Building Consultancy

Expert advice for your building project

Have a building problem or query?

The building process can be overwhelming, stressful and financially taxing, especially when things don’t go as planned. When construction is sometimes problematic, we utilise our years of industry experience and expertise as well as a facts-based approach to work out the best solution or way to move forward.

We can assist with:

Building disputes
General building consultancy and contract advice
Defect inspections
Insurance claims
Documentation reviews
Design coordination and guidance
Project management
Quote comparisons and pricing breakdowns
Dilapidation Reports

If you have a construction-related query or concern, contact Manse Group today.

We commit to your project as if it was our own.

— Jake Pitman, Managing Director

Can we help make your build a better one?Contact Us

Google Rating

4.8

Based on 43 reviews

Manse Group Building Consultants

4.8

XC Zhao

11:03 17 Dec 20

Really enjoy the communication with manse group. They are very profession and responsive for our final inspection. If you are still struggling with building your first home or worry about the finish you get from the builder. The best way is to find a third party inspector and here is the manse group. Giving peace of mind is what they’ve been working for. Wish them another successful year in 2021!

Robbie O Rourke

01:17 04 Dec 20

Building a house is a complex process that requires attention to The Building Code if a house is to achieve the highest standard at every stage through to completion. During every build there are mistakes and omissions by tradespeople so having an independent assessor to check for compliance to the Building Code is not just a sensible thing to do it is absolutely crucial if you want your house to be as good as it can be. My wife and I are absolutely delighted we engaged Manse Group for this process. We slept at night knowing we had check points to discuss with the builder and a process to see the work completed as per contract and code. The team at Manse Group are easy to communicate with, totally reliable and professional and take time to explain things and go over findings. I have no hesitation to recommend them.

Stephanie Migge

03:34 25 Oct 20

The best thing we did with our built was to engage Manse. Jake thoroughly reviewed our contract and checked the house at every major building stage. Manse saved us a lot of money and stress dealing with our builder. I'd never build a house without them and highly recommend Manse to anyone who's looking for an independent inspector.

01:13 15 Oct 20

I couldn't speak higher of their service and professionalism. My partner and I were going through our first build. It gave us piece of mind having Manse Group overlooking the build and giving us detailed reports on any issues (my partner and I have no trade or building experience). We have recommended to all our friends who are building and would absolutely use them again. Thanks for making the build so much easier!

Jonathan Saducas

09:52 25 Sep 20

We are extremely happy with the service provided by Manse Group. Jake produced a very comprehensive building inspection report and was emailed to us on the same day of inspection. Photographs of defects were attached to the report with detailed descriptions that were easy to understand. The report also includes VBA reference guide.We can't thank you enough Jake for the time you have given to us when we have queries/concerns about our build may it be through text messages, phone calls or emails. Building a house seem like a daunting task but engaging with an Independent inspector can certainly give you peace of mind.With Manse Group, they do a re-inspection for free to ensure the builder was able to rectify the identified defects in previous inspection/s.Again thank you Jake and Rachel and we could not recommend you highly enough!!!--- Jonathan and Maricon Saducas

brett brauer

01:55 24 Sep 20

My partner & I could not be happier with the service from Manse Group. Jake was extremely thorough & saved us a lot of headaches & money down the track with the issues they found. The report you receive is very extensive and has detailed records of the issue, location, photos & the standards & building regulations that have not been met. Giving a great fact-based approach to rectification works that the builder cannot argue against.We 100% recommend Manse Group to anyone looking for an independent inspector. We will be using them for any & all further builds.

Mitch Carroll

05:54 21 Sep 20

Without doubt the most important decision we made as first time home builders. Jake and Rachel from Manse group were a pleasure to engage with throughout the build. Their outstanding communication with both us and our site supervisor, and the attention to detail in picking errors or defects in the build meant we were confident in knowing our build was in the best hands possible. We would highly recommend Manse Group to anyone looking to start a build!

J Arnie

23:34 18 Sep 20

Great service, a must for building a new home.Special mention to Dane for looking after us!Highly recommend and a pleasure to deal with precontract to handover.

