How to choose the right builder for your project

1. Insurances and qualifications

All building projects need plenty of paperwork to ensure that things are being done correctly, by law and that you are using best practices. Ideally you should only work with contractors who use workers compensation and liability policies. You want to work with a team who is honest and transparent. 

2. Flexibility and open minded

Construction can be full of surprises and it is almost always impossible to foresee all the obstacles that you could face. So you want someone who is a problem solver, who has patience and who is willing and able to tackle what comes their way. They should be open minded to changes, last minute adjustments and flexible when coming up with creative and cost effective solutions. 

3. Strong team

Find a company or builder who has a strong team and support. A builder who has strong relationships with their trade suppliers is an advantage ,as is the ability to think outside the box and be true to their word. If the builder has an assistant or internal staff that can handle all kinds of queries also helps as you’re not taking the builder away from his main objectives/tasks. Whether the team is Big or small, a focused and driven team behind your builder makes all the difference.

4. Ownership 

Does your builder and/or the team you’re looking to work with treat your project like it’s their own? Suggesting more affordable options, in constant communication with ideas or educating you on the facts and the process? Great builders know how personal these projects are and treat them with care and consideration. Even the builders’ trades should acknowledge the clients and if asked for suggestions or help they should assist the customer in any way they can.

5. Reputation 

You definitely want to work with builders who have excellent experience and a good  reputation. So do your research, speak to past clients and check if you can find any testimonials or reviews. 

We suggest that you  meet with at least 3 different builders and get detailed quotes showing a contract price and then narrow it down from there. Ask all the questions you could possibly think of, (no questions is a silly question) a reliable and experienced builder will understand that your project is special and means a lot to you and should welcome all kinds of questions.

6. Quality

Seeing a builder’s work first hand as opposed to digital images online is very important. We recommend doing this in order  to see the builders work and style and to imagine how that would fit into your project. Your builder should be happy to have the chance to show off their work. This also gives you the chance to see the building process and what’s involved in that. .This is to make sure they understand you want to be shown their work. This will help with understanding what is usually involved, the quality and finishes that the builder and their trades perform.