Fees
All fees exclude GST and include travel within 100 km of Drouin, except tolls and parking. We confirm the fee in writing before you instruct us.
Fixed-fee reports
| Report | Fee (ex GST) |
|---|---|
| Basic Causation Report, including a site inspection of up to 2 hours | $1,875 |
| Forensic Report, including a site inspection of up to 3 hours | $4,200 |
| Forensic Report, desktop only (no site inspection) | $3,250 |
| Scope of Works Validation (desktop) | $1,375 |
| Quotation Review (desktop) | $950 |
| Technical Advice, written (desktop) | $1,300 |
| Peer Review Report (desktop) | $1,875; $2,400 in VCAT or court proceedings |
| Supplementary Report (desktop) | From $750 |
Strata Forensic, Building Defect Investigation and Expert Witness reports are quoted per matter. Data Centre Forensic reports (coming soon) will also be quoted per matter.
Site visits and hourly work
| Service | Fee (ex GST) |
|---|---|
| Site inspection, up to 2 hours, with verbal findings and an email summary. Credited against a report instructed within 30 days, in place of the report’s included inspection. | $950 |
| Additional site attendance, up to 2 hours | $950 |
| Consulting, document review, Scott Schedules, joint inspections | $250 per hour |
| Expert witness work: preparation, joint reports, conclaves | $320 per hour |
| VCAT or court attendance | $2,800 per day; $1,400 per half day |
Extras
- Urgent report, within 3 business days of inspection: + 25%.
- After-hours or weekend attendance (outside 9:00 am to 5:00 pm, Monday to Friday): + 50%.
- Travel beyond 100 km: 91c per km and $115 per hour of driving after the first hour, each way. We include it in your quote.
- Tolls and parking: at cost, on every job.
- Accommodation, flights and other travel costs for interstate and distant jobs: at cost.
- Specialists (including drone surveys), testing, access equipment and searches: at cost plus 10%, only with your approval.
Cancellations and access
- Inspection cancelled with 24 hours’ notice or more: no charge.
- Inspection cancelled with less than 24 hours’ notice: $475 (half the site inspection fee).
- No access on arrival, or the site is unsafe to inspect: $950, plus any travel beyond 100 km.
- Matter withdrawn after work has started: work done to date at the hourly rate, capped at the fixed fee.
Payment
- Lawyers, loss adjusters, insurance builders and owners corporations: invoiced when the report is issued, payable in 14 days.
- Private clients: 50% deposit on instruction; balance before the report is released.
- Expert witness matters: $2,000 retainer, then monthly invoices. Fees don’t depend on the outcome.
- Overdue invoices may attract interest at 10% a year, calculated daily from the due date until paid in full.
- Unpaid invoices may be referred for recovery action, and the reasonable costs of recovery, including collection and legal costs, may be added to the amount owed.
Hourly work is billed in 15-minute blocks; calls under 10 minutes are free. Quotes are valid for 30 days. Fees are reviewed each 1 July; instructed matters keep their quoted fee. Our Terms of Engagement apply.
Instruct Meridian
Call Lee on 0400 071 933 or send the names of the parties and the property address. We’ll confirm within one business day that we can act, and the fee.