Despite these fears, 70% never bother to check for professional credenti als, and three quarters don’t even know the last name of the person they are hiring. Less than one in four said they took up references from previous customers. Our guide can help you find honest, hardworking professionals, and here we share ti ps on how to make sure you find the perfect tradesmen for your self build, from the joiners to the plumbers, from the glazers to the electricians. Get a writt en esti mate. Write down your specificati ons, desired ti me frames and budget before calling. Never approve a job from a verbal contract.
Beware the VAT-free ‘deal’. A VAT-free deal means one of two things. Either the builder does not do more than £81,000 worth of business per annum, or alternati vely he is avoiding his legal tax liabiliti es. You need to ask yourself - Is this builder large enough to be able to complete my work, Will he be around if any of the work requires repair? How can I have a valid contract if there is no proof of payment? Always get more than one quote. Price should not always be the deciding factor, quality of materials, proven accreditati ons, experience and reputati on should play a large part in your decision. Do they offer a skill as one of many or do they specialise? Remember, cheapest is not always best. Be cauti ous of employing trades who have no trading address in their advert and no landline number.