Choosing a Good Builder: Where to Find Them

Choosing a Good Builder: Where to Find Them

One of the critical decisions that you will encounter in building your custom home is to find a good builder. You need to make sure that the builder you choose is trustworthy and experienced. Also, choose a builder that prioritizes quality and guarantees you of the work. Here are several tips to help you in choosing a good builder.

1. Recommendations

Personal recommendations are often the best way to choose a reputable builder. Ask a friend or a neighbour who’s had building work done. Ask about their experiences. Also you can visit their home and do research about the builder they are recommending. This is to have a peace of mind that you are in good hands and you are about to deal with a reliable builder. Moreover, Inquire about the quality of the builders’ workmanship, costs, reliability, projects done and the time took to finish building.

2. Research

Do not rely on personal recommendations alone. Do research with their company profile, past projects, who are the owners, how many workers they have and how long are them in the industry. Check on their website, if available, important information that will greatly help you decide. A good builder has plenty of good projects to boast. You may ask to visit other properties the builder has worked on. Most especially similar projects to see whether the workmanship quality is good, or observe an ongoing project. Additionally, make sure that they are legally registered to operate as a builder.

Another way to do research is to search for highly-rated builders posted online. Websites like mybuilder.com, builders.org.uk may help you find one. These websites have a directory of thousands of builders and building companies. You may find a nearby builder that you can visit.

Here’s a tip: Don’t get always fooled by builders that appear reputable and highly-rated online. Do some work and do not rely on online information alone.

3. Trading Associations

Another tip in choosing a good builder is to find one from trading associations. Choosing a builder that is a member of associations like Federation of Master Builders and the National Federation of Builders will give you an additional protection against cowboy builders. Otherwise, you can always report a builder to their association in case of bad experiences.

4. Ask Professionals

Another good way to find a reliable builder is to ask the professionals. Your architect may have a recommended builder that had worked with him for his previous projects. In this way, you are sure that the builder has enough experience to build the architect’s plan.

5. Standards

A builder may not choose to become a member of trading associations. However, a builder must always be registered under the law, has current membership and has the required health and safety training and other certifications. Another thing is to see the builder’s public liability insurance certificate. This serves as a guarantee for you that they are legally-binded, registered and reputable.

Conclusion

Choosing a good builder is a daunting process. However, once you found the perfect builder, construction can be smooth sailing. Always remember to observe every step of the way or hire a project manager to do it for you.

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