Hiring a builder means trusting someone with your home and a lot of your money. Most builders are decent people who want to do a good job, but it pays to do your homework. Here's what we'd check if we were in your shoes.
1. Look at their finished work
A good builder will be proud to show you jobs they've done, with photos and details, ideally of projects like yours. All of ours are on our recent projects page.
2. Read reviews in more than one place
Check Google and at least one trade platform such as MyBuilder, TrustATrader or Houzz. Look at how recent the reviews are and how the builder responds to criticism. We're rated 4.8 on Google from 24 reviews, and you can see the links on our reviews page.
3. Check accreditations, and what they mean
Membership of a trade body isn't a guarantee, but it shows a builder takes the business seriously and has agreed to standards and a complaints process. TrustMark is the government-endorsed quality scheme for work in and around the home, and registered firms are vetted and checked. We're TrustMark registered and members of the National Federation of Builders, the Association of Master Tradesmen and the National Association of Building Contractors.
4. Speak to past customers
Ask for references from recent jobs and actually ring them. If possible, go and see the work. A confident builder will be happy to arrange it.
5. Get a written, itemised quote
Get two or three quotes, not ten. Make sure each is written, itemised and based on the same scope, so you're comparing like with like. Check whether VAT is included, what happens if you change something, and the payment schedule. Be wary of big cash deposits up front.
6. Ask about insurance
Your builder should hold public liability insurance and, if they employ people, employer's liability. For extensions and new builds, contract works cover protects the job itself.
7. Ask who'll actually be on site
Some firms sell the job and hand it to subcontractors you've never met. With us, Baz, who quotes the job, is the person who manages it.
8. Trust your gut
You'll be working closely with this person for weeks or months. If they don't listen, don't answer questions clearly or push you to sign on the spot, walk away.
