Choosing a good builder can be a difficult thing to do.

So you have decided, you want an extension but how do you pick the right builder?. Firstly ask around, friends may have had work done and can recommend someone, secondly who’s van have you seen bobbing around Rothwell recently, whose sign has been up? I would recommend you get at the very least three quotes. So one recommendation, one that you have seen around the Rothwell area and one from this site, three builders, three quotes but what now?

Well firstly the price and what this price includes, if he gives you a price there and then thank them for their time but don’t use them, an accurate quote will take time to prepare as the builder finds specific costs for the various materials. Allow around a week for the builder to get back to you as a good builder will be trying to source the cheapest materials available to them and putting some thought into the job to get the price price for both himself and his customer.

Secondly ask to see some portfolios of work, we know two builders local to Rothwell who would be happy to give you the addresses of houses they have either built or extended so you could have a quick drive by and look at what they have done for other people. Make sure you know where the builder lives and make sure they are local. Builders are notorious for leaving early and starting late; if they are local then they can get to site easily. If they need to go home to get more tools or have to do another quote it is easier for them to get back.

Remember that building work is a messy old job and there will be an array of different people on site from the builder and his gang to the other tradesmen that he brings on site so it is imperative that you feel comfortable with the builder you chose – If you know a builder or have had one recommended it is at the very least worth getting a quote from this person. It is also worth getting multiple quotes, you don’t want just one quote you need at the least three detailed quotes so you can make an accurate assessment of the work, one builder might quote five grand more but maybe intending to plaster and tile the interior and landscape the garden so the quotes have to be detailed.  Remember though the cheapest quote is not always the best. If you are not happy with any of the builders or any of the quotes, get another three builders to quote for the job and if you’re still not happy another three. The builder will become part of your life, you will have numerous conversations with this person, over the phone and in person, they will have a key to your house, your gargage, you have to trust them with large quantities of money so make sure you are happy with every aspect of what they say they will do.

Also make sure you allow enough time between getting a builder in Rothwell to do you a quote and when you want work to begin, a good builder may have several extentions on his books, you might want them to start two weeks after the quote but the best builders will normally need at least a few months so bear this in mind.

Most jobs the lady of the house chooses the builder as the man of the house was at work all day and she was at home with the children and it was important to the family to have a builder that the whole family could trust. To conclude this section

Make sure you have a detailed quote from the builder detailing every cost and a final price.

Make sure you can see exactly what he will do for the money and what state things will be left in.

Make sure you like him and trust him.

Make sure you have seen examples of his work

Make sure he is local to the Rothwell area.

If you are happy with all these aspects of the build it is worth getting him back to discuss a start date and to build a contract with the builder.