Whilst it is fairly straightforward to project manage a small building job yourself, it becomes increasingly unfeasible as the size and complexity of the project increases. For building work that means significant upheaval to your home, or where you have decided to build your new home from scratch, hiring a building contractor may be the best option. Why do I need a building contractor? You will need a building contractor if the work you are planning is particularly complex, requiring careful planning and timetabling, with the use of several trades and with work being carried out in several phases. Such projects might include: - Self-build. If you choose to build your own home, you need to be aware of the scale of the project. The work needs to be done in a particular order, with various experts coming on-site at specified times. If this is the first time you have attempted a self-build, or you have no other experience with building projects, then you could save time and money by hiring a building contractor. - Major renovations. Buying a property and then renovating it, either in order to sell it on, or to rent it out, is becoming a popular way of investing money. Driven by various television programmes and lifestyle magazines, property developing is open to anyone who wants to try. In order to succeed, such renovations and developments must be treated seriously and novices can end up spending far more money than they need to because they don't understand how buildings and the building trade works. Using a building contractor removes some of the responsibility and stress, and gives you a single point of contact throughout your project. - Listed buildings. There are many listed buildings in the UK and all require special permissions in order to make internal or external changes. The Listings authorities approve certain builders for this specialist work and these builders are used to managing projects of this nature. Hiring a building contractor in these circumstances will help you keep control of the project without having to do the bulk of the project management. How do I find a building contractor? Whilst some building contractor firms are only interested in corporate and commercial projects, there are smaller firms who will manage large domestic projects. Make sure you approach at least 3 building contractors, to make sure that you get competitive quotations. Once you have chosen your building contractor, you should both sign a contract for the project, and establish clear lines of responsibility. That way, your project should run smoothly and be a success. 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. |