The Quality You Don’t See: What Happens Behind the Build

When you picture a new home, it’s often the finished details that come to mind - the kitchen, flooring, fixtures, finishes and all the elements that bring the space together.

But some of the most important parts of a home are the ones you may never see. Throughout construction, there is a lot happening behind the finished surfaces. From the structure of the home to the checks carried out along the way, these stages all contribute to the quality and performance of the finished home.

At Elba Living, we work alongside experienced industry partners, including Code HQ, who provide building surveying services throughout the construction process. We caught up with the Code HQ team to take a closer look at what happens behind the build and what homeowners should know when building a new home.

What does a building surveyor do?

Building surveying plays an important role in the construction process, helping to ensure building work complies with relevant building legislation, regulations and standards.

For homeowners, much of this work happens behind the scenes. As construction progresses, key elements of the home can eventually be hidden behind walls, flooring and finishes, making the checks carried out along the way an important part of the building process.

Five things to know when building your home

Building a new home is an exciting process, but it can also introduce plenty of unfamiliar terminology, stages and requirements.

While homeowners don’t need to become construction experts, understanding what is happening throughout the build and knowing what to look for or ask about, can help make the journey easier to follow.

We asked Code HQ to share the five things they believe every homeowner should know, look for or ask about during construction.

1.Understand who you’re building with

Before you commit, take the time to understand your builder’s approach. Ask about their construction process, quality standards and how they’ll support you from contract through to handover.

2. Understand how communication will work

Clear communication can make a big difference throughout your build. Ask who your key contacts will be and whether you’ll have accessible points of contact before, during and after construction.

3. Know exactly what’s included

Make sure your builder’s pricing clearly outlines what is included in your home and what will be considered an extra. Display homes often include upgrades to showcase what’s possible, so it’s important to understand exactly what is included in your own contract.

4. Ask about independent quality assurance inspections

Find out whether your builder allows independent quality assurance inspections throughout construction. A transparent builder should be comfortable with independent inspections taking place at relevant stages of the build.

5. Understand who is responsible for permits and mandatory inspections

Building permits and mandatory inspections are important statutory requirements throughout construction. Make sure these services are being carried out by a suitably experienced and well-resourced firm. CODEHQ has been in continual operation since 1996 and brings extensive experience in delivering these services.

Why we work with Code HQ

The people we choose to work alongside are an important part of how we approach every Elba Living home. Code HQ brings extensive experience in building surveying, along with a strong reputation among its clients, currently rated 4.3 stars from more than 100 Google reviews.

Their feedback consistently speaks to the team's professionalism, knowledge, support and willingness to provide clear advice throughout the building process.

For us, that matters. Working with trusted industry partners who share our focus on quality and high standards helps us deliver greater confidence throughout the building journey. It’s why we’re proud to have Code HQ as one of the expert teams working behind the scenes on our homes.

Quality goes beyond what you can see

A completed home is the result of many different stages, decisions and details coming together.

While the finishes and fixtures create the look and feel of a home, what happens throughout construction is equally important to the finished result.

At Elba Living, working collaboratively with experienced industry partners forms part of our approach to building homes with quality considered throughout the journey.

Because when it comes to building a home, the details you don’t see matter too.