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10 Questions to Ask a Builder Before You Hire
Hiring the right builder is the single biggest decision of your project. These ten questions will tell you a lot about who you’re dealing with.
PhotoA good builder will be happy to answer all of these without flinching. If someone’s cagey about any of them, take it as a sign.
The ten to ask
- Are you insured? Ask to see public liability and employer’s liability cover.
- Can I see similar work? Photos and, ideally, a past client to speak to.
- Are you a member of a trade body? Look for the FMB, Checkatrade, TrustMark and similar.
- What guarantee do you offer? We back our work with a 10-year workmanship guarantee.
- Is the quote itemised? A proper breakdown beats a single scary number.
- Who’s actually on site? Will it be your team, or subcontractors you’ve never met?
- What’s the programme? Realistic start and finish dates tied to payment stages.
- How do you handle changes? There should be a clear process for variations.
- Who manages building control and planning? Ideally the builder, so it’s one point of contact.
- What happens if there’s a problem? How they answer this tells you the most.
One last tip
Get at least three quotes, and be wary of the cheapest by a mile — it usually means something’s been left out. The right builder will give you confidence in the conversation, not just on paper.
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