Remodelling and renovating your home is an exciting project, but it’s easy to get carried away and hire the first team of builders you find just to get the process underway. This is a common mistake but one that could cost you in the long run. The smarter move is to do some research and get multiple quotes from several contractors before you begin – here’s what to look for to make an informed choice.
Define the scope of the project
Before you look for a building contractor, you need to determine the jobs you need done. Is this a one-room renovation that needs repairs and maintenance, or a full home remodel? Is the property a listed building which requires a specialist or is it a modern construction?
You might live in a semi-detached or terraced property that will necessitate a Party Wall Agreement before you can begin work. A big remodel requires the services of numerous specialists, such as an architect, electricians and plumbers, designers and building contractors, to name just a few. Determining what the project entails will help you identify the professional services you’ll need so you can contact them for quotes.
Check their previous experience
When looking for reliable contractors, prior references are essential – in fact, it can be one of the most revealing elements as to the quality of their work and their customer service. There are advantages to hiring a local builder given they are likely to have established relationships with local suppliers and a reputation within the community that’s easier to confirm. If you’re looking to have repairs carried out on existing areas of your home, like windows or the roof, knowing that the team you’re hiring has experience and has completed similar jobs to a high standard can instil confidence. Similarly, if a contractor is in high demand and has worked with numerous customers, it shows that they’re dependable and deliver great work, which is what you want for your own home.
Are they accredited?
Another factor to check when researching contractors is their accreditations and qualifications. The first step is to check the TrustMark website which is a non-profit government scheme that was set-up to help homeowners find trusted contractors, meaning it’s a great first stop for hiring contractors with confidence. Inclusion with TrustMark means the company or contractor you’re working with must adhere to a strict code of conduct, so you can be confident they’re not only qualified but reliable.
Are they insured?
Insurance is critical with building work, as there’s so much scope for accidents and injuries to occur. While naturally, we hope every effort will be made to keep everyone safe and out of harm’s way, accidents can always happen and not having insurance in place can be a costly error. Public liability insurance pays out if someone is hurt or something is damaged during the building work, while employers’ liability insurance is a necessity if a staff member is injured or becomes ill because of the job they’re doing.
Most importantly, contractors’ all-risk insurance protects your property, and any third parties involved in the project. Under no circumstances should you employ a contractor who doesn’t have suitable insurance, and verbal confirmation isn’t sufficient – make sure they can provide copies of their insurance certificates and that premium payments are up to date.
What’s their health and safety policy?
Building sites can be incredibly dangerous, so you want to be sure that anyone working on your property is doing so safely. You don’t want anyone put at risk for the sake of your remodel or renovation. When meeting with builders, make sure they have a comprehensive health and safety protocol, as well as fire safety processes, in place.
What’s their availability?
While it might feel like a good thing for a contractor to be available for work straight away, it could be a red flag. If they don’t have work lined up, it’s important to check the reason why – you might be lucky and they could just have an opening in their schedule. But if they haven’t had any clients for a while, it could indicate that their standard of work isn’t very good, or they have issues with material sourcing that could pose a problem with your own project, so approach with caution.
Monitor their communication
You want any contractor you intend to work with to be responsive, so check that they’re getting back to you within a reasonable timeframe. A contractor or company that’s slow to respond could wind up delaying your project considerably, especially on urgent matters, so it helps to have a team in place that will be transparent and quick to reply to any queries or problems you might have.
Will there be a contract in place?
You shouldn’t embark on working with any contractor who doesn’t require a contract for their work. There are several types of contracts for construction and building work, but whether it’s for a kitchen install or a minor electrical upgrade, you should always have some form of contract in place to protect yourself.
You may think it’s the contractors’ responsibility to sort this out, but as a client, you also need to play a role in ensuring that there are clear terms and responsibilities outlined that both parties have access to and agree on. Any responsible contractor will want to protect themselves as much as their customers, so make sure there’s an agreement in place.
Deciding which building contractor to work with can be tricky – as we’ve explored, there are many factors to consider. But doing your due diligence now will ensure a better result in the end. Just remember that any reliable contractor will be more than happy to provide you with evidence of their previous work, their accreditations, and their processes to put your mind at ease.
By Tom Fenton 
By Annie Button 
