Taking a builder with you to view properties

[jenga079]

DP and I are house hunting at the moment and haven't found quite what we're looking for. All of the houses on our shortlist would need something doing to them (an extension on one, knocking down a wall on another, converting garage to a study in the next...)

We know nothing about building or builders, and can't even guess at how much this might cost or how long it might take.

Would builders be happy to come with you to a house viewing to quote on work for a house you don't own? If so, how would you go about getting someone to come and have a look? Would you expect to pay for their time?

Alternatively, is there any other way of gauging how much a job might cost? A particular website or anything?

As you can tell, I'm clueless...!

Thank you!

I got a builder to come with me to the second viewing of the house I now live in. I found him through personal recommendation; he was happy to do it as lived very close. He charged us twenty quid, and used the opportunity to offer his services for painting, extension building etc (which we didn't take him up on).

Was it useful? Yes, I guess. He said the house was sound but tatty, and the survey confirmed that.

I had a builder come look at the house we were considering. I didn't mention paying him & neither did he! It was extremely useful - basically told me everything that was wrong with the place & gave me a costing for it that the survey agreed with.

Taking him back again to quote us for an extension.

We're taking a builder with us for a second viewing of a property this week - we know it needs loads of work (including structural) and have been wracking our brains between first viewing and now to try and 'guesstimate' costs, so it will be a relief to get an actual estimate! No charge, but if we go ahead he'll be getting a decent job so...

Thank you all. We did second viewings alone tonight but now have an even shorter short list so will be calling builders tomorrow to see who will come with us.

We took a builder AND and architect to a second viewing. It was really helpful. We paid neither and we've just given that builder opportunity to tender for the job now we have the plans in.

Bear in mind that a builder will know little or nothing about heating, plumbing or electrical installations or the requlations involved nor will hw be able to test any such installations.