How to choose the right builder

Choosing the right builder for your project is paramount; it really does determine whether it is a success or failure.

it’s one thing to find a builder and quite another to find the right builder for you and your project.

It is vital not to rush into deciding who does the work for you. Take your time, consider all your options, and most importantly be happy and 100% confident in who you do chose to do the work for you.

I am going to discuss some points which I hope will give you a good idea of what things to look for when choosing a building contractor.

First, don’t be too quick contacting a builder, it is best to dedicate some valuable time to planning out your project. It’s helpful to have a clear and specific plan of what you require and your expectations around this.

It helps to write down all elements of the works that you want carrying out with detailed drawings if possible before you ask anyone in to quote. The more thorough the better as this will enable a builder to provide you with a precise quote.
It is also important to consider any personal elements which are important to you and your project.

Some common important factors which we often hear from our customers are: quality of works, clear and open communication, orderliness, professionalism, and a friendly and approachable team.

Once you have got a clear plan of what you are looking for its time to ger to work finding them. 

When choosing a builder, a little research goes a long way, a good way is to look for people in your local area who have had a similar project undertaken.
Word of mouth is also a good way of reaching a trusted builder, ask around the people you trust such as your friends and family members if they know of reliable contractors who have experience in the type of work your looking to undertake.

You could also seek recommendations from a architect; they are likely to have experience of working with different builders in your area.

Architects should be able to recommend trustworthy contractors with the skills and experience for your project.

Most companies rely on their reputation and work hard to maintain it, just like we do 80% of our work comes from word of mouth.

Once you’ve found some building contractors, you’re interested in working with, look at their websites and other social media platforms to get a feel for the company and the type of work they cover.

Research about the companies as much as possible; look at examples of previous work which they have carried out and check out online reviews from past clients, This really will help you find the right kind of building company for your project.

It’s a good idea to obtain quotes from more than one company before you decide. This will allow you to compare costs and decide if you’re getting a fair price. As mentioned earlier when in the quoting phase it is important that you give them as much detail as possible and ask any relevant questions at this stage. You should give everyone the same brief and drawings so you can make an accurate comparison when getting quotes.

We recognise that mistakes can sometimes happen so for peace of mind we have a policy in place for this.

If for any reason we make a mistake in the quoting process and don’t include a certain detail which is on the drawings provided by the customer then that’s on us and we will still honour the quote provided to you.
The quote will only change if the client, or architect ask for extra work to be done which hasn’t been included in the initial quote.

Conclusion

• Produce a project plan which includes as much detail as possible
• Identify what is personally important to you and your project
• Ask friends, family or architects for referrals/recommendations
• Look around your area for completed project like yours
• Talk to previous customers
• Do some background research on the company before hiring
• Don’t be afraid to ask questions; a good builder will be patient and willing to answer all your questions as thoroughly as possible
• Be open and transparent during the quoting process; give as much detail as possible
• Ensure your quotes are detailed unless builder providing a estimate.
• Assess a builder’s suitability before you commit

If you are looking to start the conversation about your new project contact us today to get started. We’d love to hear from you.

TJD JOINERY AND BUILDING SOLUTIONS LTD