It is never easy dealing with builders. I am not saying they are all bad people, I have seen good builders before. One thing I know for sure is that in the end, a builder is a builder, they are there to make a profit. It is obvious but the question is what is a fair price for a piece of work.
Do not get confused, a fair price does not mean the cheapest price. It is always true that " pay cheap, pay twice". Therefore, a fair price is only fair if you choose the right builder. Whether a builder is good or not, is not just about the price.
So what is a good builder? Everyone has their own set of criteria and I do have a few considerations and I can explain to you briefly.
- Experience & Quality:
Even if the builder has years of experience, it is always worth asking, have they done any project similar to your one, in terms of the scale and design. If so, ask them to show you some photos or even reference from previous customers.
- Qualification:
Have they done any formal training in their field, any NVQ, licences etc etc. Hiring an unqualified person may lead to poor workmanship, breaking the law and may even void your home insurance cover.
- Insurances:
Do they have adequate insurance cover for Employer Liability, Public Liability, Professional Indemnity, Product Liability etc. Ask for their insurance certificates and check the expiry dates.
- Financial Stability:
NEVER pay any upfront payment or deposit in any circumstances. A good builder/ tradesman should have enough money to fund the initial cost of the works and will not ask for it. However, you do have to pay them at some point so that the builder/tradesman is not self-funding the whole works for you.
- Commitments:
A good builder/tradesman should commit to one project at one time. I am sure you do not want them to just come to your home to work a few hours a day and only a few days a week. You need them to come to work Monday to Friday, 8am to 4pm as minimum. Avoid any builder/tradesman that multitasks several projects at the same time, unless they are big builder and have a dedicated team for you.
- Health and Safety:
Ask the builder/tradesman if they have had any injuries or death during their works in the past. If so, what was it and how they improved the process to prevent it from happening again.
- Price:
Well, a good builder/tradesman comes with a price, it does not mean that you have to overpay them. Always get a few quotations and compare. Do not hesitate to challenge their price. Most of the time common sense will tell you something is not right there.
What I shared above was just a brief introduction of the thinking process, the construction world is not that simple. There are more considerations such as the way you approach them, the way you talk, market competition, chain of liabilities, law and regulation and many more.....
Endeavour Construction Consultants has years of experience in this field. Let us know about your project, and we can take care of it for you.
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Disclaimer: The content is for information purposes only and does not address the circumstances of any particular individual or entity. Nothing in this blog constitutes professional advice, a solicitation, recommendation, endorsement or offer by Endeavour Construction Consultants Ltd or any third party services.