Managing builders
Managing builders
Contents
In this section, you will find the information you need not only to ensure that any building work done to your house goes as smoothly as possible, but also information to tell you what to do if there are problems.
Choosing tradespeople
Homeowners employ tradespeople such as builders and plumbers when engaging in improvements to their home or in other building projects. While many people do not encounter any trouble at all, other people who are less lucky do have problems.
Before employing these types of tradespeople, the consumer should do their research to avoid becoming the victim of unprofessional workmanship. Of course, if problems do occur, the consumer can seek the protection of the law, but this can be a very stressful situation. You should try to rely on personal recommendation or the approval of a trade organisation and, if possible, view examples of work done. Use this section to learn how to protect yourself from becoming a victim to unprofessional workmanship.
Building work
Once you have found a builder, you should get a quote for how much the work will cost. To do so, draw up a list of the work to be done, so you can use it as a basis for traders to quote a price for the work. If you accept the quote, you should also make sure to draw up a contract for the work. In this section, you will find information on both of these matters.
If things go wrong
Taking these steps should help protect you from anything going wrong. However, things still can and do happen. If anything does not go according to plan, you need to know what your rights are and what to do to remedy the situation. For example, if there are delays in work, you need to know how to complain and what to do if things do not improve. In this section you will find out what steps you need to take if there are problems in your household building work.