How to choose the right builder for your house extension and to avoid costly mistakes
You have finally had your house extension/loft conversion plans prepared, be it from an Architect/Architectural Technician or draftsman, and your statutory requirements are in place (planning/building regulations); you can’t wait to get the project started as it’s taken so long to get this far, the next stage is to obtain quotations for your house extension/project from builders/ building contractors, the quotes are slowly being returned.
They range from the ridiculously high to the crazy low; what do you do? Do you go with the highest as they must be good charging that much, or do you pick the lowest as they match your budget and you can’t afford the others?
You have five choices here redesign, phase the build, full stop until your project is less cost prohibited or go with the lowest tender; there is no winning formula as our circumstances/budgets are all different, It is important to get this right, as mistakes can be costly or simply out of the question.
To help you choose the right contractor/builders, we have shared 5 Tips below; there are a lot more these are great starters.
Benjamin Franklin once said
“THE BITTERNESS OF POOR QUALITY REMAINS LONG AFTER THE SWEETNESS OF A LOW PRICE IS FORGOTTEN”
TIP 1
Ask how long they have been trading; make sure they have been established longer than their guarantees, or an alternative is that they offer an insurance-backed guarantee, so if you have a problem in years to come, you have a full back.
TIP 2
Ask to see some testimonials/case studies; feel free to ask to visit some projects they may be working on, alternatively, you might want to try a Google Search for ‘FBM data base’.
TIP 3
Try and make sure that they have good accreditations which have a quality level that they need to adhere to. Or, another credited organisation that is government-endorsed.
TIP 4
Make sure you enter into a contract; this safeguards you and the contractor; if you have a difference of opinion, a contract is not there to threaten the other party but instead remind each over of your obligations a pathway to successful completion; try and avoid the solicitor route; which can be expensive and very time-consuming; ensure that you agree on an adjudication pathway.
Tip 5
Pay in instalments, either set milestones or valuations as the works progress.
Why choose ABM
We are experts in extending and improving homes and have achieved outstanding results for over 25 years.
Understanding how a house flows and achieving/maximising space is so important. We offer complete peace of mind enabling you to carry on and concentrate on the other important things in your life that simply do not stop.
Take a look through our loft conversion case studies.
You might also want to visit ABM Build which is our Home Extensions company where we show other extension case studies.
We have dozens of written testimonials from satisfied customers with verified reviews on Google.