This may be the ultimate off-topic question for this group, but can
anyone give me any advice when getting a builder to do some work on my
house?

I need to re-vamp a kitchen and bathroom, plus knock a couple of walls
through. I assume I should ask to see their insurance, etc. but what
else should I check for?

Thanks in advance.

Jonathan

In article ,
says...
This may be the ultimate off-topic question for this group, but can
anyone give me any advice when getting a builder to do some work on my
house?

I need to re-vamp a kitchen and bathroom, plus knock a couple of walls
through. I assume I should ask to see their insurance, etc. but what
else should I check for?

Probably a good idea to have a completion timetable and penalties for
late finishing - some builders will go away and leave a job part done if
a more lucrative one turns up. There again lots of builders might
decline the work if they think you might be a pain to work for, or if it
might end up costing them money. Regarding the wall removal, have you
had it assessed by a structural engineer?

Jonathan wrote:
This may be the ultimate off-topic question for this group, but can
anyone give me any advice when getting a builder to do some work on my
house?

I need to re-vamp a kitchen and bathroom, plus knock a couple of walls
through. I assume I should ask to see their insurance, etc. but what
else should I check for?

Thanks in advance.

Jonathan

Check out the Federation of Master Builders site at www.fmb.org.uk .
Lots of info there.

First check on experience - builders are not necessary kitchen and
bathroom fitters. Get recommendations, not just out of the yellow
pages. Ask the local Planning or Building Control dept or Trading
Standards for any 'recommended list' of local contractors

Ask questions to gauge their experience - but research first so that
you know the answers to the questions. Ask who is doing the work, and
their experience. Have a look at work done 1 or more years ago, not
just the recent jobs. Ask previous customers about post completion
faults, and how they performed when doing the work

Get itemised quotes and make sure they are quoting on the same
specification - make up your outline spec first. Have a contract in
place, which details scope of the work, timescales, payment stages,
warranty, dispute resolution procedures.

Remember that there is nothing wrong with the small one man band, and a
big company does not guarantee the best job.

But importantly, treat them fairly and don't assume every builder is
out to rip you off or do shoddy work.

dg

"dg" wrote in message
ups.com...

Jonathan wrote:
This may be the ultimate off-topic question for this group, but can
anyone give me any advice when getting a builder to do some work on my
house?

I need to re-vamp a kitchen and bathroom, plus knock a couple of walls
through. I assume I should ask to see their insurance, etc. but what
else should I check for?

Thanks in advance.

Jonathan

Check out the Federation of Master Builders site at www.fmb.org.uk .
Lots of info there.

First check on experience - builders are not necessary kitchen and
bathroom fitters. Get recommendations, not just out of the yellow
pages. Ask the local Planning or Building Control dept or Trading
Standards for any 'recommended list' of local contractors

They are not allowed to do this.

In article , Suz wrote:
First check on experience - builders are not necessary kitchen and
bathroom fitters. Get recommendations, not just out of the yellow
pages. Ask the local Planning or Building Control dept or Trading
Standards for any 'recommended list' of local contractors

They are not allowed to do this.

Officially ... but when I was a BCO we would give out names of firms
we knew to be OK, out of self-interest as much as anything else. The
real problem was that these firms were generally booked up for months
ahead (one of the best ran an 18-month waiting list and you were
honoured if he deigned to add you to it) and people wanted someone who
could start imminently.

--
Tony Bryer SDA UK 'Software to build on' http://www.sda.co.uk
Free SEDBUK boiler database browser http://www.sda.co.uk/qsedbuk.htm
[Latest version QSEDBUK 1.10 released 4 April 2005]

Suz wrote:
"dg" wrote in message
ups.com...

Jonathan wrote:
This may be the ultimate off-topic question for this group, but can
anyone give me any advice when getting a builder to do some work on my
house?

I need to re-vamp a kitchen and bathroom, plus knock a couple of walls
through. I assume I should ask to see their insurance, etc. but what
else should I check for?

Thanks in advance.

Jonathan

Check out the Federation of Master Builders site at www.fmb.org.uk .
Lots of info there.

First check on experience - builders are not necessary kitchen and
bathroom fitters. Get recommendations, not just out of the yellow
pages. Ask the local Planning or Building Control dept or Trading
Standards for any 'recommended list' of local contractors

They are not allowed to do this.

Many Councils provide lists of contractors who have done lots of work
in the area with no problems, or may be members of various 'quality
schemes'. The Council will offer the list without warranty, and they
will not be termed 'approved contractors' though.

dg