by Metropol | October 15, 2025 8:30 am
After being left with a $1 million mortgage and an uninhabitable house, Kiwi entrepreneur Anubhav Verma created CheckMyBuilder.co.nz, New Zealand’s first AI-powered risk check tool for homeowners. The platform helps users – homeowners, renovators, lawyers – identify builders linked to fraud, insolvency, or unpaid debts.
CheckMyBuilder scans thousands of fragmented public records, like court filings, company registers, and liquidation notices, and distills them into plain-English risk reports. The AI can spot patterns humans often miss, such as directors hiding failures behind new company names.
“So far, over 1000 New Zealanders have already used CheckMyBuilder to check builders before signing contracts or releasing money,” says Anubhav. “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.”
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 Anubhav’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 about preventing the heartbreak, the stress on families, and the life disruption that comes with being caught out,” Anubhav says.
“After four years of fighting back, I’ve seen how loopholes let shonky operators get away with too much. This is my way of levelling the playing field.”
The tool is useful not only for new builds but any renovation job, from roofing to kitchens. There’s also Checkbase, a version for businesses like banks and trade suppliers, to reduce credit risk and protect supply chains.
Source URL: https://metropol.co.nz/building-ai-can-help/
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