Krishna Chytanya Koripella

01:27 08 Sep 20

A very professional and responsive service. Dane is outstanding in his support throughout the process and was always available to answer any questions or concerns. I would again engage your firm when I build my next house and would also recommend you to anyone who is building a new home. I can't thank you enough for all the support.

Ross Dando

05:50 07 Sep 20

Having an independent second pair of eyes on the project really put our minds at ease.Coordinated directly with the Builder which took the stress off us.The reports were professional and extremely detailed.Could not recommend Manse Group highly enough.

Joshua H

10:25 06 Aug 20

From the time we engaged the Manse Group it was a pleasant experience from the get-go.Rachel has been immensely responsive to all communications and Dane has been doing a thorough and quality job so far into our build.The Manse Group have also developed a good rapport with a lot of the big and local builders, making a name for themselves (in good ways).No dramas encountered between them and our SS!Definitely look no further than the Manse Group for a quality inspection, and to support a local Geelong-based company!

Jean-Claude de Shable

22:12 05 Aug 20

"As this is my fourth build in Australia, and to the fact that I chose to go to a very reputable volume builder, it was no rocket science to engage the best building consultant team available in Geelong and the Bellarine Peninsula.My first build was also with a volume builder, followed by two architecturally design builds which proved to be brilliant. The ethics, uncompromising attention to details and the final excitation to each stage of the build had been outstanding. The inspections are completed by a registered building practitioner and the report is detailed but yet very easy to follow alongside, friendly yet professional feedback from an industry expert.Manse Group comprising of Jake, Rachel and the rest of the team are outstanding. Never a problem for this professional building consultancy to answer any question or concern in regards to the build whether on onsite, e-mail or by phone.I find it rather unorthodox for people building especially with volume builders despite the degree of reputation and series of dwelling being constricted, it is in my option to invest in having that professional and knowledgeable team backing your most vital asset for a fraction of the price you pay to build it basically.If you insure a motorcar which really is a iceberg as it does not hold it value, silly not logically get the best in the industry to work in favour and assure you or a brilliant build that would result in a beautiful home which is safe and proud to call your own.Jake, Rachel and the rest of the team at Manse Group are the best professionals in the industry and I have no reservation or any form of doubt not to recommend them any person that demands to have a safe, beautiful but most impotency, confidence that there home is built with integrity and lots of attention to detail.I feel so ever proud of my new home and WOW! it certainly shows :)"

Sean Chapman

11:49 22 Jul 20

The team at Manse Group provided a professional and thorough review of our building contract and specifications for our first home to ensure compliance with the relevant building laws and codes, and make sure were aware of our rights and obligations in the building process. The very detailed, yet easily understandable, final report was provided in a short time frame to a professional standard. I would certainly recommend their services to people looking for support and an expert opinion throughout the build process.

Jake Wilton

09:34 08 Jul 20

Jake and Rachel from Manse Group have been fantastic to us! We could not be happier with the quality of our home, all thanks to Manse Group ensuring our build was up too the correct standard. Manse Group were very thorough with all there inspections and reports! Jake is a very trustworthy independent building inspector, and I highly recommend you choose Manse Group, when building your home.

Justin Calvert

10:45 21 Jun 20

I highly recommend Manse Group, we just used them for our new home build, Dane was our inspector.We were amazed with the amount of defects that that Dane picked up that we would have missed if we didn't engage Manse Group.All defects were presented with photos and building regulation numbers, this was very helpful.Dane was also very willing to chat on the phone to discuss any issues we had.Rachel was also very helpful providing info about each inspection, and was very prompt with quotes in the beginning.

mjr80ooo

01:58 21 Jun 20

We would recommend Manse Group for there professional support throughout the building process! Communication is second to none, inspectors are great, reports are easy to follow and you are supported and guided through the process really well!We would highly recommend having Manse Group on board from the start of the build! We started with them from fixing and waterproofing through to lock up! Would have been great to have them onboard at the frame stage!If you are in two minds whether it will be worth it, I can say with absolute certainty, DO it!!Thanks Manse Group and Dane for guiding us through our first home build!

