The ways to find good builders

The best way to find good builders is by asking for recommendations from your friends and family. You’ll want to know that they’re able to do the task well. So make sure you ask about the quality of their work, as well as how long it took them to complete the job. The builder should also have sound knowledge of current building regulations. Knowing what you’re getting yourself into can give you peace of mind before your builder starts any work.

Recommendations are useful

If no one you know has any recommendations, then your next option is to search for builders in your area using sites like Yell, Rated People, or Trust A Trader and read their reviews. While it’s natural for even the best builders to have a couple of bad reviews here and there, be wary of those who have a high number of one- or two-star reviews.

There are some scammers out there

Unfortunately, there are a few scammers out there who may try to take advantage. Try to avoid builders who knock on your door and ask for work, as they usually have no recommendations or references. If the builder won’t reveal any information about previous jobs or won’t let you see any examples, then this is a tell-tale sign that they are a cowboy builder and their previous work was poor or incomplete.

It’s not always easy to ask these types of builders to leave. Especially if they are standing on your doorstep. So we would recommend saying you will contact them if you’re interested. Avoid telling them that you’ll call back or give them your details because they can be persistent.

Who regulates builders?

There is no blanket organisation that regulates builders. However, a way to work out if your builder is reliable is by checking to see if they’re a part of a recognised trading association. This is such as the Federation of Master Builders or the National Federation of Builders. Joining a trading body isn’t compulsory. But to be a member of these associations, builders must show that they can complete work to a certain standard. So, by choosing builders that have elected to join a trading body and passed their screening tests, you can be confident that you have an extra layer of security. You can use the online search tool on these websites to look for a certified builder near you.

In more detail

You should also look for a builder who is part of TrustMar. It is a government endorsed scheme that ensures its builders are vetted and independently inspected. This is to make sure they meet the government’s standard of work. You can find builders who are registered with TrustMark on their site. You can do so by searching your postcode and the work to be carried out.

Overall – what it is you need to know

Once you’ve shortlisted some building contractors you’re interested in working with, it’s a good idea to get quotes from them to see how much the work you want doing will cost you. Make sure you give them as much detail as possible and ask any relevant questions at this stage. You should give everyone the same brief so you can make an accurate comparison.