Why Properly exists
Most homeowners never check who they're hiring beyond a few Google reviews. The reviews don't show licence status, tribunal orders, or company history. They don't catch the operator who deregistered last year and reopened under a new ABN. They don't tell you whether your builder's Domestic Building Insurance certificate has been issued. By the time those things matter — when the build stalls, when the deposit is gone, when the work fails inspection — the contract is already signed.
We built Properly because the public regulator data is all out there, but it's scattered across eight state websites, written in legalese, and basically impossible for normal people to navigate. Our $50 background check pulls it into one plain-English report so you can decide before you sign, not after.
The free renovation cost calculator is the second product. It exists because the same people who need a tradie checked also need a defensible budget, and most renovation cost articles online are out of date or written for the US. Use the calculator to set your budget, run a check on your shortlist, then sign.
Every state regulator, cross-checked
Most tradies operate in one state. Bad operators move between them. Properly checks all eight registers because that's where the trail actually leads.
What's in the report
Pricing
Single check is $50. Renovation Pack is $120 for 3 checks ($40 each, save $30) — covers a typical shortlist. Builder Pack is $180 for 5 checks ($36 each, save $70) — for full quote comparison. Need it faster? Same-day rush adds $49 per check. Mention it when you submit.
Reports are delivered as a PDF by email within 2–3 business days (or same day with rush). Payment is processed through Stripe. We never charge a subscription, sell your details, or take kickbacks from tradies.
The free cost calculator
Properly's renovation cost calculator covers fifteen trade categories — electrical, plumbing, painting, tiling, carpentry, landscaping, bathroom and kitchen renos, roofing, demolition, concrete, waterproofing, handyman, solar and battery, and security — with per-state, per-region pricing for every Australian state and territory. It's free, no email gate, no upsells.
Use it to set a defensible budget before you collect quotes. When the quotes roll in you'll know whether you're being taken for a ride before you sign.
Who we are
Properly is built and operated by a small team obsessed with transparency in Australian construction. We're not a lead aggregator. We don't sell your details. The calculator is free and will always be free. The only paid product is the background check.
Questions, feedback, or corrections? Email properlycollective@gmail.com or DM us on Instagram.
Ready to verify your tradie?
$50 per check. Delivered in 2–3 business days. Use it before you sign anything.