Is Your Modular Builder Safe to Trust? Here's How to Know

Is Your Modular Builder Safe to Trust? Here's How to Know

There's been a lot of concern in WA lately after a Perth modular builder collapsed, leaving customers with unfinished homes and lost deposits. It's a reminder that building a new home, whether through a traditional or modular build, is a major financial commitment, and it's worth knowing exactly how to protect yourself before you sign anything or hand over a deposit, no matter who you're building with.

Here's what to check, and how we do things at Evoke.

1. A few simple questions before you commit

You don't need to be a business expert to check a builder out. A few straightforward questions (and a bit of help from family, if you'd like a second set of eyes) can tell you a lot:

• Ask how long they've been building homes, and ask to see a few recently completed projects. Not just older photos on a website.
• Ask for their builder registration number. If you're not sure how to check it, ask a family member or friend to look it up for you, or call the Housing Industry Association (HIA) orMaster Builders WA. They can help confirm a builder is properly registered.
• Ask them directly: "Has this company had any court claims or complaints against it?" A trustworthy builder won't be offended by the question, and will answer plainly.
• If you'd feel more comfortable, ask a family member, financial advisor, or trusted friend to help with a quick company check before you sign anything. It's a completely normal thing to ask for help with, and a good builder will never rush you past it.
  

How Evoke delivers: We're a registered WA builder (registration BC14386), and we're always happy to have that checked. Ask us anything. We'd rather you feel confident before you sign than rushed into it.

2. Ask exactly how your deposit is protected

• • Confirm in writing whether your contract is covered by home indemnity insurance. Off-site, transportable builds are sometimes structured in a way that falls outside standard indemnity cover, so ask the builder to explain this clearly and get it in writing.
  • Ask whether the builder can provide a letter of financial capacity, confirming their financial position. A reputable builder should be able to produce this on request.
  • A builder confident in their protections will have no issue putting any of this on paper.

  How Evoke delivers: Home indemnity insurance is included in every Evoke contract as standard, written into the contract itself with the premium clearly stated. Under our contract terms, we can't start work or ask for payment until that insurance is confirmed in writing. We can also provide a letter of financial capacity on request. None of this is something you need to chase up. It's already built in, or available on request.

3. Be wary of large, rushed deposits

• Be cautious of deposits above 10-20% before any staged, milestone-based payment structure kicks in.
• Legitimate builders don't need you to transfer large sums within a few days. Pressure and tight deadlines around payment are a red flag, not a sign of high demand.

How Evoke delivers: Our initial deposit is a modest, clearly itemised fee (based on your home's size), and the contract deposit itself is just 6.5%, a fraction of the total build cost. There's no pressure to pay large lump sums upfront, and every payment date is set out in writing well in advance.

4. Insist on milestone-based payments, tied to visible progress

• Payments should be tied to verified build stages, not released on the builder's word alone.
• Ask whether the payment terms and milestones are written into your building contract, not just discussed verbally.
• Ask whether you can see progress for yourself before each payment.
• If a builder tells you materials are "on site and ready," ask for photos, or better, a site visit.

How Evoke delivers: Payments are staged against real build milestones (frames and trusses delivered, lock-up, cabinets installed, and in-yard before delivery), not paid as one lump sum, and these payment terms and milestones are written directly into your HIA building contract. Note: bank-financed builds without staged progress releases follow a different structure, so ask us for details. You also get weekly progress photos throughout construction, and you're welcome to arrange a visit at key stages, including an in-yard inspection before your home leaves our facility, by appointment. If you'd like to bring along a trusted person or your own inspector to a visit, just ask.

5. Watch for early warning signs, even after you've signed

• A pattern of delays, vague updates, or defensive communication can be an early sign of cash flow trouble, not just bad luck.
• If a project is significantly overdue and communication becomes harder to get, don't wait it out quietly. Start asking direct questions.

How Evoke delivers: Communication is built into our process, not an afterthought. Weekly photo updates and scheduled check-ins mean you always know where your build is up to, and there's a clear point of contact (your Client Liaison) throughout.

6. Check registration and licensing

• Confirm the builder holds appropriate WA registered builder status. It's worth asking directly, and confirming independently, especially with off-site or manufacturing-based builders.

How Evoke delivers: We hold WA builder registration BC14386. We build under a standard HIA contract, the same framework used across the WA home building industry.

7. Talk to recent customers, not just old reviews

• Ask for references from projects completed in the last few months, not just older testimonials. A company can look reputable for years before financial trouble hits.

How Evoke delivers: We're happy to connect you with recent clients or point you to recent completed builds across the regions we service. Just ask your consultant during your first discovery call.

Building a home, whether a granny flat or a full family home, should feel exciting, not risky. At Evoke Living Homes, we're happy to walk you through exactly how our payment structure, insurances, and registrations work, before you commit to anything. If in doubt, ask. A builder worth trusting will always be happy to show you.