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■ Explore the largest range of decorative concrete in Australia

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■ Request a quote directly from Approved Installers via our website

■ Get inspired by our stunning Geostone Project Showcases

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■ National coverage

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■ National network of approved installers

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There are a number of compulsory notifications and inspections that must be undertaken by your certifier before building on your home can continue. This helps to ensure the work is carried out to the required standards and legislative requirements. These records (and other documents) along with others must be lodged with Access Canberra before you can apply to be issued with a Certificate of Occupancy (the certificate that allows you to have legal occupancy or use of the building).

The existing mandatory stage inspections undertaken by a certifier are:

• completion of excavation, placement of formwork and placement of steel reinforcing for the footings before any concrete for the footings is poured

• for a house, completion of the structural framework and, before the placement of any internal lining

• for a house, completion of placement of formwork, and placement of steel reinforcing, for any reinforced concrete member before any concrete for the member is poured

• for all classes, completion of the building work approved in the relevant building approval.

An extra inspection will be made during construction for two storey homes before the second storey slab is poured.

There are also mandatory inspections that will be conducted by the ACT Government for electrical and plumbing work, which your builder, plumber or electrician will organise.

Your builder and certifier should keep you updated about when the mandatory stage inspections are going to take place. There is no requirement for you to personally attend these inspections, as they are quite technical and require full concentration and attention from your builder and your certifier. Your certifier will let you know if there are any issues.

If your build is financed through a bank or other lending institution, they may want to send a representative out to site to inspect the work completed each time a progress payment is due. Your bank will advise you of their progress stage inspection procedures.

Non-conforming products can be found across all areas of construction, from steel, copper and electrical products to glass, aluminium and engineered wood – from the roof down to the bolts and screws.

Your builder or trade contractor must ensure that all the products and materials they use meet the requirements of the National Construction Code (NCC). However, retailers do not need to meet the requirements of the NCC, so you should not assume that just because something is for sale, even with a large Australian retailer, that it will meet the necessary requirements.

We recommend that you speak with your builder or trade contractor about whether a product is compliant before you purchase it.

If you are purchasing materials yourself, your builder or trade contractor may require the following evidence that a product complies with the NCC if you purchase a product yourself:

• Current ‘Certificate of Conformity’ issued under CodeMark or a WaterMark certification

• Certificate from an engineer or other appropriately qualified person

• Report issued by a registered testing authority (registered with NATA)

Moving into a new home is an incredibly exciting time and is the final stepping stone before you truly begin to feel settled in your new space. While it might seem like the easiest part of the process, there is a lot that you still need to think about when it comes to making sure your home is ready to live in.

We’ve created a checklist for you to mark off each task to ensure you don’t miss a thing!

Select a moving company to assist you with the process – while this isn’t necessary, it can save a lot of time and energy

Apply for leave if needed, once you know your moving date

Organise end-of-lease cleaning if you are leaving a rental property

Provide notice that you will be leaving the property that you are renting (if applicable); this is mandatory so instructions for the notification should be included in your tenancy agreement

Connect electricity

Connect internet

Connect water

Connect gas (if applicable)

Arrange for your utilities to be disconnected from your previous address

Redirect all your mail to your new address

Change your licence address – this can be done through Access Canberra if you live in the ACT

Update your address details with the Australian Taxation Office

Be sure to change your address on the electoral roll

Ensure you’re happy that any defects identified during the maintenance liability period are remediated

Collect all the keys to your current home to provide to the next owners or hand back to the landlord