Is the OBI Project Timeline really free?

Yes. The Project Timeline is completely free to use, with no account, sign-up or email address required. It's part of the free tools provided by Owner Builder Institute to help Australian owner-builders run safer, better-organised projects. Your project data is saved locally on your own device, not on our servers.

How long does an owner builder project take in Australia?

Most new home builds take between 9 and 18 months from site start to handover, although this varies depending on project size, weather, trade availability and decision-making timelines. Renovations and extensions can be shorter but are often less predictable.

What are the stages of building a house?

A typical Australian residential build moves through eight stages: planning and pre-construction, site preparation, foundations and slab, framing, roof and external shell, services rough-in, internal fit-out, and completion and handover.

What are progress payment stages, and why does the tool show them?

Progress payment stages are construction milestones used by lenders to release construction loan funds. The Project Timeline helps owner-builders understand when major milestones occur and when they may need to arrange inspections or payment drawdowns.

How does the tool know if my build is running behind?

The Project Timeline compares your planned stage dates against current progress and flags stages that are falling behind schedule. It helps you identify delays early and adjust upcoming tasks or trade bookings.

Does the timeline cover inspections and approvals?

Each stage includes common inspection points and project milestones. However, inspection requirements vary between states, certifiers and projects, so users should always confirm specific requirements with their building certifier or relevant authority.

Is my project data saved? Can I back it up?

Your timeline saves automatically to your device while you work. You can export your project data for backup, move it between devices and generate professional reports to share with lenders, trades or family.

I'm new to owner building. Is a timeline enough?

A timeline helps keep your project organised, but it does not replace knowledge about contracts, budgets, trade management, insurance and site safety. The OBI Owner Builder Course provides the knowledge needed to confidently manage an owner-builder project.

Free Building Contract Checklist (Australia)

Q: Does it work on mobile?

Yes. The Project Timeline is mobile responsive and designed to work on phones, tablets and desktop devices.

Never sign a building or trade contract without working through it first. The free OBI Contract Checklist walks Australian owner-builders through the things worth checking in a contract — the parties, scope, price, payment stages, timeframes, variations, insurance and more — with separate pathways for a contract with a builder and agreements with individual trade contractors. Mark each item as confirmed or needing clarification, and the checklist automatically compiles your personal list of questions to ask before you sign. It's general information to help you read your contract carefully — not legal advice — and there's no account needed, it works on any device, and your data stays on your device.

Why You Should Check Every Contract Before Signing

Contracts protect both sides, but only if you understand what you're agreeing to; most disputes trace back to things that were unclear on day one — scope, payments, variations and timeframes.

Builder Contract Checklist — What to Check Before You Sign

The builder pathway: parties and licence details, full scope and inclusions, contract price and payment stages, start and finish dates, variations process, insurance and warranty provisions, and what happens if things go wrong.

Trade Contractor Checklist — Agreements With Your Tradies

The trades pathway: written scope of work, price and payment terms, licence and insurance details, materials responsibility, timing, and defect rectification — because as an owner builder you're the one engaging every trade directly.

Your Questions to Ask Before Signing — Compiled Automatically

How the three-state checklist works: mark each item confirmed, needs clarification, or not applicable, and the tool builds your question list so you walk into the conversation with the builder, trade or your advisor fully prepared.

When to Get Professional Advice

The checklist helps you read a contract carefully, but it can't tell you whether a contract is fair, compliant or right for your situation. For anything significant — and any residential building contract is significant — have it reviewed by a solicitor or your state building authority's advisory service before signing.

Contracts Are One Part of Running Your Build

Signing a building contract is a major milestone, but it's only one part of successfully managing an owner-builder project. Before construction begins, you'll also need to compare quotes carefully, prepare a realistic budget, plan your project timeline, and understand your legal responsibilities as an owner-builder.

Using the right tools together helps reduce costly mistakes before work starts. For example, comparing quotes can highlight missing items before they're written into a contract, while a detailed budget helps ensure your payment schedule matches the funds available throughout the build.

