When and how to get a builder on board

So you’ve made the decision to make those all important changes to your home. Perhaps it’s a home extension, or maybe a loft conversion, or a new porch. But when and how do you get a builder involved?

First let’s start with the when…

When

It’s a good idea to have a chat with a reputable builder right at the beginning of your project as they will be able to advise you of a (very) rough estimate, time frames and what’s involved. This is all valuable information in helping you decide whether to go ahead or not, because if you find out what you’re wanting is going to cost around your budget, you might want to think again.

And of course, you can speak to builders at any point in the process but until you’ve got a full set of plans from an architect or architectural designer, you won’t be able to get an accurate quote.

Once you’ve got your drawings with all of your planning and building control approvals, you can then set about finding the right builder for you. We always recommend that you get quotes from at least three builders to compare costs, standards and professionalism.

Our team works with a select number of local builders across Leicestershire, Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire, and will always get at least one quote to start our clients off. But how do you go about getting quotes of your own?

How

One of the best ways to find a builder is by recommendation from somebody you trust. Most likely someone you know will have had work done at their property at some point. This way you can get all the relevant information you need such as are they reliable, hardworking and turn up when they say they will? Did they add on any extra costs, and if so why?

You can also look at sites such as MyBuilder and Checkatrade, which allow you to post a job and receive quotes from interested tradespeople. You can also use the Federation of Master Builders (FMB) ‘Find a Builder’ service to find local builders’ contact details. Builders registered with FMB are vetted and inspected when they join, providing credible proof of quality of their work.

Look out for any building work being done in your local area as well. You will usually see promotional signs with contact details and services on site, and that way you can check out the quality of their work at the same time.

Once you’ve got three or four builders in mind, email them all a set of your plans and ask them for a detailed, broken down quote (be aware of any builder that charges you for a quote - believe us, some will do.) Then compare them. And remember, don’t just automatically go with the cheapest! You need to know they won’t be cutting corners!

Don’t forget to check them out online as well: what are their reviews like? Do they have an online presence (a website, social media etc.)? You could even take a look at their registered company information on Companies House to look for any red flags.

Our team is happy to provide a sounding board for any queries our clients have on builders’ quotes. We understand it can be quite daunting to see the figures on paper and you’ll want to make sure there are no nasty surprises. If you’ve received a quote from a builder and you’d like some advice, please do not hesitate to give us a call on 0115 874 8570.

Hopefully, this has given you some ideas for getting your builder on board, but if you’re looking for any further guidance, whether it’s for architectural design, planning, building control or finding a reputable builder, please contact our team.