Would IBU to knock on neighbour's door and ask them...

[DappledThings]

....about their builder?

We are going to be doing some pretty major renovation work in the new year. Really want to be sure of finding the right company. One lot who have been round and quoted have recently done a job for some people round the corner. I know because they had the company's van parked there every day for a few weeks.

Would it be weird to knock and ask if they were happy with their work and if they would recommend them?

It's the sort of thing I wouldn't think odd or intrusive at all if someone did it to me but MN has made me aware of all the people who hate anyone knocking on the door. I suppose someone might think it was nosy too.

What's the consensus?

Not odd at all.

Nope.

So far so good!

Of course you can knock and ask , not unreasonable at all! Perfectly normally!

Totally normal.

I reckon that's entirely reasonable, they might even be pleased.

Not odd at all; our neighbours did just that when we had our house renovated last year - I invited them in to look at the work that was being done any time they wanted to.

Go for it! I have recently had a lot of building work done on my home. About 8 different people knocked to ask if I had a card for the builders and to find out if I was happy with their work.

Not odd at all.
tbh, I've done it with complete strangers before now. I wouldn't hesitate with a neighbour.

Go for it. That's how my builder husband gets lots of his reccomendations and jobs.

Excellent. I wouldn't have thought twice about it till I joined MN!

Have done it a few times. Best way to find someone honest and reliable.

It's a completely normal way to find a good builder. We have a very good decorator in at the moment and we "found" him, because he was working on a neighbour's house.

You only ever go off word of mouth for tradespeople.

They will probably be delighted to tell you if the builder is any good or not.
I'd go round with a note in case they are out, so they can email you. Or are you hoping to be invited in for a nosey? I wouldn't let some random in my house, but would chat on the doorstep.

Not at all. I do this occasionally, and the builder will be chuffed!

I did this OP. We needed a bathroom replaced so I knocked and asked about the company that fitted a neighbours. She gave a ringing endorsement and showed me her bathroom. We ended up having a nice chat and she showed me some other work she'd had done, I got to know a neighbour on top of having a great bathroom fitting. Go for it.

Not at all. It is probably a better to pick a builder, real customer feedback.

It’s the norm and expected.

I´d do it. I´ve never come across the MN "it´s intrusive to knock on a door" thing in real life.

Completely normal, sensible and a very neighbourly thing to do.

I think its odd you're asking us first TBH.

Warning: it could be the house that the builder lives in.

I think its odd you're asking us first TBH

Given that 85% of mumsnet never answer there door unless they've personally invited you, had you security vetted by MI5, and consider turning up unannounced akin to a home invasion - it's not that ridiculous to check.

I think it would be friendly