As you’d expect, most builders will do an excellent job and are respectable, despite regular media warnings about ‘cowboy’ builders.
There’s nothing like a personal recommendation from an architect, friends, family or neighbours. You’ll want to see examples of a builder’s previous work and chat to their customers. You can also get added peace of mind by following our simple checklist.
- 1. Have you got more than one quote?
Prices vary considerably so it always pays to get more than one quote for any work that needs to be done to your home – three or four is ideal. Our free quote service can put you in touch with our network of approved contractors in your area.
Any quote should be detailed and describe every stage of your project.
A reputable builder will be happy to sign a contract that covers all aspects of the job, including the timetable and price. Any proposed change to that contract needs to be agreed in writing before work starts on that phase.
- 2. Do they belong to a professional body?
Membership of the Federation of Master Builders (FMB) means that working practices and business methods meet a recognised high standard.
That said, you shouldn’t be put off if you have a personal recommendation about a builder who isn’t a member of the FMB.
- 3. Are they registered with the NHBC (National House Building Council)?
Similarly, builders have to meet certain requirements to be NHBC registered. This organisation provides warranty and insurance cover for house builders, backed by a 10-year guarantee on extended, converted or new properties.
- 4. Do they offer an insurance-backed guarantee of workmanship?
As long as you sign-up for this while your builder is trading, they will be able to put right any work that fails within their guarantee period. However, if they go bankrupt the insurance cannot help.
- 5. What are their payment terms?
Most builders won’t ask for their bill to be settled in advance but it is common to pay in instalments as certain stages are completed: you should agree when and how much before work begins.
Builders who offer to do a job ‘cash-in-hand’ without VAT are best avoided, as there could be trouble if anything goes wrong.
- 6. Other things to bear in mind…
…a good builder will:
- Not knock on your door saying that they were in the area and had some spare raw materials or noticed you have a job that needs doing
- Always be busy and not able to start work tomorrow
- Always explain every aspect of the job fully in non-technical terms and discuss any problems that may arise
- Have a landline, as well as a mobile phone, and be willing to provide their contact address.