Find a builder?

knightstyle

Having heard of all the fake reviews on builders websites I wonder how you find a good builder in a new area?
We may be moving to Grantham to a house that needs work, wall removal, ceilings repaired and skimmed, new kitchen plus bathroom replacement bay window etc. so any recommendations much appreciated.

warehouse

Recommendations from locals.
A builder who is well booked up.

Start them with a small job and see how they fare, you'll know straight away from the moment they come to quote.

knightstyle

Thanks, yes that is obvious but we want rough estimates before final buying negotiations, we live some distance away, in fact will be back abroad soon.
There used to be a book you could estimate from, i.e. price per sq. M for plastering, price per socket etc. for lighting, etc. Does anything like this exist on line now?

G_M

Use a reputable website, not one of the commercial ones (where contractors pay to be included,......)


https://trustedtraders.which.co.uk/


https://www.buywithconfidence.gov.uk/


or a member of a professional body (that might or might not enforce standards......)


eg https://www.fmb.org.uk/

doingitanyway

warehouse wrote: »

Recommendations from locals.
A builder who is well booked up.

Start them with a small job and see how they fare, you'll know straight away from the moment they come to quote.

Not obvious at all and good advice actually.

knightstyle

Thanks, I will have a look at trusted traders, are they really from Which? I understood that they specifically did not make recommendations like this?
I will NOT use FMB though!

jellie

Age UK in my area has a list of recommended traders on their website. Might be worth having a look at the one covering Grantham to see if they do the same.

weavedribbon

There's a website and mobile app called next-door where you can connect with members of your/any local community. If you joined the one for Grantham you could ask for recommendations from locals on there. I've found it great for that in the past.

G_M

knightstyle wrote: »

Thanks, I will have a look at trusted traders, are they really from Which? I understood that they specifically did not make recommendations like this?
I will NOT use FMB though!

Yes Which? (the Consumer Association) have a list of approved people.


But do NOT confuse them with a website of a similar name but without the "which?".

csgohan4

+1 for which trusted trader, got some success with them


as usual get 3 quotes and choose the one in the middle/like


you will know which is the better ones, the better attitude, pitching too high a price, pushy and aggressive with getting a decision there and then etc


Local knowledge is also good, if you used one tradesman your happy with, you can also ask if he has any colleagues who do stuff they don't do as well

trailingspouse

This was discussed recently on the 'In my Home (includes DIY) Money Saving' board.


https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/5909692/trades-people-wesbites


As I said on that thread, recommendations don't work if you don't know anyone, and even if your new neighbour recommends a plumber, or whatever, you have no way of knowing if their expectations/tastes/standards/budget are the same as yours, or even if the work they had done is anything like the work you want to have done.
As you're not in the area, this is going to be tricky for you. What exactly are you wanting from the builder? A rough estimate, advice about exactly what needs doing, a full-blown quote? Could the overall cost be a deal breaker on the house purchase? I'm assuming you've had/ you'll be having the house surveyed?