Ask anyone who has been through a building project and they will tell you one of the biggest decisions of the whole project was choosing a builder. Your choice of the builder will make or break your build experience.

There's a lot more to choosing a builder than getting the best price. Luckily, the Registered Master Builders Association exists to ensure a safe and reliable avenue for kiwis wanting to find the best builder for the job. The Registered Master Builders Association has been a well-respected brand in New Zealand for over 100 years. The organisation is dedicated to fostering a building industry renowned for quality workmanship, good training and skills, as well as providing a channel for redress if things ever do go wrong.

A Master Builder is a practitioner who has been vetted by the Registered Master Builders Association as having the necessary skills, licenses and knowledge to adhere to government-backed building guidelines and codes.

There are two main trade organisations that builders in New Zealand can belong to - the Registered Master Builders Association (RMBA) or the New Zealand Certified Builders Association (CBANZ).

Builders who belong to the Registered Master Builders Association must meet one of the following criteria:

. A minimum of six years building experience, comprising completion of a carpentry apprenticeship, or a relevant tertiary building related qualification (e.g. B.Arch, B.Eng, NZCB, NZCQS, NZCE, NZCD); and have at least three continuous years as a builder in business on their own account, and/or in the day-to-day management of building business.

OR

. A minimum of eight years continuous building experience, comprising at least five years as a building contractor in business on their own account, and/or in the day-to-day management of building business, whether having completed any formal examinations or not.

In order to become registered, a Master Builder must provide a number of trade references and examples of their work. A Master Builder is inspected a number of times throughout the year by the RMBA.

Whether it's a commercial, residential or renovation project, working with a Master Builder reassures homeowners they are working with someone who has the relevant skills and qualifications to do the job properly. A few benefits of using a Master Builder: • Master Builders are governed by a Constitution and Code of Conduct, which they must comply with at all times. • A registered Master Builder can offer a 10-year Master Build Guarantee on new home and renovation work. Under this guarantee, the homeowner is covered for loss of deposit, non-completion of work and materials, workmanship and structural matters. • The Registered Master Builders Association has representatives in every region of New Zealand allowing for regular checks on workmanship and building practices. • To become a Master Builder, a practitioner must prove they can successfully run their own business. A good track record goes a long way in reassuring the customer that the builder is competent in project management.