About Joe
A builder who wants to understand the building, too.
I'm Joe Heafey, based in Coffs Harbour. I've spent two decades in residential construction, starting in carpentry and moving through building, repair and renovation work.
Today most of my time goes into Home State, the property assessment and record service I founded. Alongside it, Joe Builds still takes on hands-on building and carpentry, and I consult, quoted per job, when you want a builder's eye before deciding. Each one stands on its own, so you can start with whichever fits what you need.
Why I started measuring
Opinions are easy to find. A record is harder.
The difficult part of a home is rarely the existence of an opinion. There are usually plenty of them. The difficult part is knowing what had been recorded before a repair, renovation or upgrade became the plan.
That gap is why I founded Home State. It records selected conditions at known locations, keeps the context around the readings and explains what the combined record indicates. Home State now carries that work as its own specialist service, with its own website and booking.
The instruments do not replace judgement. They make the judgement visible and accountable.
A little more about me
I grew up on Sydney's Northern Beaches, went into carpentry after leaving school and later moved to the Coffs Coast with my family.
Outside work, the things that have stayed constant are family, friends and the outdoors. The approach is similar in both places: pay attention, do the work properly and be honest about what is known.
Certified Passive House TradespersonBackground training in high-performance buildingCommon questions
Before you get in touch.
Do you still take on building work?
Yes. Building, renovation and repair enquiries are welcome directly, without an assessment first. Where measured information would genuinely help a decision, I'll suggest it, and the choice is yours.
How does Home State fit with Joe Builds?
Home State is the property assessment and record service I founded. It has its own website and booking, and its findings stand on their own whether or not any building work follows. You are free to use the record with whichever builder or trade you choose.
Will you tell me the cause?
I explain what the record indicates. Sometimes the measured evidence supports a clear builder-led read. Sometimes the honest next step is monitoring or targeted investigation. I don't present a plausible explanation as a definitive cause. Where a cause needs confirming, I say so and point you to the right specialist.
Do you test for mould?
No. I don't identify, sample or assess the health significance of mould. A relevant assessment may record moisture indicators and surrounding conditions, then recommend a specialist pathway where appropriate.
Where do you work?
Based in Coffs Harbour, working from Port Macquarie to Byron Bay. Further afield by appointment.