your insurance cover
Before contacting a builder or trade contractor, check your insurance cover as flood damage is not necessarily covered. If, however, you have a policy that will cover repair work, you must follow the correct process for getting quotes and having work completed. Some insurers have a panel of approved contractors or a specific quoting process that you must follow.
Use a licensed builder or trade contractor
Unfortunately, there are some operators who will try to take advantage of home and business owners who have been affected by floods. Be on the lookout for ‘blow-in’ contractors who are out to make a quick buck and protect yourself by always using a licensed builder or trade contractor.
You should always ask a builder or trade contractor if they are licensed in Queensland and ask them to produce their Building Services Authority (BSA) licence. You should take note of their name, licence number, expiry date and class of licence, so you can perform a licence search on the BSA’s website (www.bsa.qld.gov.au). NOTE: Electrical contractors operate under a separate licensing regime. For more information, visit www.masterelectricians.com.au.
Written quotes, contracts and deposits
Once you’re satisfied that a builder or contractor is licensed, you should ask for a written quote. We recommend getting three quotes for any kind of building work.
If the quoted value is more than $3,300, you will need to enter into a written contract. Be wary of contractors who request payment upfront. There are strict requirements regarding maximum deposits – if work is less than $20,000, a 10% deposit is required and for contracts in excess of $20,000, a deposit of 5% is required.
Use the free Find a Master Builder search
Master Builders free Find a Master Builder online search will provide you with a list of up to five properly licensed builders or trade contractors who are available to complete your repair work. Providing your insurance company doesn’t require you to use one of their panel building contractors, you can use the search results to get three quotes.
To access the online search go to www.buildwithamasterbuilder.com.au, enter your details, describe your job and submit your search.
If you don’t have internet access, call 1300 30 50 10 and a Master Builders staff member will perform the search for you over the phone.
“We know the process of finding the right builder or trade contractor can be time consuming and frustrating, so we believe that anyone with flood damage will appreciate a service that is as pain-free as possible,” Mr Ryder said.
“Our search is a simple and free way to find a local Master Builder for your repair work.”
Media enquiries:
Julie Russell, Manager – Corporate Affairs via email or phone (07) 3225 6436 or 0414 083 191.
