Home improvement

Laurajones1900

My partner and I are buying our first home. The house was built in the 70s and an old lady owned it before us. It needs a lot a work and needs modernising. On any home improvement program I have watched the advice is to get a good builder but how do you go about doing that? We are new to the area (Cambridgeshire). We have lived here long enough to know we like the area but don’t have any contacts and are unsure where to start. We also have a budget we will need to stick to. Can anyone help?

Doozergirl

Do you have friends on social media? Do a shout out for their own recommendations.

trailingspouse

Don't worry about getting personal recommendations - I've always thought they were of limited value anyway. It kind of assumes that your mate has had the same work done, with the same budget, and has the same level of expectation as you - what's the chances?? The only trades I've ever had problems with are ones that were recommended to me!! I'd much rather make up my own mind about someone.



Much better to do your own research and find someone that you're happy with.



The first thing you need to do is decide what you need to have done, so that you can approach the right trades. You might already have a pretty good idea, or it might be wise to live with the house as is for a while before making any major decisions. If you can, live with it for a year - that way you see the house in all seasons (where and when does the sun come through the windows, which parts of the garden are sun-traps, does the roof leak, is the dining room big enough to have the family round for Christmas, would it be nice to have somewhere for muddy boots/the dog etc etc etc etc). While you're thinking, you can be saving.


Once you've decided what you want, it'll become fairly obvious which trades you'll need. These are the things I look for when getting quotes - none of them are deal breakers on their own (apart from the last one), but together they build up a picture.

- do they turn up when they said they would?
- do they look presentable (I'm not talking business suit, but just 'workmanlike')?
- do they offer to take their footwear off at the door (or even better, just do it, or carry those blue plastic overshoes with them)
- do they ask questions/express opinions about what you want done ('If you do that, it'll mean this...', 'Did you know you can have...')
- do you feel able to ask them questions, even ones you suspect might be really daft?

- do they send a properly written quotation, after going away and thinking about it, or is it just a verbal 'guestimate', or scribbled on a scrap of paper they found in the back of the van?
- do you feel happy to have them in your home, possibly unsupervised, possibly for lengthy periods of time?


All the very best with your new project.

snowcat75

trailingspouse wrote: »

Don't worry about getting personal recommendations - I've always thought they were of limited value anyway. It kind of assumes that your mate has had the same work done, with the same budget, and has the same level of expectation as you - what's the chances?? The only trades I've ever had problems with are ones that were recommended to me!! I'd much rather make up my own mind about someone.



Much better to do your own research and find someone that you're happy with.



The first thing you need to do is decide what you need to have done, so that you can approach the right trades. You might already have a pretty good idea, or it might be wise to live with the house as is for a while before making any major decisions. If you can, live with it for a year - that way you see the house in all seasons (where and when does the sun come through the windows, which parts of the garden are sun-traps, does the roof leak, is the dining room big enough to have the family round for Christmas, would it be nice to have somewhere for muddy boots/the dog etc etc etc etc). While you're thinking, you can be saving.


Once you've decided what you want, it'll become fairly obvious which trades you'll need. These are the things I look for when getting quotes - none of them are deal breakers on their own (apart from the last one), but together they build up a picture.

- do they turn up when they said they would?
- do they look presentable (I'm not talking business suit, but just 'workmanlike')?
- do they offer to take their footwear off at the door (or even better, just do it, or carry those blue plastic overshoes with them)
- do they ask questions/express opinions about what you want done ('If you do that, it'll mean this...', 'Did you know you can have...')
- do you feel able to ask them questions, even ones you suspect might be really daft?

- do they send a properly written quotation, after going away and thinking about it, or is it just a verbal 'guestimate', or scribbled on a scrap of paper they found in the back of the van?
- do you feel happy to have them in your home, possibly unsupervised, possibly for lengthy periods of time?


All the very best with your new project.

Id go with that especially the highlighted.

I am not a fan of legislation but self regulation within the building trade has done nothing to improve the reputation nor some of the practices.


Its important also once work commences to arm yourself with as much knowledge as possible about how the jobs should be done correctly also don't be afraid to ask or question anything that your not happy with. Only pay on completed stages and Always make it clear from day 1 that your hold a retention for snagging. Don't be bullied into paying for work non complete.


Also my pet hate is seeing trades cut corners with safety, and often if they don't care about putting a pair of googles on when they pick up a grinder or putting a harness on when there not protected at height, There also not care too much about there work either.


Be prudent do your homework, and trust your instincts, If you don't like don't employee.


Finally, no.1 golden rule never employee friends or family.

dharm999

Laurajones1900 wrote: »

My partner and I are buying our first home. The house was built in the 70s and an old lady owned it before us. It needs a lot a work and needs modernising. On any home improvement program I have watched the advice is to get a good builder but how do you go about doing that? We are new to the area (Cambridgeshire). We have lived here long enough to know we like the area but don’t have any contacts and are unsure where to start. We also have a budget we will need to stick to. Can anyone help?

Are you planning on using an architect to draw up plans, if so, they should be able to advise, and if paid, find a suitable builder, and manage the work for you. Of course, this depends on how much you intend to spend on the work, and if it's worthwhile using an architect

Bigphil1474

OP, if you are on a budget, have a think about what you can do yourselves. You need trades for electrics, gas, plumbing, but the rest you could save money on - e.g. painting and decorating prep work is easy if you can strip the walls yourselves. Wallpapering isn't hard, but if you need someone to do it, it'll save money if the walls are ready to paper. If it has artex, be careful as old artex may contain asbestos - depending on style, might be able to skim over. Proper plasterers are worth their weight IMO, I've only tried small jobs and difficult to get a good finish. Other than that, maybe speak to your neighbours, there may be a local tradesman everyone uses - where I live everyone uses a guy called Tom for roof repairs, and a guy called John fits carpets for £50 a room (extra for stairs).