Appointing a builder – a guide for homeowners

For homeowners, it can be difficult knowing where to start when hiring a builder to carry out domestic work. After all, there is a lot at stake when you are trusting them with your home and potentially significant sums of money. So, here are some tips on what to consider when appointing a contractor.

What do you want?

Before you contact builders, you need to be clear on what you want. Are you hiring an architect to draw up the designs, or are you looking for a builder who can provide this service, too? Either way, you should put together a brief, so the designer has as much information to work with as possible. 

Who is the project manager? On domestic projects, the builder will often assume this role, but it is important that you still have this discussion, so you are clear on who is overseeing the work and taking responsibility for legal compliance.

What is your budget? It is important to make this clear to contractors from the outset, so they can ascertain if they can realistically meet your wishes. It is also advisable to have a contingency for any extra costs.

Choosing your builder

Don’t just go with the first person your friend recommends. While word of mouth is a great place to start, you will then need to check that the builder is the right fit for you and your project. It is recommended that you get at least three different quotes for the project, so you can make an informed decision about who is best for you. Remember – the cheapest option is not always the best contractor for the job. It is also important to ask the potential contractor for references; it would be a cause for concern if they are unable to provide these.

Don’t get caught out – when you receive the quotes, go through them with a fine-tooth comb to understand what is and isn’t included in the overall fee – eg. does it include the cost of materials and the removal of old appliances/ furniture?

Some other questions to ask your builder

What are the cost implications if the project takes longer than planned?

Is the quote inclusive or exclusive of VAT?

What is the timescale?

When can they start?

What is their experience of this type of work?

What is their health and safety procedure?

Do they have a trusted team? If so, who is in it? (Projects often throw up unexpected work, so it is useful if the builder has a plumber, engineer, and other tradespeople to hand, even if they were not initially required.)

Do they have the right insurance? (As a minimum, builders should have Public Liability, Employers’ liability and Contractors’ all-risk insurance, so ask them to provide copies and evidence of their cover.)

Are they a member of a trade association?

There are no specific qualifications required to be a builder, so you should check if the contractor is a member of a reputable trade association, such as the Federation of Master Builders (FMB) or CIOB. In order to become members of these organisations, builders are subject to an assessment and are thoroughly vetted. They are then held to account by a Code of Conduct, and the associations have complaints services which can be accessed by consumers.

Lock it in

Concerningly, a recent survey by CIOB found that 48% of homeowners do not believe it is essential to have a written contract with builders, despite this being a vital way of protecting homeowners if anything goes awry. This doesn’t have to be complicated for the contractor; Master Builders have access to a contract template from the FMB.

Before signing, check that you understand the payment schedule. It is common to pay in instalments once particular phases have been finished. If this is the case for you, check the work has been completed to your satisfaction before paying. Also, make sure the builder has put in writing that they will come back to fix any snags after project completion.

Talk to us

It is vital that contractors are appropriately insured to protect themselves, their employees and their client. The team at Focus can help brokers source the most relevant cover for their construction clients. To find out more, please get in touch on 0345 345 4511 or email sales@focus-insurance.com.