Articles

Tips on finding a builder

18 December 2025

2 minute read

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Need some work doing on your house? Looking for a builder can be a stressful experience.

We've put together some tips to help you find and employ a builder to repair your home.

Who can you ask to recommend builders?
What should you check before agreeing to have the work done?
What's good advice when it comes to paying your builder?

Finding a builder: do your homework and get recommendations

It's a good idea to do some research on any builders before talking to them about the job. Recommendations can also prove very useful in your investigations.

Ask neighbours, friends and family to recommend building firms who've done work for them.
Visit websites that help you find a builder, with reviews from people who've used them to repair their home.
Talk to a tradesperson who you've used before; even if they don't do the type of work you need, they can often put you in touch with someone they've worked with.
Get quotes from more than one builder so you can compare prices.

What to do before you employ a builder

Before you agree to have any work done on your home, there are certain things you need to check and certain questions you ought to ask any potential tradesperson:

Is the work covered by a guarantee? This may be provided by the builder themselves or included in an insurance-backed warranty.
Can they do exactly what you want? Write down what building work you need doing. Include detailed drawings, like the ones used for planning and building regulations approval. Make enough copies to send a full set to each builder you ask for a quote.
Make sure the builders' quotes cover everything you'd like done, including supply of materials, removal of rubbish and 'making good' after the work's finished.
Make sure the builder has the appropriate level of public liability insurance for the work to be done at your home.
Make sure they have an office/home address and a telephone number.
Get a written specification and estimate.
For repairs over £25,000 consider using a JCT (Joint Contracts Tribunal) contract. It details the extent of the work to be done for the agreed price and records any extras not yet agreed. This can be a useful point of reference in the event of a dispute.

Remember to tell your home insurance provider about any building work you're having done before it starts. If you don't, it may affect any claim you make.

Remember to ask your friends and family for recommendations

Paying for the repairs

Conversations about payment can be awkward, so it's important everyone's clear on what's expected. Here are some tips to help with making payment arrangements with your builder:

Deposits may be required for any custom-made materials or projects that will take a long time to complete.
Never pay upfront - avoid paying labour costs before the work is complete. However, you should be willing to fund large material items yourself before the work starts.
Agree any stage and final payments before work starts.
Pay on time - if you're happy with the work carried out, pay promptly at each stage.
If VAT is being charged, make sure there's a VAT number shown.

Who to consult if things go wrong

If you follow our tips for employing a builder, you'll reduce the chances of an issue arising. However, there's always the possibility something could go wrong and you'll need someone else's help. Depending on the problem you can contact: