- What Each Firm Does
- Service Comparison at a Glance
- Where the Differences Matter
- Which Disputes Suit Each Firm
- Pricing
- Making the Decision
- Frequently Asked Questions
If you're weighing up building consultancies for a NSW construction dispute, you've likely come across both Awesim Building Consultants and Hit The Mark. Both prepare expert witness reports for formal proceedings. Both have genuine experience in the field. But they're structured differently, cover different services, and suit different situations.
This comparison is for people who already know they need an independent building inspection or expert report — and want to understand which firm fits their situation before making contact.
What Each Firm Does
Awesim Building Consultants
Awesim has been operating since 1996, with three offices across New South Wales: Sydney, Tamworth, and Tweed Heads. The principal consultant is Glen Sim, who maintains a published list of expert witness case references.
The firm prepares four core report types:
- Expert Witness Reports for NCAT, District Court, and Supreme Court proceedings
- Scott Schedules that itemise defects and associated costs for tribunal or court use
- Quantum Meruit Reports assessing the fair value of construction work performed without a fixed-price contract
- Forensic Waterproofing Inspection Reports investigating and documenting waterproofing failures
All expert witness reports are written to comply with Schedule 7 of the Uniform Civil Procedure Rules 2005 — the code of conduct governing expert witnesses in NSW courts and tribunals.
Beyond litigation support, Awesim also provides client-side project management services including contracts administration, construction scheduling, quantity surveying, and dispute resolution. The firm does not operate primarily as a pre-purchase inspection service.
Hit The Mark
Hit The Mark is a sole-operator practice with more than 45 years of experience in building inspection. The firm offers expert witness reports and building inspection services, and has drone inspection capability — useful for accessing elevated or hard-to-reach areas of a property.
Based on publicly available information, Hit The Mark does not offer Quantum Meruit reports or client-side project management services.
Service Comparison at a Glance
| Service | Awesim | Hit The Mark |
|---|---|---|
| Expert Witness Reports (NCAT) | Yes | Yes |
| Expert Witness Reports (District/Supreme Court) | Yes | Not confirmed |
| Scott Schedules | Yes | Not confirmed |
| Quantum Meruit Reports | Yes | No |
| Forensic Waterproofing Inspections | Yes | Not confirmed |
| Drone Inspection Capability | Not confirmed | Yes |
| Project Management / Contracts Administration | Yes | No |
| Named Principal Consultant | Yes (Glen Sim) | Yes (sole operator) |
| Multiple NSW Office Locations | Yes (Sydney, Tamworth, Tweed Heads) | Not confirmed |
| Operating Since | 1996 | 45-plus years stated |
Where the Differences Matter
Dispute type and report scope
If your dispute involves a fixed-price contract and you need defects documented for NCAT, either firm could potentially serve that need. But if your situation involves work done without a fixed-price contract — a builder claiming payment under a cost-plus or verbal arrangement, for example — you need a Quantum Meruit report. Awesim prepares these. Hit The Mark does not appear to offer this service.
For solicitors or homeowners dealing specifically with waterproofing failures, Awesim's Forensic Waterproofing Inspection reports are a dedicated service — not a general building inspection with a waterproofing section tacked on.
Geographic coverage across NSW
Hit The Mark operates as a sole operator. That structure works well for straightforward matters, but it carries inherent constraints around availability, turnaround times, and capacity when multiple matters run concurrently.
Awesim's three offices — Sydney, Tamworth, and Tweed Heads — allow the firm to conduct on-site inspections across a wider range of NSW locations without the limitations of a single-person operation.
Court tier and Schedule 7 compliance
NSW construction disputes don't always stay at NCAT. Matters can escalate to the District Court or Supreme Court, and evidentiary requirements become more demanding at each level. Awesim's reports are written to comply with Schedule 7 of the Uniform Civil Procedure Rules 2005 and cover all relevant NSW jurisdictions. If there's any chance your matter will move beyond NCAT, confirming that your consultant's reports meet the applicable code of conduct requirements is worth doing before you engage anyone.
Sole operator vs multi-consultant firm
A sole operator with decades of experience brings consistency — you know exactly who is inspecting and writing the report, which has real value. But if your matter requires multiple site visits, tight deadlines, or parallel workstreams, a firm with more than one consultant has structural advantages.
Glen Sim's published case reference list at awesim.com.au/glen-sim-expert-witness-case-references gives you a documented record of prior expert witness engagements — useful when a solicitor needs to assess a consultant's standing before briefing them.
Which Disputes Suit Each Firm
Hit The Mark may suit you if:
- Your dispute is relatively contained and involves a standard residential defect matter
- You specifically need drone inspection capability for elevated or inaccessible areas
- You're comfortable with a sole-operator arrangement and the timeline works for you
Awesim is likely the better fit if:
- Your dispute involves a payment claim without a fixed-price contract and you need a Quantum Meruit report
- Your matter is at — or heading toward — the District Court or Supreme Court, not just NCAT
- You need a Scott Schedule prepared alongside or instead of a full expert witness report
- Your dispute involves waterproofing failures requiring a dedicated forensic inspection
- You need on-site inspection in regional NSW, including the New England or Northern Rivers areas
- Your solicitor needs a consultant with a documented case reference history and Schedule 7-compliant reports
Pricing
Neither Awesim nor Hit The Mark publicly lists fees — that's standard across the NSW building consultancy market. Based on Awesim's own published research, independent building inspection and expert witness report fees in NSW typically range from $2,000 to $10,000, with around $4,500 as a common midpoint. The scope of your dispute, the number of defects, and the court tier all affect the final figure.
Both firms offer initial consultations. Contact Awesim on 1800 293 746 for a free initial consultation and a fee indication based on your specific matter.
Making the Decision
The right choice comes down to what your dispute actually requires. If you need a Quantum Meruit report, project management support, or coverage across multiple NSW locations, Awesim's service breadth is the practical advantage. If drone inspection capability is specifically important to your matter, Hit The Mark is worth considering.
For most homeowners, builders, solicitors, and strata managers dealing with a NSW construction dispute, the key questions are straightforward: Does the firm prepare the specific report type you need? Are their reports written to Schedule 7? Can they inspect on-site at your location? Do they have a documented track record in formal proceedings?
Awesim's expert witness and dispute report services are built around exactly those requirements. The firm has been preparing court-admissible reports across NSW since 1996, and a free initial consultation is available to help you work out what your matter needs.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between an expert witness report and a building inspection report?
A standard building inspection report documents observable conditions at a property. An expert witness report is a formal document prepared to meet the requirements of a specific court or tribunal — including Schedule 7 of the Uniform Civil Procedure Rules 2005 in NSW. It must state the expert's qualifications, the basis for each opinion, and acknowledge the expert's duty to the court rather than to the instructing party. Not all building inspectors are qualified or experienced in preparing reports to this standard.
What is a Quantum Meruit report and when do I need one?
A Quantum Meruit report assesses the fair value of construction work performed where no fixed-price contract exists. It's typically used when a builder is seeking payment for work done under a verbal agreement, a cost-plus arrangement, or where a contract was terminated before completion. If your dispute involves a payment claim of this kind, a standard defect report won't address the question of value — you need a Quantum Meruit assessment specifically.
Does Hit The Mark prepare Quantum Meruit reports?
Based on publicly available information, Hit The Mark does not offer Quantum Meruit reports. Awesim is one of the few NSW building consultancies that actively prepares this report type.
What does Schedule 7 of the Uniform Civil Procedure Rules 2005 require?
Schedule 7 sets out the code of conduct for expert witnesses in NSW courts and tribunals. It requires the expert to state their qualifications and the facts or assumptions underpinning their opinion, acknowledge any limitations, and confirm that their duty is to the court rather than to the party who engaged them. Reports that don't comply with Schedule 7 can be challenged or excluded as evidence.
Can Awesim conduct on-site inspections outside Sydney?
Yes. Awesim operates from three offices — Sydney, Tamworth, and Tweed Heads — and conducts on-site inspections across NSW. This gives the firm coverage in regional areas including the New England and Northern Rivers regions, where sole-operator Sydney-based consultants may have limited availability.
How much does an independent building inspection or expert witness report cost in NSW?
Fees vary based on the scope of the dispute, the number of defects, and the court tier involved. Awesim's published research indicates the market range is approximately $2,000 to $10,000, with $4,500 as a typical midpoint. Neither Awesim nor Hit The Mark lists fixed fees publicly. Contact Awesim on 1800 293 746 for a fee indication based on your specific matter.
What should I ask a building consultant before engaging them for a dispute?
Ask whether they prepare the specific report type your matter requires — Scott Schedule, Quantum Meruit, forensic waterproofing report, or otherwise. Ask whether their expert witness reports comply with Schedule 7. Ask whether they have prior experience in the relevant court or tribunal tier. And ask whether they can provide a case reference list or evidence of prior expert witness engagements. Those questions will quickly separate consultants with genuine dispute experience from those for whom expert witness work is secondary to pre-purchase inspections.
