Expert Witness Reports & Scott Schedules
for Building Disputes in NSW

Yes. We offer an obligation-free quotation for your building dispute or Expert Witness Report. This helps you understand the likely scope, timeline, and costs involved before proceeding.

FREE INITIAL CONSULTATION

The cost of an Expert Witness Report varies depending on the number and complexity of issues involved in your claim. As a guide:
- Site Investigation: $1,100.00 for the first hour, then $550.00 per hour thereafter
- Expert Witness Reporting: $1,100.00 per issue
- Scott Schedule Reporting: $550.00 per issue
- Expert Witness Conclave: $3,850.00 per day or part of
- Court or NCAT Hearing Attendance: $3,850.00 per day or part of

Document and report review, as well as travel expenses, may also apply. All rates include GST and are indicative only.

For a small claim involving one hour of site investigation, one Expert Witness Report, and one Scott Schedule, the minimum cost is approximately $2,750.00 (inclusive of GST).

Most Expert Witness Reports fall within the $5,000 – $15,000 range, depending on the scale and complexity of the matter. For larger claims (such as multi-unit or strata complex disputes), total reporting costs can exceed $600,000 in major cases worth $10 million or more.

On most occasions, an Expert Witness Report takes around 2–4 weeks from the date of the site investigation to prepare and submit. However, complex matters may take several months to compile sufficient supporting evidence.

All site investigations are generally carried out between 7:00am and 9:00am on weekdays, unless prior arrangements have been made.

Yes. It is company policy that all payments are made prior to both the Site Investigation and the commencement of the Expert Witness Report. This ensures the independence and objectivity of our opinions, keeping them neutral and unaffected by payment delays or disputes.

We service all of New South Wales, including Sydney, regional cities, and country towns. Our consultants frequently travel to:
- Central Coast (Gosford region)
- Hunter Valley (Muswellbrook, Singleton, Scone, Newcastle)
- Mid North Coast (Coffs Harbour, Port Macquarie)
- New England (Tamworth, Armidale, Gunnedah)
- Northern Rivers (Lismore, Ballina, Tweed Heads)
- Central West (Bathurst, Orange, Dubbo)
- South Coast (Wollongong, Nowra, Batemans Bay)
- Riverina and Murray Regions (Wagga Wagga, Albury, Yass, Young, Tumut, etc.)

We’ve also attended building disputes in Broken Hill and other regional and remote locations across New South Wales.

With more than 35 years in the building and construction industry and Awesim established in 1996, we bring extensive experience and credibility. Our Director, Glen Sim, personally manages most reporting requirements. He’s a qualified builder and accredited consultant with a trade background in Carpentry/Joinery and a Diploma in Construction Management. We are fully insured with Professional Indemnity cover and recognised by NCAT and the courts for compliance with the Expert Witness Code of Conduct.

A Scott Schedule is a structured report outlining the specific issues in dispute — for example, defects, costs of rectification, or variations. It’s often required by NCAT or the Court to help clearly compare both parties’ expert opinions side by side.

The Bundle of Documents is the complete evidence pack submitted to NCAT or the Court. It includes:
- The Expert Witness Report and Scott Schedule
- Building Contract and Plans
- Affidavit and Statement of Claim
- Chronology of Events
- Supporting evidence and correspondence

These documents must be tabulated, paginated, indexed, and provided in triplicate – one copy each for the Court/NCAT, the opposing party, and yourself. A well-prepared bundle significantly strengthens your case by helping the Judge or NCAT Member clearly understand the dispute.

Our Expert Witnesses come from trade and management backgrounds in the Building & Construction industry. The company director, Glen Sim, is a qualified Carpenter/Joiner with a Diploma in Construction Management, a NSW Builder’s Licence, and accreditation as a Building Consultant.

Yes. All of our Expert Witness Reports strictly adhere to the Code of Conduct for Expert Witnesses and are fully recognised by NCAT and the NSW Court system. We frequently appear in both settings to provide evidence and clarification on our findings.

Yes. We handle both residential and commercial building disputes across New South Wales. Whether it’s a home renovation defect, a strata dispute, or a commercial construction disagreement, we tailor the report to suit the nature and scale of the claim.

Yes. We remain fully independent and are engaged by both homeowners and builders (as well as legal representatives or insurers). Our findings are impartial and evidence-based, ensuring that all reports meet court standards of neutrality and professionalism.

