Guide · Verification · 5 min read
Independent milestone verification, explained
Independent verification exists to take the heat out of stage payments. Both parties agree in advance that an independent third party will review the evidence for each stage.
How it works
- Builder and customer both nominate Builder Standard as independent verifier
- Stages and the evidence required for each are agreed up front
- The builder submits stage evidence through the platform
- The evidence is reviewed against the agreed scope
- The stage is recorded as verified and both parties are notified
- Payment may then be released in line with the parties' own agreement
What verification is not
Verification is a documentary review of the evidence supplied by mutual agreement between the parties. It is not a statutory inspection, a building control approval, a structural or professional certification, a warranty, or a guarantee of workmanship.
Builder Standard is an independent private platform. It is not part of, affiliated with or endorsed by any government body, scheme or app, and it cannot authorise payment releases on any third-party system.
When it is worth using
Verification tends to pay for itself on larger domestic projects, on jobs with nervous customers, and where stage payments are substantial enough that a delay would hurt cash flow.
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This guidance is general information, not legal advice. Builder Standard is an independent platform and is not a government body, statutory regulator or government-endorsed scheme, and it cannot register or certify contractors for any government scheme.
Questions
Common questions
Does verification guarantee the quality of the work?
No. It records that the agreed evidence for a stage was supplied and reviewed against the agreed scope. It is not a warranty or a judgement on workmanship quality.
Do both parties have to agree?
Yes. Verification is only used where the builder and the customer both agree to it in advance and agree the stages and evidence involved.
Keep reading
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