Peter St. Martin

20:49 17 Jun 20

Great service by manse group. They done the inspections for our newly built house.Inspection reports were detailed and thorough. Price includes a reinspection, which is a bonus!!!Great job by Dane and Rachel!!!

yasir safdari

08:12 27 May 20

Joseph El-Cheikh

23:56 22 May 20

Awesome service. The best decision I have made was choosing Manse Group to inspect all the stages of my build. They are very thorough in their reporting and very responsive and the bonus to their service is that they include re-inspections in their price. Highly recommend Jake, Dane and the team

sachin Bhardwaj

03:03 07 May 20

Jake and Rachel are great team! They helped us with our new home inspection and were very thorough. They ended up saving us money by catching issues, things builder missed or did incorrectly.Jake was available to discuss the findings with us and advised us on how to deal with the builder.If you want someone who is good at his work then call them.Cheers,Sachin

Happy Dental

02:58 07 May 20

Rene Schnabel

00:48 29 Apr 20

We are currently starting the process of building our first house. Without much knowledge about the industry and the building process, it was really helpful to have someone competent and switched on looking through the contracts and plans. There are a lot of things to consider and if you haven't been through the process before then you should engage someone who knows the ins and outs. Jake is certainly one of those people. The whole experience with Manse Group has been great and we are looking forward to have them help us through the next stages of the built.

Muhammad Asim

02:39 20 Apr 20

I have been in contact with Manse Group for about two years. When i bought a land and planned to built a customised home, i was after a company who would assist me from the beginning till the end of the building process with all the queries i will have. I was looking for such a company whom i can rely and be sure that i am not misguided or ripped of by the builder at any stage.Well known builders usually don’t build customised map home, so i had to go with small builders and dealing with small builders may initially look cheaper but you dont understand the complexities, you can easily pay tens of thousands of dollars extra. Having Mansgroup on my side through out made me sure that i am getting what was agreed from the builder and that without being overpriced or for any downgraded stuff.I have been very satisfied and happy to have Mansgroup during these all times of building my home. Jack is absolutely a gem of guy himself and always exceeded my expectations and always approachable. He always provided answers to all the questions i had.They also have done a detailed inspection of the stages my home reached to conclusion which has helped me to ensure what builder is building is up to the building standard.Also, the Mansgroup fees is quite reasonable, they would almost be same as other inspectors but with added top class building consultation as well. In addition, based on their excellent feedback to my contracts i managed to bring down a few thousand dollars with builder and hence it saved my money as well.I highly recommend Mansgroup to anyone who are going to build a home and do not want to take headache of going through the complexities of building and also be sure that you are covered from every aspect when dealing with builders.Thank you very much Jack for your awesome work and i look forward to receive your great services until i move into my home.

Stacey Tsokris

10:55 10 Apr 20

Highly recommended, Jake reviewed out building contract thoroughly and Rachel was so nice and helpful. We had some trouble with getting our loan due to some issues with the land contract, but we talked to Rachel and Jake who both went above and beyond to help us. Even though they did not have anything to do loan process. I cannot recommend them highly enough. If you ever need a building contract reviewed, these are the people to go to.

Wendy Croft

12:24 08 Apr 20

My first appointment with Jake in May 2018 was prior to signing up with a builder, as I was initially very confused as a first-home buyer regarding the building process, terminology, etc. Jake put my mind at ease straight away with his friendly and knowledgeable approach. He answered my many questions both in-person and by email follow-up, and made me feel comfortable that I was asking the right questions of the sales consultants during the initial enquiry/consultation process. Jake was very thorough, and his understanding of the Building Act and Building Code of Australia was apparent from this first meeting. As such, I was very impressed and happy to engage Jake and Manse Group as an independent building consultant. Even prior to paying a deposit to my chosen builder, Jake was willing to answer any questions via phone or email. It was great to have him review my contract and plans/drawings in detail prior to my contract signing appointment, and then also prior to signing the final working drawings after settlement. Jake drew my attention to a number of points, which I was then able to clarify with the builder. His detailed comments, along with follow-up via phone and email to my queries and concerns have been fantastic and has made the process less daunting and much smoother! Building of my house has just started (March 2020), and Jake has completed the pre-pour site inspection – his report was sent the same afternoon and was extremely detailed including numerous photos, and noting any issues that needed addressing. I can highly recommend Jake, Rachel, and his team at Manse Group for independent quality assurance, and am looking forward to working with them for the rest of my site inspections for the building of my home!

