What's the best way to find a builder?

[Notquitefeelingit]

We're buying a house in Surrey, which is not where we live at the moment, and I need to get someone in to check out a few issues the survey has highlighted before exchange. What's the best way to find a good builder? Just google 'builder epsom' and read reviews? I've asked around but no-one can recommend me anyone. I'm feeling a bit clueless about the issues the survey has highlighted, some of them seem minor and some less so but I guess a 30's semi is going to come with flaws.

Best thing is not to. Your mental health and bank balance will thank you. Just find a different house

I’d normally say recommendation but that’s tricky if you’re not local.
You could join a local Facebook page and ask for recommendations on there or look at checkatrade.

If you’re not too far away is there anyone near you that would drive over as a favour? Tbh It’s quite a big ask of a builder when there’s no guarantee the sale will go through or you’ll go ahead with the work and there’ll all be flat out before Christmas.

Good luck OP, we wanted to do the same with a property we were wanting to buy, only found one builder who would look at the issues and give us a quote, he was wanting to charge over £200 just to quote! We pulled out of the purchase. Builders are so busy at the moment, they can call the shots.

Oh gosh, I don't think they're big enough to pull out about! The main thing I wanted checked is that apparently the water tank is laid directly over roof joists and should be supported further.....but this has presumably been the case for ages.

We're due to go over again in the next couple of weeks and will be bringing my dad. It was more to get someone knowleageable to take a look.

I assumed that was what people did when buying an older house than used to?

@pigletjohn I was hoping you would have an opinion on water tank placed directly on ceiling joists. is this common in old houses?

it is very common with old galvanised steel tanks

it is no common, and not safe, with the more usual PVC plastic tanks.

However it is a trifling job to drain the tank and place a sheet of 18mm ply or similar under it. If a large tank, add a few bearers under the board spanning more than than the width of the tank to spread the load over several joists, screwing the platform together and to the joists.

@Notquitefeelingit * What's the best way to find a builder? "

by personal recommendation from someone you know and trust.

Preferably someone in another building trade who has worked with them and seen their standards

good plumbers tend to hang around with good plasterers and so on.

A good tradie will not recommend someone if they will reflect badly on her reputation.

@pigletJohn thank you so much, that's really helpful.

Not those check a trade sites...lots of fake reviews....my neighbour found an awful bodger off there....sister has been lucky with mybuilder tho....hit and miss....ask around...neighbours etc and check work and refs out.