Need to stretch your building budget to its maximum potential?
Searching for skilled local builders online is one of the best investments that any homeowner can make. It will save them thousands of pounds in labour costs and ensure top quality tradespeople.
Let’s break down exactly how to find a local builder and get the most for your money.
In this post you’ll learn:
- Why Local Builders Save You Money
- How To Find Local Builders Online
- The Quote Comparison Method
- Red Flags To Watch Out For
Why Local Builders Save You Money
Local builders have one huge advantage over national contractors.
They know the local area. The local building regulations. But most importantly… they have developed long-standing relationships with suppliers in the area.
This is important because the cost of labour is accounting for 65% of all construction costs in the UK now. A local builder using local suppliers can massively reduce those transportation costs.
For example:
If a builder has to travel across the country for a job, they have to charge for their fuel, time and accommodation expenses. Which are directly passed onto the homeowner.
Local builders also have local reputations to maintain. They are more dependent on word-of-mouth referrals and recommendations from within the community. This incentivises fair pricing and quality workmanship.
How To Find Local Builders Online
The internet has revolutionised the relationship between homeowners and tradespeople.
Long gone are the days of turning through telephone directories or pinning your hopes on a friend or neighbour having a good recommendation. Nowadays platforms make it easy to find a local builder who is best suited to their specific requirements.
The process works like this:
Firstly, the homeowner must post the requirements of the job online. Be as specific as possible. How much work needs doing? How big is the project? How quickly do you want it completed? What budget range are you working with?
Once posted, the platform will then connect multiple builders that are interested in the job. This generates competition between them to win the business… which results in better prices.
The key is using a reputable platform that thoroughly vets builder credentials. Qualifications, insurance coverage and customer reviews are all checked. This allows homeowners to make informed decisions when comparing quotes.
This process is actually quite simple.
The Quote Comparison Method
Collecting multiple quotes is a great idea. However, comparing them correctly is where homeowners typically get it wrong.
The biggest mistake homeowners make:
Selecting the lowest quote without clarifying what is and isn’t included.
Cheap quotes may not have key items such as scaffolding, skip hire or project management. These costs can later be added on to the final price tag.
The smarter way to compare quotes is as follows…
Get At Least Three Quotes
Collecting three quotes is ideal. Five quotes are better for large projects.
Ask each builder to provide a detailed written quote. Verbal estimates should be ignored, as they are meaningless if a dispute crops up later on.
Compare Like For Like
All quotes should cover the exact same scope of work. If a builder has missed something off, request that they amend the quote.
Things to ensure each quote includes:
- Materials and labour
- VAT (if necessary)
- Timeline including start and completion dates
- Payment schedule
- Warranty details
Ask The Right Questions
Once all the quotes have been submitted, the homeowner should ask some follow-up questions of each builder.
Questions to ask:
- Is this a fixed price quote or an estimate?
- What happens if unforeseen issues are uncovered during the work?
- Are you VAT registered?
- What insurance cover do you have?
- Can you provide references from similar recent projects?
The answers to these questions will give the homeowner a good indication of whether the builder is worth considering for the job.
Red Flags To Watch Out For
There are unscrupulous builders out there on the internet looking to make a quick buck. Some warning signs are obvious to homeowners and should be heeded.
Unusually Low Quotes
If one quote comes in significantly lower than the rest, be suspicious.
Cutting corners is likely to occur. Or the builder will increase costs significantly halfway through the project once the homeowner has no choice but to pay.
High quality workmanship costs money. Qualified builders know their own value.
No Written Contract
A builder that is unwilling to put terms in writing is an extremely big red flag.
Contracts are essential to protecting both the homeowner and the builder. They make sure everyone is on the same page regarding the scope of work, payment terms and the protocol if issues do arise.
Asking For Large Deposits Upfront
The accepted industry standard is a deposit of between 5% to 10% of the total project cost.
Builders requesting 25%, 50% or more in deposits up front are either cash starved or planning on vanishing with the money.
No Insurance Or Credentials
Always ask to see proof of insurance before any work begins. Public liability insurance is vital to protect homeowners in the event that something goes wrong on site.
Trade body memberships (eg. The Federation of Master Builders) also demonstrate a commitment to industry professional standards and codes of practice.
Making The Final Decision
Price is important. But it isn’t everything.
The right builder will do the best quality work, communicate effectively and stand behind their workmanship. They are sometimes worth paying a little more than the absolute cheapest quote.
Things to consider:
- Quality of previous work done (photos and reviews)
- Responsiveness to questions and communication overall
- Professionalism during the quoting process
- Gut instinct that this builder can be trusted
A builder that takes the time to explain things clearly and answer questions in detail will typically deliver better results than one that rushes the process.
Wrapping Things Up
Stretching a building budget to its absolute maximum comes down to a combination of intelligent decisions.
Searching for skilled local builders online is the first step to accessing competitive pricing and high quality tradespeople who will give the homeowner value for every pound spent.
To quickly recap:
- Local builders reduce transportation and accommodation costs
- Online platforms make it simple to compare multiple quotes
- Detailed written quotes prevent hidden cost surprises
- Warning signs like low quotes and large deposits signal danger
Construction costs have risen substantially in the past few years. Homeowners can successfully navigate those cost increases by working with the right local builder.
