Builder questions

4 replies

ManicMonday007 · 26/10/2022 14:06

We are having a single storey extension and we have narrowed the builder down to 2 builders now.

Both been recommended by people i know, both very similar in price, just need to makensure the quite is like for like.

People with experience of this can you tell me what you would ask and how-to make the decision?

Thanks

OP posts:

MyBuggyIsOutToGetMe · 26/10/2022 23:25

I would ask:

when they can start. I wouldn’t be put off by a longer lead in time or a shorter one if there was a good reason (eg a cancellation, which is how ours was pushed forward).
how long they think it will take.
how many people they have working for them.
how they handle snagging (beware of anyone who says there won’t be snagging - there is always snagging, and I’m interested in how people approach resolving a problem, everyone is lovely when it’s all going swimmingly!).
how long you will be without a kitchen/bathroom/anything important for and what they can do to minimise that.
What they can do to minimise disruption for you while it’s ongoing. Some builders are respectful of the fact that it’s your home. Others consider you to be in the way on the building site.
how they handle payments. I would be wary of anyone who wants a big deposit - I gulped at our builder wanting 10% as the others we talked to didn’t do that, but to be fair we have had no issues. I would also ensure the final payment is only due once snagging is completed to your standards.
what kind of insurance they have.

I’d also check them out on Companies House and ask on local Facebook to see if anyone has used them and would recommend/warn off. And check I was comparing like for like with quotes.

We are inching towards the finishing line of a single storey extension. So I’m not an expert. But assuming all things are equal and there are no screaming red flags, I’d go with the ones you feel would be most easy and professional to work with. You’ll be seeing a lot of them!

Good communication and straight answers go a long way. The communication has gone downhill with ours, but it did start out well!

MarieG10 · 27/10/2022 07:24

We had four quotes and two quoted to the typed specification we provided, the others didn't so took a month to get it like for like. Ie one didn't include cost of sliding doors!

My advice, is have professional drawings to building control spec, coupled with a clear details spec for anything not in the drawings....ie type of electric sockets as otherwise you can just end up with the cheapest crap going. Same with roof windows. Velux or the cheapest copy that can be found (like new build houses)

Studwallneeded · 03/08/2024 08:56

How much would it cost to change a 2 bed back to a 3 bed. With a stud wall and replacing the door to the other room. Pic attached added yellow circle

Diyextension · 03/08/2024 15:09

MyBuggyIsOutToGetMe · 26/10/2022 23:25

I would ask:

when they can start. I wouldn’t be put off by a longer lead in time or a shorter one if there was a good reason (eg a cancellation, which is how ours was pushed forward).
how long they think it will take.
how many people they have working for them.
how they handle snagging (beware of anyone who says there won’t be snagging - there is always snagging, and I’m interested in how people approach resolving a problem, everyone is lovely when it’s all going swimmingly!).
how long you will be without a kitchen/bathroom/anything important for and what they can do to minimise that.
What they can do to minimise disruption for you while it’s ongoing. Some builders are respectful of the fact that it’s your home. Others consider you to be in the way on the building site.
how they handle payments. I would be wary of anyone who wants a big deposit - I gulped at our builder wanting 10% as the others we talked to didn’t do that, but to be fair we have had no issues. I would also ensure the final payment is only due once snagging is completed to your standards.
what kind of insurance they have.

I’d also check them out on Companies House and ask on local Facebook to see if anyone has used them and would recommend/warn off. And check I was comparing like for like with quotes.

Good communication and straight answers go a long way. The communication has gone downhill with ours, but it did start out well!

I don’t think 10% is considered a big deposit ?

Flip