What to look for when searching for a builder

babyblade41

I have moved back to South Oxfordshire and having major troubles engaging a builder.

My new home needs a small kitchen extension so need an architect to submit plans as I'm in a conservation area.. , remove a downstairs disabled shower room and replace with a loo and sink, refit an upstairs bathroom and re-plaster most rooms

I have a general fear of builders and what can go wrong and never trust all the reviews online.

What should I be looking for and asking .. no one I know can recommend so at a bit of a loss

lewisa

Can the architect not recommend a few to put it to tender?

They should also include project milestones for staged release of funds.

babyblade41

lewisa wrote: »

Can the architect not recommend a few to put it to tender?

They should also include project milestones for staged release of funds.

Yes an architect would be good, if I can get hold of one !!!! like gold dust

andrewf75

I don't think there is any way of being sure unless you have a personal recommendation. You can try knocking on doors where you know they have had an extension built?

WeAreGhosts

Have a look around your local area and see if you can find any builders working and ask the homeowner if they'd recommend them.

Look at previous planning applications in your area and find an application that's similar to yours. Ask homeowner if they'd recommend the builder (if they've carried out the work, of course).

Same with architects - looks through the planning applications on your local council website.

babyblade41

WeAreGhosts wrote: »

Have a look around your local area and see if you can find any builders working and ask the homeowner if they'd recommend them.

Look at previous planning applications in your area and find an application that's similar to yours. Ask homeowner if they'd recommend the builder (if they've carried out the work, of course).

Same with architects - looks through the planning applications on your local council website.

That sounds like a great idea ..thank you

pandora205

Do your local trading standards have recommended traders? I've recently discovered that ours do and have just started using them.

Dean000000

Ok: if you are starting from scratch here’s some important things to ask:

Ask for previous experience? (you want to hear they have done this several times before)

Ask if they could arrange to see something they did locally? (You are looking to guage their reaction) a good reaction is ‘yes absolutely, I’ll have to get agreement from my client’ the mere ‘yes you can’ regardless of whether you follow through will weed out many that may just want to rip you off.

Find out their trading name and do a quick credit search on them? You are looking for any CCJ’s indicating financial troubles, and doing director search. Has this person had 2 or 3 previous Companies go bust? (You dna see this on companies house) you also want to check that this company exists, and how long it’s been trading for. (Checking for consistency)

Ask them their payment terms - obvious

Ask whether he has insurance, and whether he would provide evidence of this upon starting (yes) check insurance is in name of same name you are given for trading name

Ask them how busy they are, and when could they theoretically start the works. (A busy builder is often good, one that can start next week may not be)

Ask him whether when he quotes, whether heel happily give a detailed breakdown? Some do, some dont - doesn’t make them bad or good, but can save some disputes later down the line.

These are basic first questions, there are several more, but the above are an absolute minimum, and most posters with gripes on here (about builders) are resultant of failing to ask these initial questions.

Some people might dispute asking for the above, for certain reasons (you might not get the cheapest quote) but you will have gone some way towards weeding out anyone very very bad)

babyblade41

Dean000000 wrote: »

Ok: if you are starting from scratch here’s some important things to ask:

Ask for previous experience? (you want to hear they have done this several times before)

Ask if they could arrange to see something they did locally? (You are looking to guage their reaction) a good reaction is ‘yes absolutely, I’ll have to get agreement from my client’ the mere ‘yes you can’ regardless of whether you follow through will weed out many that may just want to rip you off.

Find out their trading name and do a quick credit search on them? You are looking for any CCJ’s indicating financial troubles, and doing director search. Has this person had 2 or 3 previous Companies go bust? (You dna see this on companies house) you also want to check that this company exists, and how long it’s been trading for. (Checking for consistency)

Ask them their payment terms - obvious

Ask whether he has insurance, and whether he would provide evidence of this upon starting (yes) check insurance is in name of same name you are given for trading name

Ask them how busy they are, and when could they theoretically start the works. (A busy builder is often good, one that can start next week may not be)

Ask him whether when he quotes, whether heel happily give a detailed breakdown? Some do, some dont - doesn’t make them bad or good, but can save some disputes later down the line.

These are basic first questions, there are several more, but the above are an absolute minimum, and most posters with gripes on here (about builders) are resultant of failing to ask these initial questions.

Some people might dispute asking for the above, for certain reasons (you might not get the cheapest quote) but you will have gone some way towards weeding out anyone very very bad)

I always do a search on companies house and the rest of your reply was really helpful thank you

parking_question_chap

Anybody in the neighbourhood recently had an extension? you could knock on the door and ask if they would recommend the builer.

snowcat75

Dean000000 wrote: »

Ok: if you are starting from scratch here’s some important things to ask:

Ask for previous experience? (you want to hear they have done this several times before)

Ask if they could arrange to see something they did locally? (You are looking to guage their reaction) a good reaction is ‘yes absolutely, I’ll have to get agreement from my client’ the mere ‘yes you can’ regardless of whether you follow through will weed out many that may just want to rip you off.

Find out their trading name and do a quick credit search on them? You are looking for any CCJ’s indicating financial troubles, and doing director search. Has this person had 2 or 3 previous Companies go bust? (You dna see this on companies house) you also want to check that this company exists, and how long it’s been trading for. (Checking for consistency)

Ask them their payment terms - obvious

Ask whether he has insurance, and whether he would provide evidence of this upon starting (yes) check insurance is in name of same name you are given for trading name

Ask them how busy they are, and when could they theoretically start the works. (A busy builder is often good, one that can start next week may not be)

Ask him whether when he quotes, whether heel happily give a detailed breakdown? Some do, some dont - doesn’t make them bad or good, but can save some disputes later down the line.

These are basic first questions, there are several more, but the above are an absolute minimum, and most posters with gripes on here (about builders) are resultant of failing to ask these initial questions.

Some people might dispute asking for the above, for certain reasons (you might not get the cheapest quote) but you will have gone some way towards weeding out anyone very very bad)

To add, Id get everything in writing, Things like what electrical work includes, how many sockets, switches lights etc, allowance o bathroom sweets, M2 of tiles and when and if extras occur to add them in writing...….. Id go as far as to draw up a simple contract doesn't have to be huge a few pages will suffice...

Money vs expectations is probably the biggest form of disputes, If its all black and white there's no arguments from either party.


IF you can list a spec and know exactly what you want even better, a room by room break down is ideal even it changes slightly during the build it can give a good pricing point.