This may be the ultimate off-topic question for this group, but can 
anyone give me any advice when getting a builder to do some work on my 
house?

I need to re-vamp a kitchen and bathroom, plus knock a couple of walls 
through. I assume I should ask to see their insurance, etc. but what 
else should I check for?

Thanks in advance.

Jonathan

In article , sorry@this_is_fake.com 
says...

> This may be the ultimate off-topic question for this group, but can 
> anyone give me any advice when getting a builder to do some work on my 
> house?
> 
> I need to re-vamp a kitchen and bathroom, plus knock a couple of walls 
> through. I assume I should ask to see their insurance, etc. but what 
> else should I check for?
> 

Probably a good idea to have a completion timetable and penalties for 
late finishing - some builders will go away and leave a job part done if 
a more lucrative one turns up.  There again lots of builders might 
decline the work if they think you might be a pain to work for, or if it 
might end up costing them money.  Regarding the wall removal, have you 
had it assessed by a structural engineer?

Jonathan wrote:

> This may be the ultimate off-topic question for this group, but can 
> anyone give me any advice when getting a builder to do some work on my 
> house?


You might find getting a copy of the following worthwhile

Getting the builders in ... and staying in control, Paul J Grimaldi, Elliott
Right Way Books, 0-7160-3012-8. 9.99

The appendices include General Conditions, Sample Brief, General
COnstruction Notes and Typical Specification Clauses, Planning Regs,
Glossary of Construction Terms, Sample Letters, Example Statement and Claim
for Damages.

RIBA sell copies of standard contracts,

JCT (Joint Contracts Tribunal) Building Contract for a Home Owner /
Occupier. Package includes two copies (one for client and one for
contratcor) and set of conditions. Available to purchase from RIBA
www.ribabookshops.com

Owain

Jonathan wrote:

> This may be the ultimate off-topic question for this group, but can
> anyone give me any advice when getting a builder to do some work on my
> house?
>
> I need to re-vamp a kitchen and bathroom, plus knock a couple of walls
> through. I assume I should ask to see their insurance, etc. but what
> else should I check for?
>
> Thanks in advance.
>
> Jonathan


Check out the Federation of Master Builders site at www.fmb.org.uk .
Lots of info there.

First check on experience - builders are not necessary kitchen and
bathroom fitters. Get recommendations, not just out of the yellow
pages. Ask the local Planning or Building Control dept or Trading
Standards for any 'recommended list' of local contractors

Ask questions to gauge their experience - but research first so that
you know the answers to the questions. Ask who is doing the work, and
their experience. Have a look at work done 1 or more years ago, not
just the recent jobs. Ask previous customers about post completion
faults, and how they performed when doing the work

Get itemised quotes and make sure they are quoting on the same
specification - make up your outline spec first. Have a contract in
place, which details scope of the work, timescales, payment stages,
warranty, dispute resolution procedures.

Remember that there is nothing wrong with the small one man band, and a
big company does not guarantee the best job.

But importantly, treat them fairly and don't assume every builder is
out to rip you off or do shoddy work.

dg

"dg"  wrote in message 
news:1125780196.560408.48630@o13g2000cwo.googlegroups.com...

>
> Jonathan wrote:
>> This may be the ultimate off-topic question for this group, but can
>> anyone give me any advice when getting a builder to do some work on my
>> house?
>>
>> I need to re-vamp a kitchen and bathroom, plus knock a couple of walls
>> through. I assume I should ask to see their insurance, etc. but what
>> else should I check for?
>>
>> Thanks in advance.
>>
>> Jonathan
>
> Check out the Federation of Master Builders site at www.fmb.org.uk .
> Lots of info there.
>
> First check on experience - builders are not necessary kitchen and
> bathroom fitters. Get recommendations, not just out of the yellow
> pages. Ask the local Planning or Building Control dept or Trading
> Standards for any 'recommended list' of local contractors


They are not allowed to do this.

In article <431a2172$0$31386$c3e8da3@news.astraweb.com>, Suz wrote:

> > First check on experience - builders are not necessary kitchen and
> > bathroom fitters. Get recommendations, not just out of the yellow
> > pages. Ask the local Planning or Building Control dept or Trading
> > Standards for any 'recommended list' of local contractors
> 
> They are not allowed to do this.


Officially ... but when I was a BCO we would give out names of firms 
we knew to be OK, out of self-interest as much as anything else. The 
real problem was that these firms were generally booked up for months 
ahead (one of the best ran an 18-month waiting list and you were 
honoured if he deigned to add you to it) and people wanted someone who 
could start imminently.

-- 
Tony Bryer SDA UK  'Software to build on'  http://www.sda.co.uk
Free SEDBUK boiler database browser http://www.sda.co.uk/qsedbuk.htm
[Latest version QSEDBUK 1.10 released 4 April 2005]

Suz wrote:

> "dg"  wrote in message
> news:1125780196.560408.48630@o13g2000cwo.googlegroups.com...
> >
> > Jonathan wrote:
> >> This may be the ultimate off-topic question for this group, but can
> >> anyone give me any advice when getting a builder to do some work on my
> >> house?
> >>
> >> I need to re-vamp a kitchen and bathroom, plus knock a couple of walls
> >> through. I assume I should ask to see their insurance, etc. but what
> >> else should I check for?
> >>
> >> Thanks in advance.
> >>
> >> Jonathan
> >
> > Check out the Federation of Master Builders site at www.fmb.org.uk .
> > Lots of info there.
> >
> > First check on experience - builders are not necessary kitchen and
> > bathroom fitters. Get recommendations, not just out of the yellow
> > pages. Ask the local Planning or Building Control dept or Trading
> > Standards for any 'recommended list' of local contractors
>
> They are not allowed to do this.


Many Councils provide lists of contractors who have done lots of work
in the area with no problems, or may be members of various 'quality
schemes'. The Council will offer the list without warranty, and they
will not be termed 'approved contractors' though.

dg