Sharing is caring!

When it comes to building, repairing or renovating your home, you need to know how much it will cost. But the financial investment is not the only thing you’ll make: there are emotional factors too.

When you experience a job well done you probably feel a sense of joy, but if the project is botched, set back by avoidable delays and unexpected additional costs, you’ll likely feel anguish. This makes it crucial to approach your project carefully and find a builder you can trust.

Finding out how much it costs to hire a builder is one of the first steps that you’ll probably take, as it’s one of the main factors you’ll base your final decision on. When determining the cost of your project, you need to keep several issues in mind. Let’s look at building a house, for example, where there are five main aspects that will impact the price you’ll pay:

  • Location
  • Design
  • Size
  • Procurement route and project management
  • Construction type and quality

Hiring the right builder for your job is important and can be difficult, but, fortunately, there are several steps you can take to make sure you both find someone you can trust and that you get your money’s worth.

Finding the Right Builder for Your Project

You should always qualify a builder before hiring them. To find a good builder near you, follow these steps:

1. Check Their Credentials

While there is no law that says a builder has to undertake formal training, it is better to choose those who do have qualifications, as it’s a signal of trust and experience, and you’ll know your builder has the relevant skills for the job. The three main types of accreditation you need to be aware of are City & Guilds, HND and NVQ.

2. Validate Your Options

Qualifications alone shouldn’t be enough to satisfy you. Get some references and contact them, asking them questions about the project the builder completed and the standard of work. A reliable builder will have no issue providing you with references. Search for the builder online and see if they have any reviews or testimonials. A builder may technically know how to do the work, but if they have no experience executing it, you’ll want to look elsewhere.

3. Compare Prices

Prices from builders can vary based on a number of factors, including experience, qualifications, location and how long they’ve been in business. Don’t just go for the first builder you find. Instead, contact several builders and compare the quotes you receive. Price comparison sites are a useful resource for comparing the hourly and daily rates of builders near you, ensuring you’re quoted a reasonable rate for the project.

Below is a table of the daily and hourly rates of builders in the major cities of U.K. It’s important to note that these are guidelines: some builders may charge for travel and other expenses, so it’s important to get as much information as possible before you make your decision.

 

CityHourly RateDaily Rate
London£34.00£216.00
Birmingham£25.00£199.00
Leeds£25.00£186.00
Glasgow£32.00£236.00
Sheffield£73.00£276.00
Bradford£25.00£185.00
Liverpool£26.00£179.00
Edinburgh£30.00£215.00
Manchester£30.00£189.00
Bristol£26.00£195.00

Source: HaMuch

Comparing prices is the best way to make sure you aren’t being taken advantage of. However, be wary of quotes significantly below the average. While we all like to get a good deal, a low quote is a red flag that could signal a lack of qualifications or experience.

 

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

I accept the Privacy Policy