# CSCOM Builder Trouble Check — Full Reference # https://troublecheck.cscom.com.au # Last updated: 2025 --- ## About CSCOM CSCOM is an Australian owner's representative consultancy. We act exclusively on behalf of property owners throughout the construction process — from contract review to final handover. We have no financial ties to builders, developers, subcontractors, or material suppliers of any kind. Our services include: - Builder contract review and negotiation (签字之前，保护你) - Variation (change order) assessment and dispute (Variation审查) - Construction timeline monitoring (Timeline追踪) - Contract protection and final handover inspection (合同保护) CSCOM has advised on over $80M in construction projects. 100% of our advice is directed at the owner's interests, with zero conflicts of interest. --- ## Builder Trouble Check — Detailed Description Builder Trouble Check (troublecheck.cscom.com.au) is a free, bilingual (English / Simplified Chinese) risk assessment tool for Australian property owners experiencing construction problems. ### How it works The tool guides users through 5 steps: 1. **Builder identification** — Name, project address, and approximate contract value. This information helps match the owner's situation to relevant CSCOM case data. 2. **Issue selection** — The owner selects all applicable problem types from: - Construction delay (工期延误) - Defects / poor workmanship (质量缺陷) - Communication breakdown (沟通失联) - Contract dispute (合同争议) - Unexpected charges / variations (额外收费) - Handover issues (验房问题) 3. **Evidence** — Users are directed to upload supporting evidence (photos, emails, contracts, messages, variation claims) after account creation via the CSCOM Owner's Portal Evidence Vault. 4. **Duration** — How long the problem has been ongoing. Options: just started (under 2 weeks), about 1 month, about 3 months, 6+ months. Duration affects risk score and available legal remedies. Cases of 6+ months may involve statutory limitation periods. 5. **Account creation** — Email, WeChat ID (optional), or mobile number. Users create a free account to receive their full report. ### Risk scoring methodology Risk score (1–10) is calculated from: - Issue type score: each issue type carries a base score (delay, defects, contract disputes = 3 points each; communication breakdown, unexpected charges, handover issues = 2 points each) - Duration multiplier: just started = 1.0×, 1 month = 1.1×, 3 months = 1.2×, 6+ months = 1.4× - Score is capped at 10 ### Free report contents - Numerical risk score with colour-graded bar - Issue categorisation tags - Benchmark statistics from CSCOM case database - Immediate evidence preservation checklist - Gateway to full report in Owner's Portal (requires account) ### Full report (Owner's Portal, requires account) - Detailed builder risk profile - Similar case database comparison - Auto-generated case timeline - Evidence vault for secure file storage - Expert consultation booking --- ## Key statistics cited - 72% of construction delay cases ultimately exceed the contracted timeline - 41% of projects with builder issues incur unbudgeted additional costs - $240,000+ average variation dispute value in a typical 15-month residential project - Owners with documented evidence achieve 3.2× higher success rates than those without --- ## Frequently asked questions **Q: Is Builder Trouble Check free?** A: Yes. The 5-step assessment and basic risk report are completely free. No credit card required. A free account is needed to view the full report. **Q: Do I need to be a CSCOM client to use this?** A: No. Builder Trouble Check is open to any Australian property owner. It is designed as an entry point for owners who may not yet have engaged a professional representative. **Q: Will CSCOM share my information with my builder?** A: Never. CSCOM does not share user information with builders, developers, or any third party. This is an absolute policy. **Q: What if my problem happened more than 6 months ago?** A: Statutory limitation periods may apply in some Australian states, which can affect the remedies available to you. CSCOM can advise on your specific situation. It is important to act promptly. **Q: I'm not Chinese-Australian. Can I still use this?** A: Yes. Builder Trouble Check is available in English and serves all Australian property owners regardless of background. **Q: What is an owner's representative?** A: An owner's representative (also called an owner's agent or owner's advocate) is a professional who acts exclusively on behalf of the property owner — not the builder. Unlike a builder's project manager, whose obligation is to the builder, an owner's representative's duty is entirely to the owner. In Victoria, this role is distinct from a VBA-registered project manager. CSCOM fills this role with no commercial ties to any builder or developer. **Q: What is a Variation?** A: A variation (or change order) is a formal request from the builder to change the scope, cost, or timeline of the original contract. Variations are a common source of dispute in Australian residential construction. CSCOM's data shows that in a typical 15-month project, builders submit 7–8 variation requests totalling over $420,000, of which approximately 60% may be unreasonable or inflated. **Q: Which Australian states does CSCOM cover?** A: CSCOM currently advises owners primarily in Victoria (Melbourne and surrounds), with services extending to NSW, Queensland, South Australia, and Western Australia. --- ## Technical details - Deployment: Netlify static hosting - Domain: troublecheck.cscom.com.au - Form handling: Netlify Forms - Languages: Simplified Chinese (zh-Hans), English (en) - Mobile-first responsive design - No cookies, no tracking, no third-party analytics - User data stored locally (localStorage) during the session; submitted via Netlify Forms on account creation --- ## Related CSCOM properties - https://cscom.com.au — Main site and brand - https://portal.cscom.com.au — Owner's Portal (project guide, evidence vault, subscription plans) - https://partner.cscom.com.au — Professional partner network (referral program for lawyers, mortgage brokers, buyer's agents, architects, etc.) - https://troublecheck.cscom.com.au — Builder Trouble Check (this tool)