Commissioning building work

fitzpm01

Hi,
I'm not a big poster on MSE, but as I'm looking into engaging a builder, I turned to the usual place I look for financial and even legal advice. I should say up front that I've been watching an entire series of Cowboy Builders and found it very educational- there's no way I'm going to open my door to someone with the power to destroy my home without doing some SERIOUS background checks!:eek:
So I'm looking for a guide that would basically lead me through all those checks and investigations that Dominic Littlewood ends up doing after the event- only, obviously, I want to do them before I start out. Does such a thing exist already, am I missing it? I'm thinking of things like checking with the Federation of Master Builders, Companies House, etc., where to check for CCJs against someone, bankruptcy, etc.- have they had complaints made through Trading Standards, etc.
If such a thing doesn't exist, I'd be glad to write it up as I go along, so I'd also appreciate guidance on how to put something like that together for this site and make sure it gets the widest possible audience.
Thanks in advance for any help you can give.

Martin.;

Radsteral

...one beautiful evening last summer I came home from work about 7 pm .. sat on my sofa as wife was preparing food.
remote control -pressing Channel 4 , Houses from Hell... didn't fancy that so press remote control again... to channel 5 = cowboy builders ....press to bbc 1 - they had decided to go for it too , some program about some couple suffering from a horrible builder !!! I felt like a Taliban!!;)) called my mate and told him,- hey, no body loves us anymore!!!! We clicked to itv and funnily Sarah Beeny was at it , advising the client to smash this wall, and that wall and the other one to make a bigger room--my mate said that she s lovely and she creates more work for every body:))-to which I agreed:) Martin I wish you good luck with these searches mate.. it s good to know who you are dealing with, though like you being paranoid, we builders are getting paranoid too when we see a client digging on us so no matter how much money you offer most of us probably would stay at home than work for somebody paranoid of everything we do ...I may be wrong though in many cases I ve been right pulling of work when client scrutinising everything I do , asking for proof of my address and ID ..and when I ask for 20 percent deposit, he refuses.....which to me looks one sided ...at no point I don't want to be somebody s credit card, buying on his behalf and only getting my money at the end of the job. Some people don't even accept an agreement to pay in stages when key points of the project are completed, so think what we have to deal with !

jellie

Also have a look on trustmark.org.uk (Government backed scheme), or buywithconfidence.gov.uk (Trading Standards backed scheme).

My local area's Age Concern also has a list of traders who they've vetted.

robatwork

If you're feeling flush, remember some of those TV builders are real jobbing builders, and you could probably employ them.


As above my local council has a list of approved traders - check your local council website.


And finally Which? Local is a review website with opinions I give 1000x more weight to than trustacheckabuildertrader.org.net.com

eira

I employed a roofing contractor who was featured as FMB membership and Trustmark accredited. He was supposed to be repairing and weather proofing the guttering. Within 3 months the paint had washed off. Holes subsequently appeared in the guttering-he told the FMB these were leaves 'which are often mistaken for holes'. I sent photographs of the wood that had never been painted, and the split and broken guttering. He told the FMB the guttering was 'perfect'. The FMB said it was a 'matter of opinion' as to the quality of the job, and told me I had to employ a surveyor at a £100 an hour to examine the job. Of course I am over a £1000 out of pocket and the guttering is ruined.
So I thought Trustmark-government endorsed/consumer protection and all that. Now it no longer seems to be linked to Trading Standards and the Dept of Business and Industry weren't clear about their status either. Trustmark have basically not done anything because FMB have 'done something'-even though it has sided with the contractor.
So gist of this post is -don't rely on Trustmark-it seems as meaningless a protection for consumers as the FMB
The UK building industry seems replete with sharks -and that's being unfair to sharks
Without hi-jacking thread -would appreciate others feedback re Trustmark