Finding a builder

teneighty

kasworld wrote: »

So I have checked with the architect and the quotes given do include VAT and his website details suggest that he is chartered with the following accreditations DipArch BArchSc RIBA. I would verify these if we did decide to go with him.

As it stands we are awaiting 2 more quotes before making a decision on who to go with. However, I think we are leaning towards just getting the planning permission and building regulation drawings done rather than going with the full package of all 4 stages. I'm assuming a good builder, "hopefully they exist", will be able to work off these drawings and I am prepared to be on top of the work being done to ensure I am happy with the standard. The borough's building control team will also be reviewing the build work to a degree, to ensure that the guidelines in the drawings are followed and I have some friends in construction trades that could help me review the 2nd fix work which would rule out stage 4 for me

Does that sound like a good approach?

In regards to finding builders, we always look out for them around the area whilst walking the dog but there are not many around the area at the moment, hopefully it will start picking up as the weather improves so I will keep an eye out for them and also ask the architect we go with for any recommendations.

I have read bad reviews on these forums about sites like checkatrade/ mybuilder. Should these be avoided?

Thanks again for your help guys!

That all looks very promising, you are doing all the right things.

As regard checkatrade etc. as Doozer said...NO NO NO NO! Good builders do not need to pay lead generating websites. The firms I use are always booked up 6 to 12 months in advance and are turning work away. They don't have websites or Facebook etc. everything is just word of mouth.

Choosing a good builder can be a minefield, certainly get recommendations but from people you trust and still undertake the usual checks. Sometimes people recommend a builder they have only used once because they want to be helpful but the builder is actually quite useless. I got my fingers burnt like that a few years ago when my regular firms were all booked up and the client did not want to wait. The firm came highly recommended, I took up references, visited a couple of jobs and everything seemed good. They turned out to be the worst firm I have ever worked with, it was a nightmare, I had to be on site 2 or 3 times a week to keep the project on track and reject all the bogus extras they kept trying to claim for because they didn't read the drawings and specification properly.

That is where the architect undertaking stage 3 and 4, specification, tender preparation and contract administration can be so worthwhile. If things do go wrong you've got someone in your corner to sort it out. Unless you are employing a builder you know well I would seriously consider that extra help, it will probably save more money than it costs.