Tony Nield

11:54 05 Apr 20

From the first phone call to the final report, we found Manse Group to be polite, prompt and professional in all dealings with us. They went out of their way to meet our changed timelines, including completion of their final report in personal time, over a weekend. Mar 2020

paige Smith

09:25 31 Mar 20

Great service and really helpful I would highly recommend this company. I used another company and wasn’t happy with them then I found Manse group. Now I’m in my home with confidence 😊

Bart

09:16 31 Mar 20

I gave them short notice and they acted on it straight away with a site visit allowing me to submit a report to my builder to have items rectified before hand over. Highly recommend great communication and knowledge.

Jordy Gray

12:58 23 Mar 20

Would highly recommend using Manse Group for your build! From start to finish we have had great communication from everyone involved including all the admin staff as well as Dane, our independent inspector. The reports were thorough, clear and concise. It was a massive weight lifted off our shoulders. For those asking about price, sure, Manse Group might come in a tiny bit higher, but rest assured you'll get the service which is second to none! We also had re inspections free of charge which turned out to be the best thing ever. Builders aren't necessarily obliged to fix the things on the report so what's stopping them telling you they're done unless someone goes back to reinspect.... MANSE GROUP WILL DO THAT FOR YOU! Don't think twice - we had a great build process and a lot of that is due to us having engaged Manse Group. Thanks to Rachel, Jake and Dane for everything!

chandra kasiraju

01:56 12 Mar 20

Dane Schreuders was doing our inspection . He was great and always communicated with the builders pro actively and scheduled the appointments. He found quite a few things until now and got those fixed by the builders. I would definitely recommend manse group to any one who would need a building inspector.

Sam Luke

04:19 10 Mar 20

We engaged Jake to prepare 2 Dilapidation Reports on the existing conditions of 2 neighbouring properties before we commenced construction. We couldn't have been more pleased with prompt and professional service we received from all at Manse Group.Sam LukeLuke Constructions

Sara Pamvouxoglou

01:16 20 Jan 20

Definitely would recommend the Manse Group - very professional and friendly. Nothing was too much and all queries answered ASAP.

Brendan McGinniskin

23:53 14 Jan 20

Jake was extremely accommodating for the short timeline/turnaround required.The report/reporting system is very thorough and easy to follow.The follow up inspection was also completed without fuss and a solid attention to detail.I would definitely recommend enlisting Manse Group from the beginning of going through the process of building a home.

roy w

09:42 23 Oct 19

Because of the lack of confidence we had with our volume builder we felt there was no choice but to engage a building inspector for the key stages in the build. After looking at a couple of inspectors in the area our gut feeling was to engaged Manse Group. The inspections were thorough and the reports were with us the same day which allowed us to get things redone/rectified by our builder in a timely manner. The knowledge, information and communication were all extremely professional. It's quite common with builders for mistakes to be behind plaster or under concrete. and that is why I would advice getting an independent inspector and the one I recommend is The Manse Group.

Elle Pink

10:23 10 Aug 19

The Manse Group made my building process so much easier and stress free. They made sure my builder provided the quality as expected. All of this allowed me to enjoy the building process so much more. Aspects of the build that I didn’t understand were explained to me. I would recommend the manse group to anyone looking to build or renovate.

Krishna k

00:25 25 Jul 19

Jake Pitam and Rachel from manase group has been instrumental in doing the building inspections for our home in geelong area. Jack knowledge about the complete building process and the high level of professionalism helped us build the quality home we required. I will definitely suggest their services to others.

