Advice dealing with builders

Frank37

Hello, my house rendering is all cracked and falling off in one part. I need to get the rendering done but have jo experience in dealing with builders.
Anyone have any tips? when to pay? do i pay upfront? Cash or cheque? Must i get a price quote in writng?
Any advice appreciated!

basiluk

OK - Three written quotes, preferably one or more from a Which trusted trader.

Cheque /debit card or CC to prove payment. Dont be fooled into paying cash to someone who offers below quote price.

Usually small 10% or less deposit then balance on completion. Or if a long job then staged payments say 40% half way through balance on completion.

Dont necessarily go for the cheapest. Go for a fair price (hence 3 quotes) and chose someone with good recommendation (try next-door.co.uk)

Frank37

Thanks basiluk. Appreciate that!

Socajam

Second what basiluk wrote.
Some builders may charge extra for using CC.
With my builder I pay by bank transfer, but he only builds me when the work is done even when materials are involved. I also ask for a a close out invoiced with PAID stamped on it.
But I would never give anyone cash

phill99

Socajam wrote: »

Second what basiluk wrote.
Some builders may charge extra for using CC.
With my builder I pay by bank transfer, but he only builds me when the work is done even when materials are involved. I also ask for a a close out invoiced with PAID stamped on it.
But I would never give anyone cash

It is now illegal to charge for CC payments.


But you will really struggle to find a builder that takes CCs. Most don't. I'm one of the few that does and don't know of any others in my area that takes them.


Most builders (me included) don't take cheques now as it takes 5 days to clear and often bounce. So most will accept bank transfers. If a builder asks for a cash payment, walk away.

Risteard

phill99 wrote: »

Most builders (me included) don't take cheques now as it takes 5 days to clear

If you're lucky.

I've had Euro cheques where they have recently started stating that they will put them in for collection, and that they will take 6-8 weeks to process.

Instead I setup a Euro business account.

cybervic

I'd say 3 quotes are minimum. A builder friend told me to get at least 5 quotes for jobs over £1k. Get them to explain to you what needs to be done in the process, what material do they use, how many people are doing it and how long it will take. Ask question and see how they respond, I tend to use builders that're willing to communicate than keeping things to themselves. You can learn a lot through the interaction and decide from there.