Is this actually a PDF?+
It's delivered as a print-ready and genuinely fillable digital document — you can type directly into every field on-screen, or print and write by hand. What matters isn't the file format, it's the system inside it: dashboards, registers, and trackers built to be used every week of your project, not read once.
Do I need both systems?+
No — pick the one that matches your project. Renovation System is built for an occupied home you're renovating or extending; New Home Build System is built for a new home from a vacant block or knock-down-rebuild. There's no bundle discount for buying both, so most people only ever need one.
Is there a subscription?+
No. Both systems are a one-off $99 purchase — pay once and use it for the life of your project, and beyond, as a record you can return to if a warranty issue comes up later.
What's actually included?+
Each system includes a Command Centre, a full Financial Management System, a Builder Communication System, Decision, Action, and Risk Registers, and Warranty & Handover Management — plus the free True Project Cost Calculator, available to anyone whether or not they've purchased. See the
pricing page for the full section-by-section breakdown of each system.
Can I use this on my phone, tablet, or computer?+
Yes. It's a fillable digital document that works across devices, and it's also print-friendly if you'd rather work on paper on site.
How is this different from a generic renovation or building checklist I could find free online?+
A free checklist is usually a one-off article — useful for five minutes, then forgotten. Build Companion is a structured, sequenced system with dashboards, registers, and trackers built to be used weekly through the entire project, from your first decision to years after handover.
My builder already handles project management — why do I need this?+
Your builder manages their side — the build itself. They don't manage your side: tracking what you've spent against your own budget, logging decisions in writing, or checking your contract and variations before you sign. Build Companion is built for the homeowner's side of the table, not the builder's.
I already have a spreadsheet — isn't that enough?+
A spreadsheet tracks numbers. It doesn't prompt you for the costs people commonly forget until it's too late, or give you the templates that keep your builder's commitments in writing. Build Companion is a complete system — budget, decisions, communication, and warranty tracking — not just a number tracker.
I've bought organising tools before and never really used them. What's different here?+
Set-up takes about 20 minutes once, then it's roughly 5–10 minutes per site visit or week to keep it current — small enough to stick with. It's also built around the actual stages of a build, not a generic productivity template, so there's always an obvious next section to use rather than a blank page to fill in.
What if my builder refuses to use a system like this?+
You don't need your builder's buy-in — this is your own record, not a shared platform they log into. You use it to track your side of the project; your builder doesn't need to change anything about how they work.
We're already mid-project — is it too late to start?+
No. Jump straight to wherever your project is at — most sections stand on their own — and start tracking from today. You'll get less benefit from the very earliest planning sections in hindsight, but the budget, decision, and warranty tracking are useful at any stage of a project.
What happens to my access if the company shuts down?+
Your system is a file that's yours once you buy it — it downloads to your own device, not a cloud account that depends on us staying online. It keeps working for you regardless of what happens to the business.
I only need part of it — can I just use one section?+
Yes. There's no set order you're required to follow — jump straight to the section you need. You've paid for the whole system either way, so use as much or as little as your project calls for.
How is a $99 company able to support me if something goes wrong?+
At $99 there's no large support team on the other end, but every email is read and answered personally, and our refund policy means the risk sits with us, not you, if it isn't right for your project.
Does this work outside Australia?+
Build Companion is built specifically around the Australian residential building process — contract types, stages, and terminology. If you're building outside Australia, the contract and payment terminology won't map directly to your situation.