Guides · Western Australia
Defend My Build vs spreadsheets vs a building inspector
Three common ways to deal with defects in a new home. They are not really competitors — they do different jobs. Here is an honest view of each, including where ours falls short.
General information, not legal advice — check current requirements with the Building and Energy / Building Commission or a lawyer.
Side by side
| Feature | Defend My Build | Spreadsheet + phone | Building inspector |
|---|---|---|---|
| What it is | An app for recording and organising your own defect evidence | A spreadsheet plus the photos on your phone | A qualified professional who inspects and reports |
| Cost | Free plan available | Free | A paid professional fee — get quotes |
| Independent expert opinion | No | No | Yes |
| Can diagnose hidden causes | No | No | Yes, within their expertise and access |
| Keeps photos with each item | Yes | Only if you link them manually | In their report, for what they inspected |
| Scott Schedule layout and export | Yes (CSV) | You build it yourself | Some inspectors provide one |
| Day-to-day record as things happen | Yes | Yes, if you keep it up | No — a snapshot on the day |
A spreadsheet and your phone
This is how most people start, and for a short list it can work well. It is free, you already know how to use it, and nothing is locked inside someone else’s system.
The problems arrive slowly. Photos live in your camera roll, not next to the item they prove. Rows get sorted, inserted and renumbered, so “item 14” in an old email no longer matches the sheet. Edits overwrite what you said last month. None of this matters on day one; all of it matters in year two.
A building inspector
A qualified inspector does the one thing neither an app nor a spreadsheet can: give an independent, expert opinion on what is wrong, why, and how it should be fixed. For hidden problems — waterproofing, structure, drainage, cracking — that opinion is often what decides the matter.
In WA, it is worth knowing that since 1 July 2020 Building and Energy’s own inspectors inspect the issues in most home owners’ building complaints, so you usually do not have to pay for an independent report just to lodge one. Some specialist matters are excluded. Many owners still pay for their own inspection earlier, to understand what they are dealing with before they write to the builder. An inspection is a snapshot of one day; it does not keep your record for you between visits.
Defend My Build
Defend My Build is for the part of the job that falls to you: recording defects as you find them, keeping the photos, location and notes for each item together, writing to your builder, and laying everything out as a Scott Schedule you can export. Its standards library and AI photo analysis suggest which documents may be relevant to an item.
Where it falls short, plainly:
- It is not an inspector. It cannot diagnose a hidden cause or give an expert opinion, and its AI suggestions can be wrong — treat them as a starting point to check.
- It is not a lawyer. Templates and guides are general information, not advice on your contract or your case.
- Check your item numbers. Schedule exports number items in list order. Before you send one, check the numbers match your earlier letters.
When to pay a professional
- Get an inspector when the cause is hidden or structural, before you spend money on repairs, or when you need an expert opinion the builder will take seriously.
- Get a lawyer when the amount at stake is large, you are considering ending the contract or withholding payment, a time limit is close, the builder may be insolvent, or the matter is going to the State Administrative Tribunal or court.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a building inspector for a WA building complaint?
Not usually. Since 1 July 2020, Building and Energy’s own inspectors inspect the issues in most home owners’ complaints and give the parties a report. Some matters, such as high-rise buildings or specialist engineering, chemical analysis or corrosion work, are excluded. You may still want your own inspector for advice before you complain.
Can an app replace a building inspector?
No. An app helps you collect, organise and present evidence. It cannot tell you why something failed or give an independent expert opinion. Use both for what each is good at.
When should I talk to a lawyer?
Consider legal advice when the money at stake is large, when you are thinking of ending the contract or withholding payment, when a time limit is close, when the builder may be in financial trouble, or when a matter is heading to the State Administrative Tribunal or court.
Is a spreadsheet good enough?
For a handful of items, often yes. Keep item numbers fixed, store photos named by item number, and email the builder as you go. It becomes hard to manage as the list grows and the dispute stretches over months.
Keep your defect record in one place
Defend My Build keeps each defect’s photos, location and notes together in one project, and lays the list out as a Scott Schedule you can export to CSV. There is a free plan.
Sources checked for this page
Last reviewed 2026-10-13. Requirements change — check the current version of each source.
Related guides
General information, not legal advice — check current requirements with the Building and Energy / Building Commission or a lawyer.