How To Find A Builder

By Author: Kevin Reed
Total Articles: 1
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It is never easy to find a builder, even if you have had building work done for you before. It can also be difficult to decide whether you can believe what even a local tradesperson says, especially when you do not understand some of the building terms that they use.

The Office of Fair Trading recently issued a report suggesting that cowboy builders rip British families off every year to the tune of ₤1.6 Billion, by leaving behind unfinished or shoddy work that homeowners have to pay other rated builders more money to complete.

We all need a good builder who knows what they are doing. We all need to find a builder who will finish the work properly, as agreed, and within the building quote. How do you find a recommended builder, other than gambling on the yellow pages or picking a card at your nearest hardware store? I have used the firm mr-skill.co.uk several times. You can advertise a building job on their website, or search through their lists of rated builders and other tradespeople too. They do not charge for their services either, which is great.

These are the most important things that you need ...
... to consider when selecting a good builder to do work for you:

o Is the builder a member of a Trade Association? If he or she is not, then there will be nobody to complain to, if things go wrong. Beware of a muttered they are expensive, and they do nothing for me. The National Federation of Builders can provide a list of rated builders registered to do work in your area.

o Make sure that the builder that you are considering has done work in your local area, and is willing to provide you with a list of recent customers. Hiring somebody from out of town, instead of a local builders, just adds pounds of petrol to the bill, with no benefit to you.

o Always ask for building quotes from several different, recommended builders, and compare these. Cost should not be your only consideration, and you should be prepared to pay more than the minimum. That way, you are entitled to demand quality.

o When you have selected your preferred builder, avoid misunderstandings by putting everything down in writing. A quote that says work as discussed will be a recipe for disaster if things go wrong. List the work to be done, including a simple drawing (if necessary), the cost to you and how this will be paid, the date of completion, and arrangements for other important things like safety and security, storage of materials and tools, lavatory arrangements, disposal of rubble, hours of work, and anything else that matters to you. Ask the builder to sign your document. If they refuse to, then think again.

o Speak to your own insurance company and make sure that nothing will invalidate your insurance cover. To make double sure, insist on seeing proof of the builder's own paid-up public liability insurance. Do not let work start without this.

o Deposits are dangerous things. If a good builder needs money to buy materials to get started, pay the supplier directly after they have delivered the goods to you. Although progress payments are normal practice, you and the builder must agree to these in writing in advance, and against milestones that you can check.

When you follow this advice, you will find it easier to find a builder. After you have, make sure that you and they are reading from the same page. Most building disputes with good builders come about because of misunderstandings.