What to ask builders when getting quotes.

kmmr

Hi,

I have just asked 5 different builders to quote for a job for me. It's quite a big job, including an extension, putting up 3 RSJ's, new kitchen, bathroom, bedroom etc. I've sent out a proper tender pack from my architect, plus structural drawings from the engineer.

So, I expect to get a few responses, and probably in quite a wide range!

Can anyone advise on what to look for when comparing builders? I don't have the luxury of many recommended builders, so I am reliant on builders who are doing work in the local area, plus a few who wrote to me when the planning permission was published.

I would really welcome some ideas that worked well, or some 'I wish I had asked' experiences.

I am in west london.

Thanks!

KMMR

latecomer

Make sure they give a fully drtailed quote, including level of finishing. Make sure that the quote includes supply of all materials such as kitchen and bathroom suite etc. Get them to state that they will do the work to the plans and any deviation will be agreed with you in advance (and get anything like that in writing).

Make sure that everything is detailed, including the clearing of the site at the end of the job.

CarolTheExtra

We had a two storey extension and front porch built on to our house last year at a cost of £45,000.
This was the cheapest quote not so very important). He was listed under the "Buy with Confidence Trading Standards Approved Builders". Every aspect of the job was done to perfection. He was so clean and tidy it was unbelievable. We had major walls knocked down with very little dust. We were worried about how we would be paying such a large sum of money but every week on the Thursday he would ask for a cheque to cover his wages and the material he had purchased earlier on and had received the invoice for. He never ever took large amounts up front. On the Monday morning he would give us an envelope with the amount paid off and the remaining amount of money owing. I don't know what other builders do.

We felt all along that we had made the right decision and several weeks ago we had a visit from our builder carrying a trophy from the local council awarding him best small new build builder with our extension being the best in the area.

I think Trading Standards approved builder is the way to go. It certainly was in our instance. We had met him on a previous job when we were delivering our local free paper so we could see some of his work then.

lagi

Ask your architect, they will have drawn up plans for loads of people and they will know who is good at what they do.