The fact is that the majority of builders are both competent and professional, and you can do a lot to prevent negative experiences simply by picking, managing, and properly communicating with them. Read on to learn why it’s important to start building a solid relationship with your builder, and how to do so.
Choose the right specialist for the job.
Find the best building company for your project. The type of construction firm that is ideal for, say, a luxury retail business has to be highly organized and usually has many managers, a well-organized back office, and teams that can work 24 hours a day, seven days a week to deliver high-quality work at speed. Such contractors are beyond the financial capabilities of regular homeowners, and a simple kitchen extension or loft conversion would be too costly.
On the other hand, there are a lot of small owner builders who do much of the labor themselves on-site and manage everything from a phone in their pocket. With such low operational costs, a company like this should be far less pricey. However, the level of care, organization, and speed may not compare to those offered by larger firms.
You’re seeking the ideal balance of low cost, high quality, and good organization. You will never achieve the maximum of all three, but it’s necessary to figure out which is best for you.
Determine whether you need a specialist firm or simply a general contractor.
A competent general builder will be competent at most jobs unless the task is unique. A good general builder, for example, can construct a loft expansion or create a basement. You may, of course, go to a loft or basement business and get the job done well. The most crucial thing is to discover someone excellent who will provide high-quality services for a fair price.
Similarly, if you want a staircase or doors, you may hire a stair builder to build one for you. Alternatively, you may use a good joiner to construct them. A competent builder will be able to coordinate the appropriate personnel – joiners, electricians, and so on – to acquire and construct exactly what you want.
Make your goal as clear as possible.
We have mentioned it previously, but we’ll say it again: being extremely precise is critical.
Some sketches are a wonderful beginning, but what about the structural information? If that’s the case, make it clear or have all of the structural calculations done by an engineer before requesting a price.
Beyond sketches, you must explain precisely what the builder is required to include in the price. Who’s providing the sanitaryware, tiles, and taps if the job involves installing a bathroom? Is it feasible to get them from a store, or will you have to create your own? If you want to supply the tiles yourself, who will provide the adhesive and grout? Unless all of these issues are resolved, there’s a possibility of conflicts and disagreements over money once the job begins.
A building contract is important
A building contract is simply a contract between a builder and a client that sets out the terms of the project.
The most significant aspect of the contract is to lay out all of the ‘what-ifs,’ such as what if the project was modified along the way? What if it takes longer than expected?
The contract is usually not needed again after it’s signed and filed since everything has gone swimmingly. But that’s frequently because everyone is aware of the document in the background.
Make a list of everything you want from your builder.
At the conclusion of a project, there are more points for discussion than at any other point, so it’s critical to be prepared for the typical mistakes.
When the bulk of the work is complete, everyone is satisfied, but at the end of a project, there are usually a thousand minor items to handle, and they need a variety of tradesmen.
Combine this with the fact that the client can see it’s getting close, and that they almost always want their home back once it’s finished, and you have a powder keg of tension.
Again, the greatest piece of advice I can offer is to be well prepared. Communicate precisely with your builder regarding expected timelines and allow them the room to complete the task.
When it comes to ‘snagging’ at the end, that is, checking for works not accomplished or not done as requested, which the builder will address, have a conversation with your contractor and agree on a single comprehensive list.
Of course, something else may emerge, but it isn’t fair to keep coming up with new flaws over and over again.
MK Manitas are builders in Benidorm, Alicante. Having 25+ years of expertise in house renovations, we can deliver any sort of renovation service from the tiniest to the most complex, while always providing the highest possible quality for the most demanding clients.