This can lead to disputes further down the line - when it is much more difficult to do anything about it.Įither that or, as they begin to find the work hopelessly unprofitable and end up making a loss on it, they simply pack up and walk off to more lucrative pastures.ĩ. It may just be that the other builders' quotes are excessively high and the one firm is simply good value.īut, more than likely the one firm is putting in a speculative bid to try and get the work - and aims to make more profit on the project by, for instance, cutting corners or introducing a range of extra charges as work progresses. If one building contractor comes back to your tender documents with a quote for your work which is significantly lower than the other tender prices, you need to be suspicious. It is far better to have an accurate and realistic quote in the first place and it is your responsibility to make sure of this.Ī high price is not necessarily a sign of quality in a building firm but, more than that, it is important to resist the obvious temptations of a low price. Understand that these aren’t recommendations as much as informal guidance and no building inspector would ever guarantee a trouble-free project. Local authority building inspectors are a much under-utilised resource for helping local people taking on building projects.Īlthough some inspectors are unwilling to do anything off the record, the majority now are progressive enough to help out self builders and renovators looking for builders by giving hints, nods and winks as to local builders they have known well for many years. You cannot benefit from zero rating for VAT on a new build, or most of the VAT concessions on renovation work if the builder you hire is not VAT registered. Depending on the extent of your arrangement with your designer, they may be able to help you find a good builder.Įven if your designer is offering no more than a fixed price design service, they remain one of your few early contacts who will have experience of the local building scene and are still worth tapping up for a few names. Many local architects and designers will have experience of dozens of projects similar to yours, in your area. If you’ve found a few contacts, take a look at their website to find out what work they cover and to see if you can look at examples of their previous work.
They offer stringent checks, which should give you more reassurance. All FMB members are vetted and independently inspected, and are checked to ensure that they have the correct insurances in place.Ĭheckatrade and the Guild of Master Craftsmen are also good places to find a builder local to where you live. They have a search tool where you can find specific trades in your area and look at their references. Word of mouth is a cliché, but asking friends and family if they’d recommend anyone is always a good place to start.Ī lot of trades rely on word of mouth and if you can find a builder through someone you trust and whose work you can go and visit, then you can make a decision about whether they’ll do a good job.īear in mind that while these sites provide a source of builders’ names who are more likely to be reliable, in no way should it be seen to replace the usual checks that should always be carried out.Ī good place to starting looking online to find a builder is on sites like the Federation of Master Builders. If you can engage with one of them, you can open up a whole network of local, reliable names. Most tradesmen get used to seeing the same familiar names around the sites they are working on and often have preferences for who they like to work with - and who they see as a good source of work. If you’ve used an electrician before or a local plumber and liked their work, why not contact them and ask if they know of any good builders they’d recommend. Get Recommendations From Other Tradespeople
You don’t necessarily have to like the style of work they are currently carrying out – after all, many people opt for ordinary extensions and new homes – but a builder can only produce what’s on the plans in front of them.
#BUILDER NEAR ME PLUS#
It’ll give you an idea of the builders who are active close by, plus if you see a builder's board, it’s a sign that at the very least this is a builder proud of their job and looking for more There’s no harm in taking a walk around where you live or going on a little drive locally to spot any works going on in your area.