A builder’s sales consultant can only recommend one builder’s homes, because that is the only product their employer sells. That does not make them dishonest, but it does mean the question “which builder should I use?” is one they cannot answer for you.
The short answer: four kinds of help are not on a single builder’s payroll.
- An independent building broker, who compares builders from a panel and is usually paid by the builder you choose, at no fee to you.
- A fee-for-service building consultant or inspector, who you pay directly to review plans, quotes, contracts or the build itself.
- A building designer or architect, who designs a home for your block and can put it out to several builders to price.
- The checks you can run yourself, using the public builder register, reviews and the questions further down this page.
They differ mainly in who pays them, and that is the first thing to ask any of them.
The options side by side
| Building broker | Fee-for-service consultant | Designer or architect | Doing it yourself | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Who pays them | Usually the builder you choose | You | You | Nobody |
| Compares several builders | Yes, from their panel | Sometimes, if asked | Yes, by tendering your design | Yes, as many as you have time for |
| Helps with land and finance | Often | Rarely | Rarely | No |
| Reviews quotes and contracts | Usually | Yes, this is the core service | Often | Only as far as your own knowledge goes |
| Main limitation | Only recommends builders on their panel | Does not usually source land or builders | Slower, and suits custom builds more than packages | Time, and knowing what to look for |
1. An independent building broker
A building broker, sometimes called a building consultant or new-home adviser, sits between you and a group of builders. They work out what you can borrow, what kind of block and home suit you, and which builders on their panel fit that brief. Good brokers stay involved through quotes, contracts and the build.
Who pays them. In Perth, building brokers are usually paid a commission by the builder you choose, so there is no fee to you. That is the same arrangement a mortgage broker has with a lender.
The fair question. If a builder pays the broker, is the broker independent? Partly, and it is worth being clear about which part. A broker is not tied to one builder, which is the point: if a builder is wrong for your block or budget, they can send you elsewhere. But they can only send you to builders on their panel, and they are only paid when you build. Ask any broker which builders are on their panel and why, and ask what happens if none of them suit you.
Best for: people who want help with the whole job, from finance and land through to handover, and who are comfortable choosing from a panel.
2. A fee-for-service building consultant or inspector
Some building consultants charge you directly and take nothing from builders. They typically review plans, quotes and contracts before you sign, and some carry out independent stage inspections during construction.
Who pays them. You do, per job or per inspection. Because no builder pays them, there is no commission to question.
What they usually do not do. Source land, arrange finance or shortlist builders for you. You bring them the documents and they tell you what they see.
Best for: people who have already chosen a builder and want an independent check before signing, or during the build.
3. A building designer or architect
If you want a home designed for your block rather than chosen from a builder’s range, a building designer or architect can draw it and then put the plans out to several builders to price. Because every builder is quoting on the same drawings, the comparison is cleaner than comparing three builders’ own designs.
Who pays them. You do, for the design work and usually for managing the tender.
Best for: custom homes, unusual or sloping blocks, and people who want to own their plans. It is usually slower and costs more up front than choosing a builder’s design.
4. The checks you can run yourself
You do not need anyone’s permission to do your own homework, and some of it is quick.
- Check registration. Every builder you consider should be registered in WA. The government’s registered building service provider search takes a minute.
- Read reviews properly. Look at the most recent ones, and at how the builder responds when something goes wrong.
- Visit more than one display village. Notice how each consultant answers the same questions, and whether they ask about your block and budget before showing you a home.
- Compare quotes like for like. Our guide to comparing builder quotes in Perth sets out how to make sure every builder has priced the same job.
- Ask people who have built recently. Friends, family and local community groups can tell you how a build actually went, though one person’s experience is not the whole picture.
Questions to ask any adviser, including us
Whoever you talk to, these questions tell you quickly who they work for and how much they will actually do:
- Who pays you, and when? A straight answer is a good sign. A vague one is not.
- Which builders can you recommend, and why those ones? Listen for reasons tied to your block, budget and brief.
- What happens if none of your builders suit me? An adviser who says “we will tell you” is more useful than one who always has a fit.
- What will you check in the quote and the contract? Ask for specifics: site works, allowances, inclusions, timeframes, variations.
- Will you put your recommendation and your reasons in writing?
- Do you sell anything else? Some businesses that help you choose a builder also sell land, packages or finance. That is not wrong, but you should know.
Where House & Land Co fits
House & Land Co is a building broker. We say that plainly because it answers most of the questions above.
- We do not build homes and we do not sell established homes. We help people build new homes in Perth and across WA.
- We are paid by the builder you choose from our panel, from the builder’s side. You pay us nothing, and nothing is added to your build contract. The detail is on our page about how we get paid.
- We cover the whole job: your borrowing capacity with partner mortgage brokers, finding land, matching you to a builder and shaping the design, reviewing the plans and contract before you sign, coordinating the land settlement, and staying involved to handover.
- We only recommend builders on our panel. If none of them suit your block or brief, we will tell you rather than push you into one.
- We do list house and land packages. They come from builders on the same panel, on the same terms: the builder pays us, you do not.
- Our team is twelve named specialists with backgrounds across finance, construction, real estate, interior design and property management, with an office in Osborne Park. You can meet the team and book any of them directly.
- Our clients rate us 5.0 from 16 Google reviews as of October 2026.
When we are not the right fit. If you have already chosen your builder and want a paid, independent inspection of the build, a fee-for-service consultant is the better choice. If you want a one-off architect-designed home on a difficult block, a designer who tenders your plans may suit you better. We would rather tell you that than take on a job we are not built for.
Common questions
Is a building broker the same as a buyer’s agent?
Not usually. A buyer’s agent in Australia mostly helps people buy existing property and is normally paid a fee by the buyer. A building broker focuses on building a new home and is usually paid by the builder. Some businesses do both, so ask.
Can a display home sales consultant give me independent advice?
They can give you honest advice about their own builder’s homes, and many do. What they cannot do is tell you whether another builder would suit your block or budget better, because they only sell one builder’s range.
Do I still need help if I have already bought land?
It depends on how settled the rest of the plan is. If you have land but no builder, a broker or a designer can still help you choose and compare. If you have land and a builder, a fee-for-service review of the contract before you sign is usually the most useful next step.
How do I check that a Perth builder is registered?
Use the WA Government’s registered building service provider search. Search by the builder’s business name or registration number and check that the details match the contract.
Does House & Land Co charge me to help choose a builder?
No. We are paid by the builder you choose from our panel, and no fee or markup is added to your build. If you would like to talk through your situation, contact our team.
General information only, not financial or legal advice. Check any builder’s registration, insurance and contract terms yourself before you sign, and get legal advice on the contract if you need it.
