Tips On Hiring A Local Builder

Tips On Hiring A Local Builder in Leeds or York

When you need a builder to carry out work on your property, you need someone experienced and reliable for the job. You will want to avoid the trap of hiring a cowboy builder to work at your job. The following tips, which are mainly common sense, can form the basis of a useful checklist when you are hiring a local builder.

Depending on the type of building work, you may require the services of an architect to draw up plans. If you need architect plans to remodel or extend your property, you can most likely assume you will need planning permission from the local authority. If you have any doubts about the need for planning permission, visiting the local authority planning office for advice.

You need to find yourself a minimum of three local builders that have been established for at least a year or more. You can phone or pop into the builders premises and make an appointment for the builder to assess the job. Always ask before you arrange the appointment, if there is a charge for the visit and quote. Never make the assumption you will not be asked to pay for an assessment visit and a quote, or you may receive an unexpected bill.

Ask each of the builders to provide you with a quote. A professional builder should have no difficulty in providing you with a quote containing a detailed break-down of all the costs. Pay particular attention to the quote and the way in which it is presented to you. If they have an established and legitimate business, you should expect the quote to be provided on company stationery.

You need to check that the builder has the skills to carry out your work to a good standard. It is not unusual to request information about similar projects the builder has worked on, including how long the job took and what if any problems came up. Take up references with previous clients, preferably with a visit to have a look at the finished work. Your local trading standards office should be able to confirm if your chosen builder is on their trusted trader scheme.

The golden rule is, never pay money up front. If the job is fairly large and will take time to complete, agree a phased payment plan. Make payments using a cheque or credit card once each phase is completed and always get a receipt. Make sure it is in the written contract that final payment will only be made on satisfactory completion of the work, and it has been approved by the building control inspector.

If you are looking for Builder Leeds or Builder York, then Local Builders P A Cornforth are worth contacting. Visit their website or call them now on 0113 287 8464.