Having building or decorating work done to your home can be pricey, and the last thing you want is to have a shoddy job done, and get left seriously out of pocket. So there are a few steps you can take to safeguard against just this:
Finding a builder or decorator...
Build up a shortlist
We’re always keen to advocate comparison at Confused.com, and choosing someone to work on your home is no different. It’s a good idea to get at least three quotes from local workmen* for comparison. If you’re not sure where to start looking, check out ProblemSolved.co.uk, where you can compare and read reviews for local tradespeople. There is even a free quote feature where ProblemSolved will contact five tradesmen in your area for quotes. You could also try My Builder (which isn’t limited to builders) and the Federation of Master Builders.
Check your builder or decorator’s credentials
As with all job applicants, it’s smart to get references. Plus, any builder or decorator worth their salt will accept your request to see their previous work, and meet the client for whom the work was done (so that the client can verify that the workman is who they say they are). Don’t feel embarrassed to ask them to jump through a few hoops – a legitimate tradesman will understand.
Another check you can make is to see if they are endorsed by the TrustMark government scheme. Any members of the scheme commit to a certain standard of work, so you can rely on them to be competent. And the scheme isn’t just for builders. All sorts of tradespeople can sign up, including carpenters, electricians, plumbers, roofers, landscape gardeners... Most professions covering home improvement, in fact. If you don’t already have one in mind, why not check for TrustMark-endorsed tradesmen in your area on their website.
Also, if your tradesman is installing any gas appliances, they must be Gas Safe registered. Take their ID number, and check it against the register on the Gas Safe website.
Check they have insurance
Ask your tradesman what liability insurance they have. Ensuring they have adequate cover could save a lot of heartache down the line. This is also a useful test for filtering out potential cowboys.
Get a detailed quote
The more specific the estimate you’re given before work begins, the better. All labour and material costs should be documented, and ideally timeframes too. The quote may also include VAT if the business is big enough. Don’t trust anyone who claims to be from a reputable firm and yet offers to do it for cash and drops the VAT – a legitimate business won’t run this way!
Although the payment structure is up to you, don’t pay upfront! It’s always best to pay for segments of work after they’re completed, as you can check the standard before parting with your money.
Set a job rate rather than a day rate
Even when the workman you’re hiring knows their stuff, projects can still overrun. And if the workman is being paid a daily rate, then there’s little incentive to get the job done quickly. For this reason, you’re in a much better position if you agree a fixed rate for the whole job, rather than a daily rate. Even if you believe your workman’s estimates as to when the job will be finished, you have to ask yourself if you could afford to continue paying after the original agreed end date has passed.
It may not be possible to fix a price for absolutely everything ahead of time. If this is the case, agree with the worker before starting that any additional work should be authorised by you beforehand, and set a rate for such additional work before it’s undertaken. This should hopefully be outlined in your quote anyway (see above).
Draw up a proper contract
If the work is going to cost a significant sum of money, then it’s well worth drawing up a contract. This is a business transaction, after all. And you’ll be in a much better position legally if your agreement is fully evidenced in writing.
When work has finished...
Check the quality
According to the Supply of Goods and Services Act 1982, your builder or decorator should have completed their work using ‘reasonable care and skill’, and materials that are both ‘of satisfactory quality’ and ‘fit for their purpose’. Plus any goods supplied must be ‘as described’, so they must not only be in good working order, but also match what was outlined in your initial agreement.
If the tradesman falls foul of any of these conditions, then they are in breach of contract. If this happens, you are within your rights to insist that they remedy any poor quality work, and/or replace or repair any faulty items.
If any problems created need to be fixed by another party, you may be able to claim these costs back from the original workman. To find out your options, get in touch with the trade body associated with the work in question. They should be able to offer a dispute resolution service, which will be much cheaper than taking the matter to court. You should give the original workman the option of remedying the problem first, however... It’s only fair, and you won’t be able to claim back the costs if you don’t.
Pay by credit card
It’s a good idea to agree to settle the bill with your credit card. You get extra protection if you pay for things this way, thanks to the Consumer Credit Act 1974. This states that your credit card company can be equally liable along with the provider of a service in the event of a breach of contract. So, for example, if your builder’s firm goes bust before they finish the work, then you should be able to reclaim the amount it costs to get the work completed from your credit card company – provided the contract to do so costs more than £100, but less than £30,000.
For this reason, it’s a good idea to pay for all sorts of things by credit card – and the services of a builder or decorator is no exception. There’s also a better chance that your workman will be legitimate if they accept a credit card. Cowboys are known to offer discounts for cash, and insist on such payment upfront.
Extra tip : If you’re going to make large purchases on a credit card, such as expensive building work, it’s worth getting a reward card or cashback card in order to make your money go further. Compare credit cards here and see if you can find a credit card which suits this purpose.
Other useful sites:
Construction Trade Association (CITA) for builders and tradesmen
The Association of Plumbing and Heating Contractors
Electrical Contractors’ Association (ECA)
*Please note: no offence or sex discrimination is intended by use of the word ‘tradesman’ or ‘workman’ as opposed to ‘tradesperson’ or ‘workperson’. This has been used simply for the purposes of flow.
