Before proceeding with any contractor we strongly recommend the following is considered:

• Obtain a minimum of three detailed fixed price quotations. Use your Estimators estimate to help you assess any quotations you receive.
• Ask each builder to provide the names and contact details of three recent customers.
• Ask the builder if you could view two or three of his recently completed jobs.
• If the builder claims to be a member of a Trade Organisation, ask for his membership number and then check with the relevant organisation. There have been numerous cases of 'cowboy builders' claiming to be members of respectable Trade Organisations.
• Ask all the builders if they can provide an insurance backed guarantee for the proposed works. The insurance period on this type of guarantee can vary from between 2 to 10 years.

Once you are satisfied and you have selected your builder, we recommend the following before commencement of any works:

• Ask for a copy of, or have sight of your builders 'All Risks Insurance' certificate. We strongly advise you not to use a builder without insurance. It is illegal for a builder to operate without insurance.
• Insist on a written completion date. Most professional builders will have no problem with providing this. You should, however, note that any proposed completion date may be subject to availability of materials, inclement weather and any variations to the works.
• In order to keep control of your budget agree payment terms in writing. If the builder requires a deposit to pay for materials in advance for example, we recommend that you only pay for the materials in the first stage of the works, as detailed in your Estimators Labour & Materials summary.