|
When you are considering carrying out improvements to your house such as an extension, loft conversion or new garage, it is essential that you find a good, reliable builder. I am sure that you have seen and heard about many of the horror stories and disasters created by so called 'cowboy' builders. It is so common nowadays that they have even made a whole television series on the subject (Cowboy Builders - Five). So how do you ensure that you avoid all of these problems and go about finding yourself a good builder who is not going to let you down? Well, it is a lot easier than you may think. Essentially, all it takes is a bit of common sense, a little bit of research and some clear instructions and if you follow our tips below and you should not go too far wrong. Research You should always do some research to confirm the quality of work performed by a builder before employing them to do any work. Ask for a list of half a dozen previous clients and contact them for feedback. If possible, arrange to visit one or two of the clients and view the work for yourself, particularly if the job is relevant to the work you need doing. At the very least you should ask for written references from the builders previous clients. Any reputable builder will be more than happy to give you this information and so if you meet any resistance or reluctance at this early stage you should think carefully about whether you want to go any further. Appearance And Behaviour Check the appearance of the builder before you employ them because a 'dodgy' builder will often dress shabbily, drive a clapped out white van, usually without any markings and generally not come across as very professional. It sounds like a cliche but these things are the tell-tale signs of a 'cowboy' builder and you should steer well clear. In terms of behaviour, be very suspicious of any tradesman that will not commit to a schedule, will not put anything in writing and/or does not give receipts. If they seem too eager to quote quickly and cheaply without even properly looking at the job they are quoting for your suspicions should be raised. Work With An Established Local Company A tried and tested way to avoid problems with your builder is to work with a local company that has an established reputation. This means that they will have a fixed office address, a company telephone number and if VAT is being charged, a VAT registration number. Correspondence on letter headed paper with all of these items listed is also a good sign of a genuine business. Ideally they will also operate as a Limited Company rather than a sole trader, but this is not essential if the other things check out. Mobile telephone numbers and email addresses are disposable so be wary if these are the only methods of contact that the tradesman will give you. The reason why a local businesses is preferable is that they need to guard their reputation in the local community because word soon gets around if they do a poor job or let someone down. Be Clear About Your Requirements To avoid any doubt about what you have agreed, put everything that you want carried out in writing and ask for a written estimate back from the builder. Again, any good tradesman worth dealing with will expect this. It is important that you do not keep changing your mind about what you want once the work has started as the builder will charge you extra for changes at this stage and this is where many disputes can begin. Obviously, sometimes things will need to change and in this case you just need to be clear about the changes that you want and agree with the builder any additional cost that this may add before the work is done. Again, you should document all changes in writing. Other Points To Be Aware Of In terms of contracts and agreements, the normal advice in these situations applies. Do not sign anything that you have not read and/or fully understood. On the subject of payment for the work, your builder may request some money in advance but this should be avoided if at all possible. A reputable builder will only expect payment once the work has been completed to the agreed plan and signed off as satisfactory. As a rule of thumb, you should never pay more than 10% of the total cost up front. On a larger scale job, stage builder payments may also be necessary but, again, you should be clear upfront about what you are paying for and when. If your builder requests all or part payment in cash then walk away. You will be fuelling the black economy and leaving yourself open to the risk of dealing with a rogue trader. Finally, be wary of anyone who comes knocking at your door offering to 'do you a favour' or has 'materials left over from a previous job' and can do you a 'great deal which will save you money'. Do not listen! It will never save you money to employ a builder in this situation. What To Do If Things Go Wrong If things do go wrong or you are unhappy with the quality or extent of the work carried out, talk to the builder calmly and clearly and explain why in the first instance. If the builder does not respond, the next stage would be to put your complaint in writing. If you still cannot get a resolution after putting things in writing, you should seek further advice. People that you could turn to are your Solicitor, the Citizens Advice Bureau, Trading Standards or the relevant Trade Association. It really depends on the nature and extent of the problem or builder dispute. Summary So there you have it. If you want to find a good, reliable builder, do some research before you start, be clear about what you want and put everything in writing and use common sense when it comes to contracts, agreements and payment.
Related Articles -
Builder, Builders, Builder Essex,
| 
