I have enquired about the garage conversion and have been told I do not need planning permission. I have contacted building regs and they are sending me forms out. My next question now is - What is the best way to find a reliable builder ? I do not know anyone who has had work done so cant ask for recomendations. Can anyone recomend a builder in the south Bham area?
Finding a builder
- Thread starter Purdy_1
- Start date
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I choose a number of buildes to quote from a) Yellow Pages b) Guild of Master Craftsman c) Those that had provided flyers.
The guy I choose had actually sent a letter after seeing my planning application - I was warned against using someone who was touting for business ("they can't be any good if they haven't got enough work through recommendations"), but with about a week left I'm not disappointed with my choice.
He was the only person to ask for a written specification to quote from, the quote turned up on the day he said it would, and he was happy to sit with me for over an hour running through the quote.
Two points I would make from experience; 1) Any builder will be able to deliver just about anything you ask for, when you initially run through your ideas. Take some of it with a pinch of salt, and challenege them if you think it's necessary. 2) No builder will provide you with a refernce who will say bad things about them. By all means go and have a look at their work, but bear in mind that they won't show you one where it went wrong!
The guy I choose had actually sent a letter after seeing my planning application - I was warned against using someone who was touting for business ("they can't be any good if they haven't got enough work through recommendations"), but with about a week left I'm not disappointed with my choice.
He was the only person to ask for a written specification to quote from, the quote turned up on the day he said it would, and he was happy to sit with me for over an hour running through the quote.
Two points I would make from experience; 1) Any builder will be able to deliver just about anything you ask for, when you initially run through your ideas. Take some of it with a pinch of salt, and challenege them if you think it's necessary. 2) No builder will provide you with a refernce who will say bad things about them. By all means go and have a look at their work, but bear in mind that they won't show you one where it went wrong!
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Birmingham Council have a list of contractors who are members of the Quality Mark scheme. Contact building control
Also contact the Federation of Master Builders ( www.fmb.org.uk ) who will have a list of members - these will provide insurance backed warranties.
Otherwise have a look for work being done in the area and ask for references of previous customers - and visit them to see the work and ask how the builder performed.
Also contact the Federation of Master Builders ( www.fmb.org.uk ) who will have a list of members - these will provide insurance backed warranties.
Otherwise have a look for work being done in the area and ask for references of previous customers - and visit them to see the work and ask how the builder performed.
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