Clarity. Balance. Protection.
We review your construction contract, change orders, contractor invoices, and draw requests so you understand exactly what you’re signing and paying for.
Serving homeowners across the entire state of North Carolina.
Note: We are not a law firm and do not provide legal advice. Our services are consultative and educational, helping you spot risks and ask better questions so you can decide whether to proceed and when to consult an attorney.
The construction process can feel one-sided when you’re the homeowner. Our approach is designed to restore balance—through careful review, clear communication, and practical next steps.
We translate contracts, plans, invoices, and change orders into plain language so you understand what you are agreeing to—and what questions to ask before you sign or pay.
Builders and vendors do this every day. Most homeowners don’t. We help level the playing field by giving you an informed, structured way to respond—without escalating unnecessarily.
Prevention is cheaper than correction. Our goal is to reduce surprises and help you protect your budget, schedule, and outcomes—while keeping you in control of decisions.
Clear, flat-fee services focused on protecting your budget, your project, and your peace of mind.
Quick risk overview
Detailed, line-by-line analysis
Are you being charged fairly?
Compare invoices to reality
Is this payment justified?
See what’s really happening on site
Travel: First 30 miles one-way from Greenville, NC included. Additional miles billed at $0.70/mile. Hotel may be required for locations more than 4 hours away; all estimated expenses disclosed and agreed upon in advance. Our goal is to protect your finances while maintaining a basic level of safety and comfort during travel.
Bundle services together for full project protection from contract signing through construction.
Document coverage – no site visit included
Includes everything in Standard + site visit
Ideal for homeowners who want full document protection and an in-person evaluation of what’s actually happening on the jobsite.
Understanding how contractors are licensed and when licensing is required can help you avoid serious problems.
To obtain a general contractor’s license in North Carolina, an applicant must:
No formal hands-on building experience or trade apprenticeship is strictly required. That means a contractor can be licensed without ever having personally built a house.
Under North Carolina law, any person or business who undertakes to construct, repair, or improve a project where the cost is $40,000 or more is required to hold a valid North Carolina general contractor’s license for that classification.
If your project meets or exceeds this threshold, make sure your contractor is properly licensed under the correct name and classification.
Most homeowners assume that if a contractor is “licensed,” everything must be safe and straightforward. Unfortunately, that isn’t always true.
Our job is to help you:
We’re on your side – not the contractor’s.
A few common questions from NC homeowners.
No. Independent Building Review is not a law firm and does not provide legal advice. We provide educational and consultative services focused on clarity, consistency, and risk awareness. We help you understand your documents and, when appropriate, we may recommend that you speak with a licensed North Carolina attorney.
No one can guarantee that. What we can do is help you enter into your project with open eyes, better information, and a clearer understanding of where the risks are. Many disputes start with misunderstandings in the contract, change orders, or invoices. That’s where we focus.
After you contact us, we’ll provide secure options for sharing your contract, plans, change orders, and invoices (for example, via encrypted email or a secure upload link). We’ll confirm the scope, fee, and turnaround time before we begin any work.
For most projects, our standard turnaround time is 3–5 business days after we receive all documents and payment. Rush options may be available for time-sensitive reviews.
Yes. We provide document review and consulting services statewide. On-site visits are also available anywhere in North Carolina, with travel expenses disclosed and agreed upon in advance.
Ready to get a contract, change order, invoice, or draw request reviewed? Use the form below to tell us a bit about your project.
After we receive your inquiry, we will:
If you’re already under contract and feel pressed for time, please mention any deadlines in your message so we can discuss rush options if available.