What questions should I be asking a potential Builder?

[MrsAlwaysRight]

We are having a single storey extension to create a large kitchen/diner. The architect has drawn plans and planning permission has been given.

Our architect has given us contact details for a couple of builders he has previously used. The first one is coming tomorrow to look at site and access etc. He has already provided a quote based on the plans.

I need some guidance as to what I should be asking him - suggestions please!

Ask him for references and if he can show you any work he had previously completed.

I've just asked my DP who is a builder/carpenter - he said the following:

Definately get to see some of his completed work - not just pics but in person. Speak to previous clients too.

Ask how many jobs he does at once.
How long he expects the work to take.
How he works re:payments wether it's cash (wrong!) payment schedules, percentage required up front.
Fixed price or estimate. DP works on a fixed price but puts where 'variables' are likely to occur.
HTH

does his price include VAT

Ask for a staged plan and payment schedule so you can see that they do x so you pay y and so forth.

Make sure they agree to a retention element - ~5% of the total cost so that when they up sticks and vanish off the job because it had taken them 1,000,000 times longer than they had expected, you have some money to pay someone else to pick up the pieces.

Make sure they have the necessary insurances.

Not that we're bitter or anything (Actually we did all the above so it has worked out despite the disaster.

Many thanks for all the suggestions