How best to say thank you to our builder.

[thegirlwhouk]

Opinions gratefully received as I'm not sure of the proper etiquette here.

We've recently had an extension added on to our house. We're almost finished now (hooray!) and I really want to say thank you to the builder and his team for doing such a fab job. I'm a teacher, and I always get thank you gifts and the thought behind them means a lot to me.

The work took the best part of 12 weeks, so we've got to know the builders fairly well. We used a small local contractor, and had the same team in since the start (give or take a few days). For these guys it's been one of their bigger jobs.

They turned our house into a beautiful home. I know how difficult it can be to get good builders and we really lucked out. They worked every Saturday, and pulled a few late nights early on when we hit a problem. They've been really great and I want them to know how much we appreciate their hard work and how much it means to us.

I feel a thank you of sorts is appropriate, the problem is, I don't know what!

I wondered if a bottle of fizz/wine/crate of beer might be a good option?

Alternatively, my husband and I were considering having the team and their families over for a BBQ and some drinks. Would this be to OTT? I like hosting and entertaining, but I don't want them to feel obliged to attend!

A happy medium is possibly just buying some drinks and nibbles for their last day on site, but I suspect at the end of the day they just want to get home to their families and have a shower.

Have any of you got any alternative suggestions, or have you done anything similar in the past? All opinions gladly received.

Thanks!

[Nevercan]

I think a box of beer each would go down a treat!

[Nevercan]

You could also volunteer to be a reference site for any new potential clients

[Birdy28]

How about making them some bacon/sausage rolls etc on their last morning if you are around that day as well as some beers to take home?

[SandStorm]

When we had our extension done we went with the beer for them. We also use the same builders whenever we need something done so we have given them quite a bit of repeat business and will always recommend them to friends.

[WilsonFrickett]

Some beers to take hime. A BBQ would feel too 'forced' and beers on site wouldn't work as most of them will have vans / wanting their shower.

Also just to be aware things really start to tail off right at the end of a build (we've just finished) so the chances of the whole team being there on a particular day will start to reduce. So I think a box of beers each is the best solution.

[EMS23]

Beers or if they all drink together and you trust the boss, cash for the next time they all go out together.
Our build finished the week before Xmas so we paid for their Xmas drinks out.