Hiring a builder or tradesperson
Most disputes with builders start with something that was agreed out loud and never written down. A short written quote and a payment plan tied to finished work prevent most of them.
Before you ask for quotes
Write a one-page description of the job: what you want done, the materials you have in mind, the rooms involved and any deadline. Give the same page to every firm you ask. If each quote is based on a different idea of the job, you cannot compare them.
Ask for at least three quotes for anything larger than a small repair. A quote far below the others usually means something has been left out, such as removing waste, making good after the work, or the cost of materials.
Licences and registration
Electrical and gas work is regulated in most countries, and in many places only a registered installer may sign off the work. Ask which scheme or licence the person holds and check it on the scheme's own register, not on a certificate they show you. For general building work, ask your local authority if it needs to approve the plans or inspect the work.
What a written quote should include
- A description of the work, in enough detail that someone else could price it.
- Who supplies the materials, and the brand or grade where it matters.
- Start date, expected length and what happens if it runs late.
- Whether the price is fixed or an estimate. An estimate can change; a fixed quote should not, unless you change the job.
- How changes are priced once work has started.
- Who clears the site and removes rubbish.
Paying in stages
Avoid paying most of the price up front. A common pattern is a small deposit, payments as defined stages are finished, and a final payment once a snag list is complete. For custom items such as kitchens or windows, a larger deposit for materials can be reasonable, but you can ask for the supplier's invoice.
Pay by a method that leaves a record. Cash payments are hard to prove if a dispute comes up.
Insurance
Ask whether the firm has public liability insurance, which covers damage to your property or injury to other people. For larger jobs, ask whether any guarantee on the work is backed by insurance in case the firm closes.
During the work
Agree how you will be told about problems, such as rot found behind a wall, and that extra work will be priced and agreed before it starts. Keep a simple log with dates, photos and any changes you agreed.
At the end
Walk through the work with the tradesperson and write a snag list of anything unfinished or faulty. Ask for any certificates, manuals and warranties. Keep the quote, invoices and photos together, because you may need them when you sell or insure the property.
The renting guide covers what to agree with a landlord before any work is done in a rented home.