To help you plan with confidence, the Owner Builder Institute offers a suite of free planning tools designed specifically for Australian owner-builders:

Quote Comparison Tool – Compare builder and trade quotes side-by-side so you can identify missing items, exclusions and pricing differences before signing.
Owner Builder Budget Planner – Build a complete project budget, monitor costs and track spending throughout your build.
Project Timeline Planner – Create a realistic construction schedule and keep your project on track from approvals through to completion.
Material Calculators – Estimate concrete, bricks, paint, tiles, flooring, insulation and other building materials before requesting quotes or placing orders.
Owner Builder Resources – Practical guides, checklists and articles covering planning, budgeting, contracts and project management.

If you're preparing to become an owner-builder, our Owner Builder Course explains the approvals, contracts, insurance, budgeting and project management skills needed to confidently manage your own residential building project. It brings together the knowledge behind all of these planning tools to help you avoid common mistakes and stay in control of your build.

Ready to plan your project?

Use the free Contract Checklist before signing any building or trade agreement, then continue planning with our complete suite of free owner-builder tools.

Explore all free Owner Builder tools

Learn more about the Owner Builder Course

OBI TOOLS

OBI COURSES

Frequently Asked Questions

FAQ 1
Question: Is the OBI Contract Checklist really free?
Answer: Yes. The Contract Checklist is completely free to use, with no account, sign-up or email address required. It's part of the free tools we provide to help Australian owner-builders run safer, better-organised projects. Your answers are saved locally on your own device, not on our servers.

FAQ 2
Question: What should I check before signing a building contract?
Answer: At a minimum: that the parties and licence details are correct, the scope of work and inclusions match what you were quoted, the price and payment stages are clearly set out, start and completion timeframes are stated, there's a clear process for variations, and insurance and warranty provisions are addressed. The checklist walks you through each of these areas item by item, so nothing gets skimmed over in the excitement of getting started.

FAQ 3
Question: Do I need a written contract with my trades?
Answer: A written agreement is strongly recommended for every trade you engage, even for smaller jobs — it's the record of what was agreed on scope, price, timing and who supplies what. Requirements for when a written contract is legally required differ between Australian states and depend on the type and value of the work, so check with your state's building authority for the rules that apply to you. The checklist's trade contractor pathway covers the practical items worth having in writing regardless.

FAQ 4
Question: What are payment stages and why do they matter in a contract?
Answer: Most building contracts split the price into progress payments tied to stages of the work, such as base, frame, lock-up, fixing and completion. Before signing, you want to see clearly what each payment is, when it falls due, and what work must be complete before it's payable — paying ahead of the work is one of the most common and costly owner-builder mistakes. The checklist prompts you to confirm each of these details in your contract.

FAQ 5
Question: What's the difference between the builder contract and trade contractor pathways?
Answer: They cover different situations. The builder pathway is for a single contract with a licensed builder handling a defined package of work. The trade contractor pathway is for the agreements you make directly with individual trades — which, as an owner builder, is most of your contracts. The items differ because the risks differ: a builder contract is usually a formal document with many clauses to review, while trade agreements often start as a one-page quote that's missing important details.

FAQ 6
Question: How does the "questions to ask before signing" list work?
Answer: As you work through the checklist, you mark each item as confirmed, needs clarification, or not applicable. Every item marked "needs clarification" is automatically compiled into a single list of questions — so instead of a vague feeling that something's not quite right, you finish with a specific, written list to raise with the builder, the trade, or your professional advisor before you sign anything.

FAQ 7
Question: Is this legal advice? Can it tell me if my contract is fair?
Answer: No. The Contract Checklist is general information only — it helps you read your contract carefully and spot what's missing or unclear, but it can't assess whether a contract is fair, legally compliant, or right for your circumstances. Contract law and building regulations differ between states and change over time. Before signing any significant contract, have it reviewed by a solicitor or contact your state building authority's advisory service.

FAQ 8
Question: Is my checklist saved? Does it work on mobile?
Answer: Yes to both. Your progress saves automatically to your device as you work, so you can review a contract over several sittings and pick up where you left off. The checklist is fully mobile responsive, and you can save or print your completed checklist and question list to take to a meeting with your builder, trade or advisor.

FAQ 9
Question: I'm new to owner building. Is a contract checklist enough?
Answer: A checklist helps you review the contract in front of you, but it can't teach you how to scope work properly, compare quotes, manage variations, or handle a dispute when something goes wrong. That's what the OBI Owner Builder Course is for. If you're planning a build, the course walks you through everything the checklist assumes you already know — and course enrolment includes the full OBI Professional Toolkit.

Professional Toolkit.