builders

jayelled

I am planning to have work done on my house which involves demolishing the current garage and building a larger one attached to the side of the house. Also a small rear extension to be constructed and wall between kitchen and dining room removed.
All plans have been drawn up and approved by the council.
I am getting increasingly frustrated by failure to find a reputable builder in my area. (Np12)
Its the first time I have ever had building work done and am aware that there are many cowboys out there so I looked up builders on our local council trading standards page which lists builders who are Trustmark or FMB registered.
However, several of them have not answered emails or returned phone messages. One did answer and arranged a visit but then failed to show.
I feel that this shows extremely bad manners and does not do any good to their reputation.
Does anyone have any suggestions on what else I can do?

nickj_2

ask freinds, neighbours worlk mates etc for names or if you use any other tradesmen, plumber , sparky etc ,they will probably have a few names

Leif

As far as I know FMB is no more than a club with paid membership.

jayelled

Thanks for the suggestions. I have spoken to our electrician who gave me the name of a builder. He is going to contact him on our behalf. Hopefully we can start the ball rolling soon.

Doozergirl

Did you use the FMB "findabuilder" service? The more detail you can put into the info box, the more successful you will be at that right person contacting you. You will probably find that someone will contact you directly.

The FMB will email the nearest five builders to you who match criteria with you. The system is a bit floored in that they only email the first five - everyone else has to manually log in and proactively search so it's not always as quick as it could be.

Please get more than one quotation and ask the electrician's builder friend for references from other customers!

The FMB is a bit better than a club. Builders pay to have their work inspected, they do check trading history and a customer reference. The builder also commits to a code of conduct. Government Trustmark means that they should offer a guarantee if asked by the customer.

It's due diligence that a customer can do without the builder being a member of the FMB, but it helps more than pulling a name from the yellow pages and crossing your fingers.

leveller2911

Doozergirl wrote: »

The FMB is a bit better than a club. Builders pay to have their work inspected, they do check trading history and a customer reference. The builder also commits to a code of conduct. Government Trustmark means that they should offer a guarantee if asked by the customer.





If the work is inspected by an independant qualified person then I don't have a issue but if the work is inspected by the FMB then there is a conflict of interest.

Personally I think that once any fees are involved to join then it loses credibility, but thats just my opinion.

I don't think there is a perfect solution to cowboy tradesmen in any profession.

Doozergirl

leveller2911 wrote: »

If the work is inspected by an independant qualified person then I don't have a issue but if the work is inspected by the FMB then there is a conflict of interest.

Personally I think that once any fees are involved to join then it loses credibility, but thats just my opinion.

I don't think there is a perfect solution to cowboy tradesmen in any profession.

It is an independent inspector, a different company to whom you have to pay a separate fee.

Someone has to run the thing, it means they need to get paid to do it. You have to pay to be a member of the Government's Trustmark scheme as well, so no one can escape having to pay something.

leveller2911

Doozergirl wrote: »

Someone has to run the thing, it means they need to get paid to do it. You have to pay to be a member of the Government's Trustmark scheme as well, so no one can escape having to pay something.

The whole idea of paying money to prove your legitimate seems rediculous to me, I never have and I don't believe anyone I work with pays money but hay ho each to their own.

I don't think I know a single tradesmen who feels the need to join a club.I know a couple of small companies that do but both question whether or not its worth the cost.

I guess the cynic in me questions the fact that all of these "clubs" are profit making companies and this tends to cloud their judgement.

Doozergirl

I used to agree with your view, but having eventually signed up, I greatly appreciate the additional help in terms of subsidised training and opportunities that arise through membership if used to it's full potential. It has aleady paid for itself many times over.

It hasn't really changed the way that we do things as professionals but I do know that our customers feel reassured that we take our job seriously. I feel supported as a member of a body that is seeking to eliminate cowboys. It's not something that a trade can do as individuals, you to be a part of a bigger voice that educates consumers and engages in conversation with the law makers. My memberships helps that.

leveller2911

I suppose it also depends on tradesmans customer base. All of my work is word of mouth,live and die by the quality of my reputation but 95% of my work is within a 12 mile radius. I would guess that If I was based in a city there would be far more competition for the work and less reliance on reputation but belonging to a "federation of" would possibly give me a slight edge over the competition.

In general I think its all just a money making exercise and people more intelligent than me saw an opportunity and took it, set up a "federation of this and that" and make a decent living from it. I would see it differently if it was a "not for profit" organisation but even if it was there are some very clever ways to take a considerable renumeration package.

But I am a cynic by nature......:D

Just to add I know some complete cowboy companies that belong to the Federation of Master Builders etc and none of these schemes will stop cowboy builders and bodgers.

keystone

leveller2911 wrote: »

I don't think there is a perfect solution to cowboy tradesmen in any profession.

I'm waiting vainly for the day that someone finds the solution to the cowboy customer.

Cheers