If you are planning any building work and you need to employ
a builder you should consider who you choose carefully.
The majority of builders are respectable and trustworthy, but
this could be one of the biggest investments you are likely to
make, so you should check any builder thoroughly before signing the
contract.
Although we cannot recommend builders or designers, for legal
and financial reasons, we can give you some tips to think
about and the basic precautions that you should take when choosing
your builder.
These are:
- Employ a professional person to advise you.
- Discuss the extent of any professional's responsibility, for
example, will they be involved in the preparation of plans only, or
is site supervision part of the package?
- If your job is so small that you think it does not need a
professional, get advice from someone in the industry who you know
and trust.
- Always get at least three quotations for the work in writing.
Do not automatically go for the cheapest quote - this may not
necessarily be the best one.
- Ask the builder the following questions:
- Where have they worked before?
- Are they happy for you to see their previous work?
- What is their expertise in the particular project you intend to
carry out?
- How do they want to be paid - on completion or in stages?
- Can they supply references from satisfied customers?
- Are they happy to give you a retention clause?
- Will they give you a final completion date?
- Will they accept a penalty clause on failure to complete on
time?
- Will they agree to independent arbitration should you have any
dispute?
- Do they have membership of a trade association?
- Do they have insurance?
- Try to visit three or four of the builder's recently completed
jobs and if possible speak to the owners about the builder’s
work.
- Builders often claim to be members of a trade association.
Check if the claim is true. A respected trade organisation will
have membership requirements.
- Good quality builders will be happy to answer any queries as
the work progresses because they have nothing to hide.
- Ask to see the builder’s Public Liability insurance
certificate. The building work may also affect your home and
contents insurance policy. You should check this with
your insurance company.
- Having selected a builder make sure the scope of the work for
the agreed sum is clearly specified in writing or on detailed
plans.
Finally, we strongly recommend you use a formal contract, for
example
the
JCT Building Contract for home owners and occupiers. This
will give you invaluable protection should a problem occur when the
work starts.
Or the Federation of Master Builders
(FMB) Find a Builder website has a downloadable contract.
The FMB has also produced a free
guide 'The Essential Guide to Home Improvement ', which is packed
full of information on planning a project and choosing and working
with a builder. You can download a
copy from their website, where you can also
find vetted builders in North Somerset.
For more information contact
our Building Control
team.
