Finding good builders
Brian Berry from the Federation of Master Builders (FMB) shares his top tips for finding and hiring a high-quality builder to deliver your dream home project
The owner of this house in Aberdeen was looking for a small, focused and dedicated building company with a track record of delivering highquality projects, and found Coldwells Build, winner of the Housebuilder category at the 2023 Scotland Master Builder Awards, through a recommendation
Choosing quality contractors and trades could make all the difference to your self build. Putting a good team in place can help to ensure that your project runs smoothly and you aren’t left with issues to fix later down the line. But where to start?
You might choose your builder based on personal recommendation from friends or family, but you’ll still need to vet that contractor carefully. So, take that opportunity to ask some questions. Was the builder easy to work with? What was their communication like? How did they resolve any issues along the way?
If you go through a trade comparison website, there will be a degree of protection as they often perform financial checks on their members. However, be aware that most do not investigate the builder’s standard of work. There may be reviews from previous customers, too, but don’t take these at face value – you should always ask to meet reallife clients and see examples of completed work in person.