With the summer holidays fast approaching, many of us have decided it’s time to get the house and garden in order, ready for all those BBQ’s and summer parties.
We’re well aware that us PRs are more likely to be referred to as the entertainers as opposed to the ‘Jim’ll fix it’ type DIYers, with the majority of us at Komodo preferring to hire in help rather than attempt to ‘do it yourself’. But it’s not all plain sailing. Hiring a builder can be tricky – especially with all the horror stories about people getting ripped off or left with shoddy handy work.
Our lovely client, The Federation of Master Builders (FMB) has been working hard to raise the standards of the UK building industry.
The largest building trade association in the UK, it represents over 11,000 building companies and was established in 1941 to protect the interests of small and medium-sized building firms. The FMB is independent and non-profit-making, lobbying continuously for members’ interests at both national and local levels.
Besides choosing a firm that is registered with the Federation of Master Builders, here are their top ten tips to steering clear of the rogue traders –
• Prepare a detailed brief. Be very clear about what you want done – obtain a written specification and quotation as this can make a huge difference to quotes;
• Ask friends, family and neighbours if they can recommend a builder they have recently used, check the FMB Find A Builder website www.fmb.org.uk/findabuilder;
• Don’t be afraid to ask for references and names of previous clients. Speak to them and if possible look at the work done by the builder;
• Obtain at least three quotes. When you are ready to decide, don’t just go with the cheapest, consider communication and quality too;
• Ask for work to be covered by an insurance-backed warranty – The FMB 2, 6 or 10 year MasterBond warranties, for example, provide protection against defects due to faulty workmanship or materials;
• Make sure a contract is used. The FMB produces user friendly contracts for small building work that are Plain English Crystal Mark approved. You can download these contracts FREE from the FMB website:www.fmb.org.uk/find-a-builder/free-contracts
• Never pay the full cost of the project up front. Agree a plan for any staged and final payments before the work starts;
• Avoid dealing in cash. Using a credit card to pay can offer you additional protection;
• Avoid adding to the job or changing your mind halfway through – it will usually cost more and cause delays. Confirm any changes and any associated costs you agree in writing using an FMB Changing the Work form;
• If any problems arise whilst work is in progress or you are unhappy about anything then talk to your builder right away.
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