Building work can be extremely stressful, disruptive and costly. An added worry is that we may fall prey to ‘Cowboy Builders’.
To minimize the nerve-wracking impact of building work and shoddy workmanship, it is important to find a good builder.
It is often best to find a good builder through a personal recommendation, although this is not always possible. Where this is not possible there are a number of useful steps which can be followed to choose a builder. These include:
- Consult professional bodies such as The Federation of Master Builders and the Construction Employers Federation to obtain lists of suitable builders from them.
- Get quotes for at least three builders to compare and ask for these in writing
- Get a contract drawn up for all works covered to include the extent of the works, the cost and a timeframe for it to be completed
- Ask to see a copy of the builder public liabilities insurance certificate.
For further information about choosing a good builder see the following:
- NI Direct: Choosing A Good Builder
- Building Control: Advice and Guidance
TrustMark Scheme
The TrustMark Scheme is supported by the government to help people find reliable and trustworthy tradesmen.
Their online search tool may help you find a tradesman. In order to be approved for the scheme tradesmen have to meet a variety of standards the government sets relating to various issues such as quality of work and health and safety. Trustmark tradesmen are independently checked and undergo regular inspections.