Eric Treml

23:49 21 May 19

We hired Jake at Manse Group because we were building our home with a large volume builder and we wanted an independent inspector to ensure a high quality build. Jake at Manse Group did all that… and more.We were lucky in that our builder-assigned site manager was excellent, but there are a lot of teams working on the house and accidents/oversights happen. Jake's detailed inspection reports were professional and easy to read (including photos, schematics, building code references, etc.), and were always returned to us within 24 hours! Jake and I worked well with the site manager and all items were fixed quickly at each stage.Manse Group also saved us money! Jake read through our initial New Home Contract (before signing with the builder), and he found minor contractual errors (e.g., progress payment schedule adjustments) which ended up saving us 75% of his fee!We are confident we got the best possible build out of the process and Jake with Manse Group was instrumental in this. Having Manse Group on our team was the best decision we've made. Manse Group made the building process better and more stress free, and we ended up with a high quality home. Can’t thank you enough.

Gregory Egan

08:03 03 Apr 19

My wife an I looked at a number of building inspectors across West Melbourne as a house is a massive investment and we wanted someone that would ensure we would get a quality build. We were unsure of Manse at first as they did not have a large number of review compared to others and were quite a new firm. However after speaking directly with Jake, we were confident in engaging their services. Jake has a strong background in construction, managing large building projects and has a trade himself. Jake explained the process and detailed what he would do at each stage and what we could expect. We have not been disappointed, indeed my expectations have been exceeded. We had inspections at every point - Pre pour, frame, pre plaster, waterproofing and final. Major items were picked up at each of these inspections, many that were serious non compliant issue that had significant ramifications if not rectified. At pre pour items were identified (not picked up by builder) that needed slab to be cut and pipe/conduit laid post pour if not fixed. During frame, it was identified that areas that should not have been bearing load had been packed so that they were. Issues were identified with the waterproofing, and at the final stage Jake's experience proved invaluable in navigating this tricky time. Multiple non compliant issues were again identified, along with many cosmetic items we simply would not have thought to look for. The build quality overall was still quite good, though the above may indicate otherwise, this is more a reflection on Jake's professionalism and his attention to detail. Issues that may have arisen (such as waterhammer) down the track have been avoided due to his keen eye and experience. Jake communicated beyond expectation, and managed the relationship with the builder very well. I highly recommend Jake/Manse to ensure you will get a quality build and have peace of mind that someone is looking out for your interests.

An Mary

03:10 22 Mar 19

Jake provide professional, friendly and accommodating service. I will recommend to anyone who needs it

Juan Pereira

00:14 14 Feb 19

After having problems with the site supervisor I decided to get Manse group involved in the final stages of the build however Jake did the final inspection and the report was great and he even gave good review to the builder however something in my mind was telling me that there were many things wrong and after handover another Building inspector had a look and found big problems especially with the roof tiles.Now I am having problems with the builder to get the things rectified and Jake told me that He does not know much about roofs and his knowledge is more about carpentry.

Karyn Price

01:00 29 Oct 18

We feel that without The Manse groups support through out our build it would not have gone so smoothly and that the issues with our build we would not have know about. We want to thank Jake and Rachel for their time and making this experience so much more enjoyable.

Narelle Lloyd

12:16 30 Aug 18

Jake and Rachel, we can not thank you enough for making our first build exactly what we hoped it would be. Thank you for being our professional eyes and giving us peace of mind through out the whole building process. From inspections to pre-inspections, so professional and thorough in every aspect. Worth every $$ , thank you again 🙏🙏

Samuel Gomes

23:28 24 Jul 18

Jake & Rachel were very friendly and easy to communicate. I found them very accurate, supportive and informative. Jakes knowledge and attitude shows his professionalism in his field and we were very grateful that we choose the right person to inspect our property. We appreciate not only his onsite findings and comments but also the follow up email and advise. Thank you very much Jake & Rachel and definitely we will recommend your business to our friends and families.

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