Finding the right builder for your construction project can be a daunting task. With the shortage of professionals and the highest demand for construction sites in 20 years, it is more important than ever to make sure you find the right equipment to handle your project. To help you out, we have put together a 13-step guide to help you find the right builder and avoid cowboy builders who could turn your dream of building your own house or extension into a living nightmare. Jason, former editor of the magazine Homebuilding & Renovating, is an experienced self-builder and recently finished renovating his house from the 1960s.
Jason is now managing director of Future PLC's Homes portfolio, which includes leading titles in the United Kingdom, such as Ideal Homes, Livingetc and Homes & Gardens. He is also the author of The Self Build Dream. You can see Jason in the seminar rooms and in the Advice Center of many of the & home renovation shows across the UK. Rob, Chris and their team were a great help in every aspect of the work.
They came and inspected and advised on the works. They finished the work the same week and even returned 2 days later (since it was raining at the end of the day) to check it out. Julian has worked for both large contractors and small builders in his local area and has been running his own business for the past 12 years. Although Julian's main profession is masonry, he has a fully qualified team that can handle all jobs big and small.
Most of us are now 60 years old, so we have extensive experience. We have worked on numerous buildings, including national and first-grade monuments. I have been working in the construction trade for more than 20 years, I can do any job small and large, from the foundation to the roof and anything in between. I can provide any reference and I have £5 million insurance.
My team and I take pride in what we do and we do it first. Posting a job on MyBuilder is one way to find a quality local merchant. Checkatrade (opens in a new tab) and the Master Craftsmen's Guild (opens in a new tab) are also good places to find a local builder where you live. It's also worth familiarizing yourself with how to pay a builder right now, to ensure that you meet the builder's expectations and that you have the cash flow needed to keep the project going.
While some inspectors aren't willing to do anything unofficial, most are now progressive enough to help self-builders and renovators looking for builders by giving advice, winks and winks about local builders they've known well for many years. It will give you an idea of the builders who are active nearby and, if you see a whiteboard of builders, it's a sign that, at the very least, they're a builder who's proud of their work and looking for more. Finding a good builder can be complicated and stressful, and the wrong builder could be a disaster for your project. Keep in mind that, while these sites provide a source of builder names that is more likely to be reliable, they should in no way be considered a substitute for the usual checks that should always be carried out.
If you know someone who works in the construction industry, such as property buyers and architects, find out if they have an accredited builder that they hire. You don't have to like the style of work they're currently doing (after all, many people opt for ordinary extensions and new homes), but a builder can only produce what's in the plans before him. A good place to start searching online for a builder is on sites like The Federation of Master Builders (opens in a new tab).