After your report is submitted, we can assist in conferencing with the opposing expert (Expert Conclave), attending Court or NCAT hearings, and providing clarifications or supplementary reports if required. We’re also experienced in helping clients prepare their Bundle of Documents for submission.

Yes, travel expenses may apply for site inspections outside Sydney or the metropolitan area. However, our team regularly travels across NSW, and we always provide an upfront estimate of any travel-related costs in your quotation.

Typically, we’ll ask for copies of your building contract, plans, correspondence, defect lists, and any photographic or inspection evidence you already have. This helps us assess the matter in detail and ensure that our site visit and reporting are comprehensive.

Yes. Many clients use our Expert Witness Reports for Home Building Compensation Fund (HBCF) claims, insurance disputes, or warranty issues. Our reports are designed to be compliant and admissible for these types of proceedings.

You can contact us via phone, email, or the online form for an obligation-free quote. Once you accept the quote and payment is confirmed, we’ll schedule a site investigation (typically between 7:00am and 7:00pm on weekdays). From there, we’ll guide you through the process step by step.

Awesim Pty Ltd is a privately owned Australian building consultancy, established in 1996. The business was founded by Glen Sim, who brings over 35 years of experience across the building and construction industries and more than 15 years providing litigation support to homeowners, builders, and lawyers.

We provide independent building consultancy and litigation support, specialising in expert witness reports and Scott schedules for building disputes before NCAT and the NSW courts. As independent consultants, our role is to investigate impartially and prepare clear, evidence-based reports for tribunals and courts.

We focus on building disputes and defects, including waterproofing failures, structural defects, incomplete and defective building works, and construction litigation. Our reporting covers expert witness reports, Scott schedules, and quantum meruit assessments.

We provide services throughout New South Wales, including regional and remote locations. Our offices are located in Sydney CBD, Tamworth and Tweed Heads, and we travel across New South Wales for inspections and investigations.

We assist homeowners, solicitors and legal representatives, builders and contractors, developers, property owners, owners corporations, and parties involved in insurance-related building matters.

Our services include expert witness reports, Scott schedules, and quantum meruit reports for litigation support, alongside client-side project management, contracts administration, and construction scheduling.

We provide independent, objective reporting backed by more than 35 years of practical building and construction experience., coupled with over 15 years of litigation support. Our reports are tribunal-ready, supported by detailed photographic and compliance evidence, and grounded in strong knowledge of the National Construction Code and Australian Standards. We communicate clearly and are prepared to travel across NSW to attend to your matter.

We help with building defects, disputes over incomplete or defective work, waterproofing and structural issues, and disagreements that require independent expert evidence to resolve — particularly matters heading to or already before NCAT.

You can expect a clear understanding of your position, reliable independent expert evidence prepared for NCAT or court, and professional support aimed at resolving your dispute and protecting your interests.

Awesim draws on more than 35 years of building and construction industry experience, with strong working knowledge of the National Construction Code, Australian Standards, and NSW building requirements, plus extensive experience assisting in NCAT and construction litigation matters.

An NCAT Expert Witness Report in NSW typically costs between $5,000 and $15,000, with a small single-issue claim starting at a minimum of about $2,750 (incl. GST).
Awesim Building Consultants publishes fixed, itemised rates: site investigation is $1,100 for the first hour then $550/hour,
Expert Witness reporting is $1,100 per issue,
and a Scott Schedule is $550 per issue.
Conclave or NCAT/court hearing attendance is $3,850 per day.
Large strata or multi-unit matters can exceed $600,000 on claims worth $10 million or more.
All rates include GST and are confirmed in an obligation-free written quote before any work begins, so there are no surprises. Reports are usually delivered within 2–4 weeks of the site inspection.

A forensic waterproofing investigation is priced the same way as Awesim's other expert witness work:
site investigation is $1,100 for the first hour and $550 per hour thereafter, with additional reporting cost therafter.
Waterproofing matters often involve more diagnostic time than a standard defect inspection, because forensic testing — thermal imaging, moisture meters, dye testing, level checks for falls — is used to trace water pathways rather than relying on a single visual inspection. Glen Sim holds a Master Builders Association qualification in Waterproofing Compliance & Inspection, and assesses each defect against the relevant standard — AS 3740 for internal wet areas or AS 4654.2 for external balconies and decks — depending on the date and approval pathway of the original work.
All rates are GST-inclusive and confirmed in an upfront written quote before any site work begins.