In today's digital world, it's easy for untrustworthy building companies to hide behind a logo and a website.
There are countless to choose from, and many offer similar, if not the same, services. How do you know which one will help improve the aesthetic value of your home in the way you want? How do you know which one will produce work to a high standard?
We’ve all heard the horror stories. Untrustworthy contractors, misunderstanding in terms of the scope of work and pricing, project disruption… The list goes on. But these problems are avoidable if you choose the right contractor in Lancashire.
In this article, we’ll be discussing what you can do to make the most of your search for a trusted building contractor, covering:
There are actually some small misconceptions when it comes to the word ‘Contractor’.
It can refer to several things; first of all, a building contractor and a general contractor. The first focuses on a specific aspect of a building job (they may specialise in electrical work, for example), while the latter oversees all aspects of a project (with a large team that can fulfil multiple jobs). It can also be used to refer to a principal contractor who manages separate contractors within a large project.
Sometimes, a particular job will only require one contractor, such as with home renovations, garage conversions, extensions etc. In these scenarios, a particular firm will be able to fit the roles of both building and general contractor, due to its team’s size and wide skillset. A skilled building contractor with an experienced team might feature all of these services under one roof:
When renovating, the more skills a contractor can bring to the table, the better. That means you don’t have to waste time and resources looking for several subcontracting teams to cover multiple jobs that may be necessary within the project.
Many things! However, in brief, a building contractor plans, leads, supervises, and undertakes a construction project. They’ll also carry out necessary inspections and ensure the project is built to code.
Responsibilities differ depending on the contract in question, but these are the common ones you will see:
The best contractors also ensure their work remains in line with legal and regulatory policies, such as having the necessary licenses for building and development work. They must also make sure to have the right accreditations, such as being TrustMark verified.
Choosing the right contractor for you requires a 50/50 split of knowing what to look for and knowing what to avoid. In this process, there can be a lot of pitfalls, but with the right knowledge, you will be able to determine which contractor is perfect for your project.
Here are the three most common mistakes when choosing a building contractor:
A trusted building contractor should showcase their portfolio of work and be able to talk about the process of those projects in-depth.
Being able to see past work for yourself is incredibly important. It shows the quality of the work, the scale, and the breadth of projects worked on, and shows that this is an organisation that takes pride in its work.
The best way to complement exploring a portfolio is by asking to view any projects that are similar to the one you want to undertake. This shows both how such a project could look when completed and is evidence of the skill of the contractor you’re talking to.
This could also help you save time and money. If the contractor has no evidence of working on a project similar to yours, it might be worth looking somewhere else.
Seeing a low price might be a little exciting, but it is never a guarantee of high-quality work.
Now, it’s possible to find good work for a low price, but those moments are few and far between. It can often mean some corners are being cut. For example, the work might be done quickly and look great, but the materials used are where the money is being saved. Six months later and that work might be in need of repairs.
A good price is one that equals a lot of experience and a wide range of services. For example, you might be looking for a contractor who can do both garage conversions and kitchen installations. One contractor is offering a cheap price, but only has evidence of their work on garage conversions. Another contractor has good evidence of both - who do you choose?
You choose evidence and experience.
In the past, word of mouth was the lifeblood of the building game. Now, the internet has become our friendly over-the-fence chat with a neighbour.
Searching for the right contractor requires due diligence from you, meaning it is vitally important to look into the reviews of each contractor you’re considering. A Google review is a great way of avoiding a bad contracting experience.
The combination of good reviews and a wide project portfolio is a very useful duo that will allow you to find the right contractors from your list of potentials.
From our experience working on thousands of projects in home renovation in Lancashire over the years and alongside many other contractors, we’ve identified several attributes to look for in building contractors.
The right contractor should be able to offer a wide range of groundworks and civil engineering services. With a wide skillset and experience, they should be able to cover everything from initial site preparation to complex drainage solutions - and much more.
Essentially, you want a one-stop shop for all your construction needs.
The right contractor is the one with the right experience.
If you’re able, try to find a contractor with at least 15+ years of experience in the industry. This guarantees the capacity to handle diverse projects and deliver great results.
The right contractor will be able to guarantee experience with domestic and commercial customers, certifications proving their capability and capacity for multiple types of projects.
Also, 24/7 emergency call-out is incredibly useful.
Our planet is precious, and so finding a contractor who is committed to using eco-friendly materials and sustainable building practices is a great way to build responsibly.
Just like you should avoid a contractor with no portfolio of evidence of past projects, you should look for one who is proud to show their previous work.
For example, if you’re curious about what a portfolio should look like, why not explore our digital databank of past projects we have worked on?
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