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Useful information when appointing a builder

  1. Ask family, friends and neighbours to recommend builders they have used recently
  2. Search for professional builders in your area on the Federation of Master Builders (FMB) Find a Builder website
  3. Produce a detailed written brief of the work you want doing, including detailed drawings
  4. Invite at least three builders to visit the project, give them your plans and ask them to quote
  5. Ask the builders for references from previous customers and follow them up
  6. Check the quotations include everything you would like doing - including removal of rubbish and making good
  7. Don’t award a job on price alone. Consider the references and how well you get on with the builder when he visited
  8. Check that the builder has the appropriate level of public liability insurance for your job
  9. Set yourself a budget and build in some contingency funding - 15 per cent of the total is about right
  10. Agree a payment plan to suit you and the builder
  11. Always draw up a written contract with your builder - you can download one for free at the FMB website.
  12. Ensure that if you change the original specification all changes are agreed in writing
  13. Need some more advice? Check out the consumer section on the FMB website
    Always ensure that you have a written estimate or quotation for your building work.

 

Build Assure logo

4 Brooklands Avenue

Cambridge

CB2 8BB

 

T: 01223 508 407

F: 01223 300 848

E: buildassure@fmb.org.uk