Auckland, NZ _ Kiwi entrepreneur Anubhav Verma knows first-hand the devastating cost of a dodgy builder. After being left with a $1 million dollar mortgage and no house he could move into, he set out to build a system that would stop others from suffering the same fate. The result is CheckMyBuilder, New Zealand's first AI-powered risk check tool for homeowners.
For just $49, homeowners, renovators and lawyers can generate a plain-English report that flags if a builder or their associated companies are linked to insolvency, fraud, unpaid debts or scams. The tool pulls from thousands of fragmented public sources - including court filings, company registers, liquidation notices, and news archives - and explains the risks in one easy-to-read summary.
"So far, over 1,000 New Zealanders have already used CheckMyBuilder to check builders before signing contracts or releasing money," says Verma. "Even lawyers often miss these issues, because the data is hidden in PDFs and spread across multiple systems. The system won't protect you, so I built one that can."
At its core, CheckMyBuilder uses AI to scan and interpret vast amounts of publicly available data that are technically accessible but practically invisible. Records are buried in outdated registries, complex legal filings or obscure PDF libraries thousands of pages long. The AI pulls these together and surfaces patterns that humans would miss - for example, a director repeatedly opening and closing companies, or a builder trading under multiple entities to hide past failures.
The result is a clear risk profile that an everyday person can understand in minutes. What might take a lawyer hours of research - and still leave gaps - can now be done instantly, giving families the confidence to proceed, renegotiate or walk away.
The impact goes far beyond saving money. For many, building or renovating a home is the biggest financial and emotional investment of their lives. A bad decision can mean years of stress, legal battles or in Verma's case, a mortgage with no home to live in. By shining a light on red flags before contracts are signed, CheckMyBuilder empowers Kiwis to protect themselves.
"It's not just about the dollars," Verma explains. "It's about preventing the heartbreak, the stress on families, and the life disruption that comes with being caught out. If this tool had existed four years ago, my story would be very different."
CheckMyBuilder is not only useful for new builds. It can be used for any renovation company - from roofing to kitchen installs - and, in fact, any registered limited company in New Zealand. "We've seen users check everything from franchise operators to small trade companies," explains Verma. "Builders can liquidate subsidiaries and reopen under new names, but this tool uncovers those patterns."
Alongside the consumer tool, Verma has also launched Checkbase, designed for trade suppliers, banks and corporates who issue credit. Checkbase reduces bad debt risk, protects supply chains and provides early warnings CheckMyBuilder is available to anyone for $49 per report, giving homeowners, renovators and solicitors a simple way to uncover risof company instability. For businesses who offer credit terms - from hardware stores to finance companies - this can mean the difference between profitable growth and devastating write-offs.
Verma stresses he is not doing this for profit: "My success looks like saving people heartache, not making money. After four years of fighting back, I've seen how loopholes let shonky operators get away with too much. This is my way of leveling the playing field."
About CheckMyBuilder & Checkbase
CheckMyBuilder is available to anyone for $49 per report, giving homeowners, renovators and solicitors a simple way to uncover risks that might otherwise stay hidden. Alongside it, Checkbase provides an enterprise version for trade stores, credit issuers and corporates, helping them manage debt exposure and safeguard their supply chains. Together, the tools have already generated more than 1,000 reports with virtually no advertising, a sign of the demand for accessible due diligence. The vision is clear: to become one of New Zealand's top due diligence companies, protecting families and businesses from financial and emotional devastation.
