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Choosing a good builder

Carrying out building work is extremely stressful, disruptive, costly and inconvenient. In order to minimise the effect of any construction work on you, it’s essential to ensure you select a reliable, competent builder.

Locating a great builder

To look for a good Construction Company in London, you should:

ask friends or family for a recommendation in case they’d building work done recently
contact a local builders’ association for a summary of registered members
ask 2 or 3 builders for estimates on paper, and get them in case you need planning authorization for the work
ask every single builder for 2 or maybe 3 recommendations from previous clients – and contact these folks and also learn exactly how satisfied they had been together with the labor as well as the builder’s conduct (if possible go and see several of the work)
make certain the builder is owned by a respected industry organisation with membership standards
look at the builder has current membership and possesses the necessary health and safety training
have a written contract or agreement with the builder, describing the task being done, finish day, safety and protection, catering and lavatory plans, fingertips of waste materials, working hours
demand to find out the builder’s public responsibility insurance certificate
contact the insurance company of yours as the structure work might affect the home of yours and contents insurance

Payment along with deposits

You must only spend a deposit if:

the job requires custom-made or specific material
the job is going to take a very long time to finish

If you are paying in stages, it’s essential to agree a created payment schedule.
Builder does not charge VAT

If the builder provides you with a VAT totally free deal, one of 2 explanations apply:

the building contractor is not registered for VAT since they actually do under £85,000 of company a year
they are staying away from paying VAT

You have to determine if:

the building contractor is equipped to finish the work of yours in the agreed time
the builder is going to be running a business in case the job needs repair
you’ve a valid contract when there’s no evidence of payment