There have been a lot of horror stories in the press in recent years of people experiencing terrible problems with builders when having building work carried out on their homes. The builders have either taken an excessively long time to complete the job, the workmanship is of a very poor standard or they have made catastrophic errors! We have probably all read about the house which collapsed in Kensington during renovation work. If you are planning to have an extension or renovation work on your home it is vital to choose your builder carefully
Here is our guide on how to spot and avoid a cowboy builder…
- Recommendation – ask your architect or friends and family who have had work done to recommend a reliable builder. Ask for references and always go and look at work the builder has carried out on other properties to check the standard of work.
- Quotes -Get at least 3 written quotes for the work. Avoid a very cheap quote this could be a cowboy builder desperate for work. Also be cautious of builders who want to start immediately.
- Business details – watch out for builders that do not have a registered business address, letter headed paper or signage on their van. Cowboy builders often work in an area and then move on.
- Payment – do not part with any money upfront. A reputable builder should have sufficient funds to cover the cost of the work. Also be cautious of builders who only accept cash payments, they could be avoiding paying VAT. But more importantly you will have very little comeback if things go wrong.
- Contract – Draw up a contract detailing the work to be carried out with an approximate timescale and costings. Ensure that both you and the builder sign it and have copies for future reference.
- Builders ill-prepared for the job. – Professional builders will have all the necessary tools and materials to complete their work. So be cautious of builders who ask to borrow your tools or equipment.
Live In Developments has over 10 years of building experience in South Manchester and Cheshire specialising in the project management of new build construction and extension work. Our strong core principles of professionalism, quality and value have allowed us to build a great local reputation and as a member of the Federation of Master Builders (FMB) and the Trust Mark Scheme you can be sure that our service is trustworthy, reliable and operating to Government Endorsed Standards.
To discuss the details of your design and build or renovation project, contact Live In Developments on 0161 285 3559