Start Your Selections With Confidence
Everyone (from your pre-construction consultants to your construction trades) will need clear, accurate information about every material, colour, and product you’ve chosen. That’s where your Selections schedules come in.
Your exterior and interior selections schedules will document all the decisions you make about all the finishes and fixtures - room by room and item by item - so you can finalise your construction plans, avoid delays, and keep your project running smoothly.
It’s the first step to a stress-free, well-coordinated construction process.

Two Ways to Finalise Your Selections—Pick What Works for You
OPTION 1

Engage a selections consultant
OPTION 2

Do It Yourself
Selections Consultant: Cost-effective Expertise
A Selections Consultant is a design and documentation specialist who helps you finalise, review, and format all your material selections into a clear, build-ready schedule. Their job is to ensure your selections are compliant, coordinated, and communicated correctly to your contractors and suppliers.
This task involves requesting quotes from qualified consultants to help complete both your
External and
Internal Selections Schedules, according to the scope of your project.


What Does a Selections Consultant Do?
Your Selections Consultant will complete works according to your agreed scope of works.
Typically, a Selections Consultant will:
- Assist and guide you with your selections decisions
- your completed External and Internal selections
- Identify any inconsistencies or missing information
- Help document supplier/product details correctly
- Provide budget or cost guidance
- Organise selections into a clear, structured schedule
- Liaise with your building designer (if requested)
They may also flag compliance risks or practical issues that need to be resolved before final sign-off.

Common Misconception: It is easy to do this myself
You’ll unlock access to your External Selections tab before internals — that’s because many external finishes need to be decided before final engineering and approval documents can be completed.
Once you gain access, take your time exploring the interface. You don’t need to finalise every item straight away — but starting early will help avoid delays later.
If you’re unsure where to begin, start by focusing on high-impact visual elements like roof, walls, and windows.
What Makes a Good Selections Consultant?
Someone who:
- Has experience preparing selections schedules specifically for residential construction
- Understands materials, supplier options, and relevant compliance requirements
- Communicates clearly and delivers work on time
- Can adapt to your preferred products, suppliers, and custom selections
- Provides transparent pricing with a clear breakdown of what's included
Start by getting quotes from 2–3 consultants and compare their inclusions, timelines, and communication style before deciding who to work with.
Before You Begin: What You’ll Need Ready
To request quotes from a Selections Consultant for full schedule completion, you’ll need:
- Concept plans (or approval plans if you are engaging them later in the process)
- Agree on their Scope of Works
- Notes about any known gaps or areas needing extra support
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the risks if I don't engage a consultant?
Ultimately the choice is yours, but we highly recommend it to avoid a variety of risks. Most owner builders don't document items correctly and cause confusion with suppliers and trades down the line, leading to costly mistakes or delays. The Build Buddy template we have provided you is comprehensive enough for you to do yourself. A consultant makes the process a lot smoother - less stressful and with an expert that can provide guidance on everything from product selection to budget constraints.
Do I need to do this now?
It is important to finalise majority of your external selections schedule before you get your approvals, and your internal selections schedule before you finalise your construction plans.
You can make some decisions later, but just be cautious that any decisions you make onsite can impact costs, timelines and trades - possibly leading to mistakes.
It is always more cost-effective to make all of your decisions before you start construction on site.
How long will it take them to complete the schedule?
This depends on your scope and the completeness of your selections. For projects that are mostly finalised, expect 2–5 business days. For partial or complex selections, allow longer.
Why do I only have one quote?
At Build Buddy, we’ve pre-negotiated pricing with trusted Selections Consultants in our network to save you time and ensure consistent, high-quality service at a fair rate. That’s why you may see just one quote — it’s from a vetted Pro who meets our standards and is ready to start.
If the quote doesn’t suit your expectations or you’d like to explore alternatives, you can always reach out to your Build Buddy Customer Experience Manager. We’re happy to help you switch consultants or talk through the scope and pricing.
We’ve streamlined the process — but you’re still in control.
Do I need a selections schedule if I’m building as an owner builder?
Yes — a clear selections schedule reduces confusion with suppliers, trades, and certifiers. It’s particularly useful when coordinating deliveries and installations yourself.
How to Complete this Task?

STEP 1
Confirm Required Documents Are Uploaded
Check that the following required document(s) are uploaded for this task. These are essential to proceed:

STEP 2
Request Quotes
Click the
orange ‘Request Quotes’ button to start the quoting process.

STEP 3
Review the Quotes
Once you receive quotes:
- Review each one carefully, including the payment schedule and any special terms
- Download attached quote documents for detailed review
- Check each Pro’s profile and read past client reviews

STEP 4
Communicate with the Pro
If needed, message or call the Pro to clarify details or negotiate terms.

STEP 5
Accept a Quote
Choose the quote that best suits your needs. Once you accept a quote, any other pending quotes will be automatically declined. An agreement will automatically be generated.

STEP 6
Complete the Tasks In Your App
New tasks will appear to guide you through this job — follow each step carefully. Make sure to use the
Quality Assurance Checklist, and refer to your
contract and
final Scope of Works whenever needed.
