One of the things that causes the most stress when you start a building project is finding a good builder. Hiring a builder, dealing with them and their team in your home and ensuring that they do a good job is listed as one of the most stressful things we can do – in line with organising a wedding or having a new baby.

We don’t just want a builder that can build, we want one who’s going to be friendly and understanding; a builder that’s trustworthy, polite and adaptable, and we want him to be available when it is convenient for us and cost slightly less than our budget. Most of these goals are achievable (you’ll probably go over budget), if you go about looking for your builder in the right way. Whilst the best way to find a builder is to go by recommendation, there are other good ways of ensuring that you’re not hiring a so-called cowboy builder to handle your project. Here are some things to remember about a genuine builder.

Giving references – a good builder will be happy to give references about similar work he has done in the past. When you get the references, try and view the building work, so you can talk to the owners and look at the work.

Detailed quotes – in order to ensure they can do the job properly, a good builder will want to give you a comprehensive written quote based on the information you give him. It makes sense to know exactly what you want before you contact any builders for quotes. That way, you can be sure they are all quoting on the same job, giving you a good basis for comparison. Be suspicious of any builder who won’t give you a detailed quote on paper.

Start dates – a reputable builder will always be busy. You should be prepared to have to wait several weeks or even a few months before your builder is able to start your job. When you ask them to quote for the job, talk to them about when they might be able to start. Someone who can start immediately may not be the builder for you.

Payment – professional builders know that you will want to agree payment before they start work. It makes it easier for both parties if you have a written contract or agreement that covers payment among other issues. If any problems arise with the amount you have been asked to pay, you will have a document to refer to. If your project changes, don’t forget to amend this document to reflect any additional costs or payments.

Memberships – your builder may have a business card or information on his vehicles that states he is a member of one or more building organisations. Always check this out. You can do this easily by calling the organisation and checking the builder, or by visiting the organisation’s website. Untrustworthy builders have been known to claim membership of various professional bodies, so it is always worth checking. A good builder will be happy for you to do this.

The first step in your project is to hire the right builder. Use www.findalocal-builder.co.uk to get a list of builders in your area, and then look at our other advice articles to see how to make sure you choose the best builder for you.