April 25 2015 0comment

Choosing a Sussex Builder

You need to choose a builder who will act professionally and produce an excellent standard of work. You want value for money and need to protect both your home and your wallet. So, in order to find some suitably qualified builders, follow this simple checklist and you’ll soon have confidence to strike a deal with the right builder for your project. And by the way, this goes for builders all over the UK – not just Sussex builders.

Picking a Great Sussex Builder For Your Project

1: A great way to find a good builder – is to ask family or friends who make have recently had some work done. Ask the builder how long they have been in business and what experience they have in the job you need doing.

2: Do not be tricked by a badge – Under the Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008 it is an offence for a company or individual to falsely claim affiliations to, or memberships of, trade associations.  There has been a rise in the number of bogus builders fraudulently claiming membership of official trade bodies, so first of all make sure they are a bona fide member.

3: Once you have checkout out a few builders get quotations – Ask then to set out in writing what’s covered and what’s not. This should include site maintenance, clearance of rubble, material supplies and the rest. Ask whether planning permission is required and if they’ll need to apply for Building Regulations approval.

4: Get references – but then check them out – or even go round to see them. Contact the people who provided the references and find out how pleased they were with the quality of the workmanship and the builder’s attitude.

Builder on Roof

5: Put details of the job down in writing – the more thorough, the better. Your contract should be watertight and outline what work’s to be done, the start and finish dates, security, safety, the cost of the work and materials, easy payment plans, catering and lavatory arrangements. Plus, hours of work, cleaning up and the removal of waste materials.

6: Avoid a ‘VAT-free’ cash deal – you will not have a valid contract if there is no proof of payment.

7:  Be clear about money – You should agree payment terms clearly in writing to avoid disagreements later.

8: Guarantees – Checkout their guarantees. Are they offering a guarantees on large jobs? If it’s a new build you will need a guarantee on the property.

9: Don’t pay upfront or pay a cash deposit – it’s not necessary unless you want speacial building materials or the job is likely to take a long time to finish.

10: Ask for insurance – Any builder worth the name should have cover to protect themselves against property damage and personal and public liability and to protect you and the general public in the event of accident or injury.

Follow the Steps

Follow these simple steps and you’ll be well on your way to engaging a capable bonafide Sussex Builder who will be able to complete your project in a timely and professional manner.

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