How To Find A Good Builder

How To Find A Good Builder

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Where to Look
Personal recommendation is probably about the best route because if you know someone who's pleased with a job and they've referred a builder then that builder won't want to let them down, just as they won't want to let you down. Ask family and friends who have just had work done, or keep the number if youre not quite ready to go ahead with your plans just yet. Check also recommendation sites, these will have comments about builders in your area which can lead you in the right direction.
Getting a Contract
You may have a project whereby you will need a builder with specialized skills. If this is the case, make sure you are very clear about what you want from the outset. Communication is key. Equally important is having a contract with your builder. Make sure it is clear what their (and your) legal obligations are. Things to include in your contract are: Timescale for the build, budget for the project, how much the builder gets paid.
Things to Look Out For
There are many warning signs to look out for. One is the builder saying he can do the job starting tomorrow. Another is when a contractor comes in with an incredibly low price for your main contract, only to turn around later on and start putting in extras for things that you thought was included. It's absolutely imperative that you go and see projects that builder has actually made - this way you meet clients who have worked with them. Visit those buildings not when they're brand new and shiny but go to buildings that are maybe three or four years old and to find out whether they've worn and weathered well.
Bribery Works Well
It's interesting that most advice about builders follows the line that they should be looking after you, but of course you have to look after them too. This can involve bribery in the form of biscuits, tea, coffee, and snacks, but there are other ways of incentivizing builders. For example putting a clause in the contract which says if they deliver on time and on budget there'll be a bonus can make all the difference. Penalty clauses don't work quite so well - builders, as human beings, don't respond to threats very well! It's far better to offer a reward for timely completion than a penalty for late completion.
Insurance is Important
It's really easy for projects to go wrong. Construction is a horrible world, and it involves bits of baked earth and mud and lots of rain and and grumpy subcontractors. So it's all about how you mitigate that. Your builder ought to have indemnity insurance, of course, and liability insurance. It's imperative that your project is insured. If for some reason it all goes wrong. Look fully into insurance, a good builder won't be offended by you asking

About the Author:
Article written by Simon Head who is the Managing Director of Cooper James Consultancy Ltd a Project Management Firm based in Newport South Wales. He is an enthusiastic, self motivated person. Excellent in problem solving because of his engineering background and wide experiences in life. Excellent communication skills on all levels from talking to the client, design team and work force. Being able to deal with all situations. He has taken this ability and built his company on this.
http://www.cooperjamesconsultancyltd.co.uk



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