Choosing The Right Builder For You….

If we asked you to picture a builder, what would you see? Probably the same as every other person who pictured one. A bit rough and ready, jack the lad, not exactly transparent with everything and overpromising and under delivering. That’s the stereotype of the whole industry, but not everyone falls into this category. This is how to find those builders who don’t fall into the stereotype, including questions to ask, where to find reviews and what to look for during your interactions with them. The most important thing to say is to take your time. Choosing the wrong builder can leave you stressed, experiencing massive delays and spending more money than you need to. Everything that a good builder will do their very best to avoid. Generally, we see two types of projects: the first is where you know exactly what you want, and the second is where you have a vague idea but want to know what your options are. This is where the best builders will take their time and follow a process to understand what you’re looking for rather than rush through everything in half an hour. When you first speak to a builder, ask them what their process is for scoping out the project all the way to completion. If they can’t explain this to you clearly, that’s the first red flag.

In this scenario, thank them for their time and move on. What you’re looking for is a process that looks like this:

. Discovery Call

.Initial Consultation

. Site evaluation

. A full report, which includes expected regulatory applications and an estimate

. An agreed time for work to begin, and estimate completion date

. Initial completion

. A period to complete snagging issues, usually around 3 months

This way, you know that the builder you’ve chosen has an excellent grasp of what you’re looking for, as well as being extremely open about their costs and timeline. Don’t forget that age old saying, if it’s too good to be true, it usually is. If you find a builder that says they can complete your project in 2 weeks at a third of the cost of everyone else, it’s likely that there will be some cut corners along the way. Once you’ve found a few who meet these expectations, you need to do your due diligence. There are loads of review sites you can look at, but the best thing to do is to speak to their previous clients. No builder should be worried about you speaking to their clients and getting a good insight into how they found the process. If they say no, this is a HUGE red flag. To give you an example, we offer every single enquire the chance to speak to our clients before making their decision. To us, it’s best practice. You also need to check that they have the right insurance (that’s valid!) and ask if they are part of any professional organisations or schemes.

Once you’re happy with what you’ve found, meet them face to face and make sure that they are easy to communicate with. During this meeting, you’re looking for builders who meet the following criteria:

. Are they easy to talk to?

. Do they listen to your ideas and any potential concerns?

. Does what they say match previous conversations, especially around costs and timeline?

. Do they have a plan on how they will communicate with you through your project?

If they haven’t already mentioned it, this is also the time to ask about payment terms. The building world has changed recently and it’s becoming the norm to see a larger deposit, with the balance paid when key milestones are hit. Ours for example is split into 4 parts: Typically, we’ll invoice 20% of the estimate when booking the project, with 40% the week before the project starts. Once we are finishing your project, we’ll invoice you 35%, with the final 5% when any potential snagging works have been completed, which is within 3 months.

The last thing to review is the most important of all, as it will show any discrepancies between reality and what they have told you. The first is the contract. Never agree to work without a contract being in place! You’re looking for a contact that includes:

. A detailed description of the work

. The agreed payment terms

. Project timeline and expected completion date

. Details of any warranties or guarantees

. Process for any changes or unexpected costs

If the contract isn’t up to scratch, then don’t sign it and continue your search. Never feel pressured into signing a contract that isn’t fit for purpose. If you’re not sure, always ask a solicitor to have a read over it! Overall, the biggest piece of advice we can give is to reiterate that you need to take your time and do your due diligence, as without it, it could become the biggest mistake you make.