Articles & Insights | Blog | Trinity Real Estate Solutions

Coming 2026 – A Tiered Builder Review for Renovation and Construction Lending

Written by Trinity Team | Dec 29, 2025 9:12:53 PM

Trinity is constantly analyzing trends to determine how it best adds value. One thing we’ve learned is not all builders are created equally. Reviewing the builder’s qualifications is one of the most critical factors in the success of any renovation or construction process. For renovation and construction lenders, builder performance directly impacts budget adherence, draw accuracy, timeline execution and ultimately timely payment of subs and suppliers. To better align builder vetting with project scope and risk, we are introducing a three-tiered Builder Review designed to meet the needs of all project scope and complexity.

This tiered approach allows lenders to apply consistent, defensible builder review standards while avoiding unnecessary friction on lower-risk projects.

Tier 1: Full Builder Review

Best suited for:

Large renovations, ground-up construction, larger loans, or complex, long-duration projects.

Tier 2: Limited Builder Review

Best suited for:

Small renovations or Builder’s operating as sole proprietors with limited company information.

Tier 3: Company Builder Review

Larger builders who are constructing small subdivisions, spec homes or commercial construction and have annual revenue exceeding $10M+.

Review Scopes

Service Scope

Full Builder Review

Limited Builder Review

Company Builder Review

Builder Profile

X

X

X

Criminal Background Check

X

X

 

Contractor’s License Verification

X

X

X

Reference Checks

X

X

X

Insurance Review

X

X

X

Personal Credit Check

X

 

 

County & Federal Civil Search

X

 

 

Business Credit Check

X

 

X

Product Type

Ground-up Custom

Renovation

Spec/Subdivision

 

Benefits of the Tiered Approach 

  • Standardize builder evaluation across portfolios
  • Reduce renovation and construction-related loan risk
  • Improve project outcomes and project completion performance
  • Maintain efficiency without compromising due diligence

This tiered product provides lenders with a flexible, defensible framework for builder qualification—supporting better decisions, stronger projects, and protected capital throughout the construction lifecycle

Contact us to get started today.