What does “professional builder” mean? A professional builder is one who has either studied and college and achieved a qualification, or who has apprenticed to a builder and learned the trade by example and practice. A professional builder is either self-employed or works as part of a larger team. They take a business-like approach to the projects they are involved with and their work is of a high standard.

How do I spot a professional builder?

When you start your building project, you will need to approach several builders in order to get competitive quotes. When the builders come to your property to look at your proposals, there are some key things you should look out for:

- Availability. A professional builder will probably be busy with other jobs and you may have to wait for them to fit you in. If a builder says they can start the next day, they may not be the professional builder you are looking for.

- Plans. A professional builder is trained to read plans so that they can realise the architect’s design. Builders who don’t want to work from plans should be regarded with suspicion – particularly as the planning department and building regulations officers will want to ensure that the building is going up exactly as approved.

- Written quotes. A professional builder will visit your home, look at your plans and the proposed site, talk to you about what you envisage the finished work to look like, and then go away and send you a written quote. This should be detailed, looking at each stage of the building process and including materials and any other trades such as plumbers of electricians that need to be involved. A professional builder should never give you an estimated verbal figure and expect you to hire them on that basis.

- Payment. A professional builder shouldn’t ask for the total payment up front. You may be asked to pay for materials as they are ordered, but payment for labour and any other additional items should either be made throughout the project or at the end. This enables both you and the builder to manage the timescale and the budget.

- Previous customers. When you talk to the builders who are quoting for you, ask them about previous jobs and whether you can see examples of their work or talk to previous clients. A professional builder should be happy to let you speak to someone who has had similar work carried out, and once you have the reference you should always follow it up to make sure you are happy with the standard of work.

- Jargon. Like all professions, building has its own jargon. It’s important that you understand exactly what the builder is planning to do and how he is planning to do it. If you don’t understand an item on the quote or are confused when they talk about your project, ask them to explain. A professional builder will be happy to explain and demonstrate how the various processes work.

How can I find a professional builder?

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.