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There may be projects you have planned for years such as a new conservatory, replacing a damaged roof or a value boosting extension.
Perhaps you have been relentlessly having up for some particular form of home improvement or building scheme, and at last you are ready to take the plunge...
What you decide at this point can easily turn your dream project into a delight or a disaster.
We've all seen the programmes on TV where ordinary folks' lives have been ruined by rogue tradesmen and builders who have either taken money up front, never to be seen again, or have completed the work to a very poor standard.
Either way, the customer is left 'out of pocket' and completely shattered by such an awful experience.
However, With a little bit of background knowledge, it is possible to keep this risk to an absolute minimum.
Choosing Your tradesman/builder One of the most common approaches used by people to make sure they get the best customer service possible is by the 'word of mouth rule'.
"Surely if somebody has done an excellent job for their neighbour or friend, then they could do the same for me.
" A moment of caution here: perhaps your friend was fortunate enough to have not encountered any problems, but what would have happened, for example, if there had been accidental damage during renovation? Or what if the tradesman had run into financial difficulties half way through the work and could not afford to purchase the necessary building materials? What would the outcome have been then, and what would have been done to resolve it? The solution: use a register of approved tradesmen You wouldn't dream of buying a property without having some form of survey to validate its worth, so why risk thousands of pounds of your hard earned cash on a builder or tradesman whose credentials remain largely a mystery.
Choosing a good register of qualified and reputable tradesmen is an excellent way of receiving a professional and quality assured service.
Four important points to consider...
1.
Has the builder got any history of financial disputes or do they have any constraints on running a business? Many companies reinvent themselves repeatedly to stay afloat.
A good vetting agency would pick up on this immediately.
2.
Is the tradesman in possession of a current certificate of Public Liability? If not, this could spell disaster if things go badly wrong with the work and could leave you with no comeback.
3.
Is the tradesman's work under constant scrutiny? With some vetting services, a builder may be given free reign after proving their competency a minimal number of times.
Systematic monitoring means the builder is kept on his toes and consistently maintaining a high standard.
Furthermore, regular customer reviews and surveys mean that the idea of 'word of mouth' recommendations are taken to a whole new level.
4.
Is there a mechanism for handling a disagreement between the client and the tradesman? If a dispute occurs you will be glad you used a registration company to find the ideal company.
Disagreements involving cost, workmanship, time factors and even undesirable behaviour of the workman can cause headaches.
Having an independent body to mediate in such matters can make all the difference.
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