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Demonstration example — fictional customer and documents

Example customer information

Renovation Progress Claim — Unapproved Stormwater Variation

Example BA-000033 · Progress Claim & Variation Review · NZ$31,800 claim

Progress Claim & Variation Review · Lucy Parker

Your submitted information

About the claim or variation you want reviewed

Your answers

What would you like to understand about this claim or variation?
I have received Claim 04 for NZ$31,800 including GST from my builder for our extension and renovation. It contains NZ$25,000 for a roof/framing stage and NZ$6,800 for a replacement stormwater pipe variation. I thought the original NZ$210,000 contract included connecting our new drainage and I have not signed an approval for this extra charge. I want to understand what the documents say, which work is included or excluded, which supporting evidence appears missing, and what questions I should ask the builder before deciding how to respond. Please explain the claim in practical building terms; I am not asking for a legal determination about payment.
Which claim, invoice or variation is it, and what period does it cover?
Example Construction Limited, Claim 04 (EX-2026-014), issued 22 October 2026 for the period 1-21 October 2026; proposed Variation V-03 dated 20 October 2026.
What work do you believe has been completed so far?
The earlier stages are recorded as NZ$82,000 paid. Roof sheets appear to have been installed and most framing looks complete. Excavation near the drainage route has occurred. I have not had an independent site inspection and do not know whether the full current NZ$25,000 scheduled stage is complete. The builder says replacement of about 18 metres of existing stormwater pipe is needed, but I have not seen detailed pipe-condition photos or a completion record.
Anything in particular that concerns you?
The NZ$6,800 variation appears within the NZ$31,800 progress claim even though I haven't signed a variation approval. The contract says new roof-water outlets connect to existing drainage, subject to the existing pipes being suitable, and notes replacement of defective existing underground pipework is excluded. I want to clarify where the original work finishes, what actually caused the replacement, whether the extra work was discussed or approved, whether the rates and quantities are properly documented, and which evidence supports the claim for the NZ$25,000 milestone. If any legal deadline applies, I may need separate professional advice.

Property / project address

42 Sample Lane, Example Suburb, Auckland, 1010

Fictional claim and variation documents

Illustrative summaries of the fictional documents supplied — demonstration example, not downloadable files.

  • Progress Claim 04 (EX-2026-014)

    Issued 22 October 2026 for 1–21 October 2026. Requests NZ$31,800 incl. GST: NZ$25,000 for Stage 04 roof covering and associated framing, plus NZ$6,800 for proposed Variation V-03. The variation is included within the NZ$31,800 total, not added on top.

  • Proposed Variation V-03

    Dated 20 October 2026. Proposes removing approximately 18 metres of existing stormwater pipe reported as blocked/deformed and installing replacement pipe and fittings. Breakdown: excavation and disposal NZ$2,400; pipe and fittings NZ$1,600; installation and backfill NZ$2,100; testing and reinstatement NZ$700. No homeowner-signed approval is included.

  • Variation evidence and status

    The cost lines are builder estimates (estimate ES-03, supplier quotation SQ-18), not paid invoices. Pipe-condition photographs, measured quantities and completed-work dockets are marked as not supplied, and the document states it does not establish that the work was done.

  • Building contract extract

    Contract EX-2026-014, NZ$210,000 incl. GST, agreed 18 July 2026. Includes connecting new roof-water outlets to the existing stormwater network, assuming existing pipes are suitable for reuse. Replacement of defective existing underground pipes is excluded and to be documented and agreed separately before additional work proceeds.

  • Original accepted quotation Q-014

    Issued 10 July 2026, accepted 18 July 2026. Eight progress stages totalling NZ$210,000, including Stage 04 roof covering and associated framing works at NZ$25,000. No provisional sum is included for replacing existing underground stormwater pipework.

  • Earlier progress claims and invoices

    Stages 01–03 recorded as paid (NZ$82,000 in total) in the fictional owner ledger. NZ$82,000 paid + NZ$25,000 Stage 04 + NZ$103,000 remaining stages = NZ$210,000 original contract.