The following are vital questions you must ask when engaging the services of a builder or any type of tradesman.

1. Do you give a free written quotation (not an estimate)?

2. Do you have Public Liability insurance and will your quotation state this?

3. Do you give a guarantee and what is its duration? (Will it be worth the paper it’s written on)?

4. Do you charge VAT? If so does your quotation state your VAT number?

5. Will your personally be carrying out the work or will you sub-contract?

6. Will you be on site for the duration of the works (not leaving to do another job at the same time/in between)?

7. What will your projected start date be, will this be stated on your quotation?

8. How long do you anticipate the job will take?

9. Will your quotation state that all materials are to be provided by yourselves?
(other than those which have been agreed to be supplied by the client).

10. Will you require use of the house facilities?

11. Will your quotation state that all waste materials will be removed from site?

12. Will your quotation state that you will leave the house clean and tidy every evening?

13. Will your quotation state payment procedures? (Progression of any interim payments and when final payment is expected)?

14. Always insist on SIGNED receipts for all payments.

Points to remember when hiring a builder:

- Ask friends and neighbours to recommend a good builder.

- Go to your local builder’s merchant and ask the manager to recommend someone.

- Check reputable builders’ associations and federations.

- Always get three quotations – you do not have to accept any. If you are unhappy, find more builders.

- Equally, the cheapest quotation is not always the best quotation.

- Trust your instinct – does the builder seem enthusiastic about the job or merely the money?

- Is he well mannered? Does he offer to take his shoes off on entry? Is he clean? A polite person is far more likely to show respect to you and your home.

- Ask for a business card – not having one means he is less likely to be established on the whole – be wary if it does not state both his home telephone number and address.

- Ask if he is VAT registered. It does not matter if he is not, but if he says he is remember to ask for his VAT number to be provided on his quotation.

- Ask all plumbers to see their Gas Safe registration if they are working with gas.

- Ask all electricians to show their Part P certification if they are working in either the kitchen, bathroom of outside.