Extension/loft builder to handle new build?

[R Fleming]

Hello...I’ve no experience at all in building work but am about to embark on my first ever building project, a new build! I have looked at builders on Checkatrade and have had several quotes come in. From these,  I’ve narrowed it down to one builder who I think I can work with. He’s had very good reviews on Checkatrade and from his website, I can see he’s done most types of building projects from total renovations and huge single/double storey extensions to loft and garage conversions. The only thing I don’t see on his website are new builds. I’ve been to a few of his past projects including the double-storey extensions and a loft conversion and met past customers who were all happy with the work done. My question is, should this lack of new build projects be a concern even though he seems well experienced with most other aspects of building work? I am hoping that since his experience is extensive, taking on a new build should be no problem at all. Am I right to assume this? Any advice would be much appreciated. Thank you!

[Jeremy Harris]

Welcome.

 

My personal view is that I'd be extremely cautious about using anyone that uses one of the commission-based trade comparison sites, like Checkatrade, or the others.  My own experience has been that the people who advertise services on those sites are those that cannot get work any other way.  99% of the good people will have more than enough work from word-of-mouth recommendations, so will never see the need to pay to advertise on sites like these.

 

The really good people we've employed have all had full order books just from recommendations.  None advertise anywhere, you'd have no way of finding them other than by word of mouth.  In our case our ground works team recommended a brick layer, who turned out to be very good.  He recommended a renderer/plasterer, who was equally good, and in turn he recommended a joiner and an electrician.  None of these people advertised anywhere, other than being listed in a couple of local trade directories.  Same goes for the chap that did all our landscaping work, and laid our drive, he doesn't advertise either and I only found him as a result of a neighbour recommending him.

[recoveringbuilder]

I’d agree with the above, I have a manager at work who has been looking for a builder for the last 9 months and is not having a lot of luck as all the good ones are so busy they won’t even quote, we did get our plumber through one of these sites but he was only advertising on it because he had just started up on his own after being employed by a company for 15 years and needed to get his name out there but I’d be very wary of getting someone from one of these sites for a complete house build

[nod]

I agree with the above 

These commission  based sites are filled with  cowboys 

The reviews that you read are usually written by family and friends Or themselves 

The guys that frequent them usually talk a good job

Its a massive leap from doing an extension to a full house 

[R Fleming]

Thank you all for taking the time to write and raise your concerns...I should have said that the bulk of this company’s work comes from recommendations and in one large town. When we went round to view their past and present projects (they took us to 9 places in one residential area), three of the past projects were on one road alone and the longest drive between two projects was a couple of minutes. At the two ongoing projects we viewed, each had a company van outside. The owners of the properties we met were happy with the work done and the feedback given included...

1) always left site neat and tidy

2) neighbours happy with company as foreman introduced himself before work started so if any neighbour had an issue they could speak to him direct to resolve.

3) a past customer had a small leak two years after a huge 2-storey extension was done and contacted the company. A workman was sent round straight away to fix the problem.

4) both foreman and company owner were always contactable. They kept customers informed of all work progress and were quick to answer any queries and return phone calls

5) one of the past customer had problems with the loft design (fault of customer's architect) that led to steel miscalculations and foreman worked quickly with the company's structural engineer to resolve it

 

I did ask the company owner and the foreman if they’ve done new builds and the owner said that he worked on new builds many years ago whilst the foreman said he’s worked on them before he joined the company... currently, the work that comes in are extensions of all sorts (huge and small single, back, front, side and double-storey), extensive renovations, loft and garage conversions. The thing is... because I didn’t see any new build projects either on his website or when we were taken round to see his past and present work, should I trust that the company can handle our new build with all the work that we’ve seen and the satisfied customers we’ve met?

Edited July 9, 2019 by R Fleming

[Gone West]

1 hour ago, R Fleming said:

Thank you all for taking the time to write and raise your concerns...I should have said that the bulk of this company’s work comes from recommendations and in one large town. When we went round to view their past and present projects (they took us to 9 places in one residential area), three of the past projects were on one road alone and the longest drive between two projects was a couple of minutes. At the two ongoing projects we viewed, each had a company van outside. The owners of the properties we met were happy with the work done and the feedback given included...

1) always left site neat and tidy

2) neighbours happy with company as foreman introduced himself before work started so if any neighbour had an issue they could speak to him direct to resolve.

3) a past customer had a small leak two years after a huge 2-storey extension was done and contacted the company. A workman was sent round straight away to fix the problem.

4) both foreman and company owner were always contactable. They kept customers informed of all work progress and were quick to answer any queries and return phone calls

5) one of the past customer had problems with the loft design (fault of customer's architect) that led to steel miscalculations and foreman worked quickly with the company's structural engineer to resolve it

 

I did ask the company owner and the foreman if they’ve done new builds and the owner said that he worked on new builds many years ago whilst the foreman said he’s worked on them before he joined the company... currently, the work that comes in are extensions of all sorts (huge and small single, back, front, side and double-storey), extensive renovations, loft and garage conversions. The thing is... because I didn’t see any new build projects either on his website or when we were taken round to see his past and present work, should I trust that the company can handle our new build with all the work that we’ve seen and the satisfied customers we’ve met?

I think that most people would be very pleased if their builders were as good as the reviews you have listed. I can think of one contributor on this forum who used a large building company who would have been very happy to have received a service that you have indicated, unfortunately she didn't. As for Checkatrade, I used a window company registered with them and was unhappy with some after sales service and due to the insistence of Checkatrade the window company sorted out the problem I had.

[Brickie]

Hmmm,hard to say whether they can handle it or not-by rights should be fine as you’re not governed by existing floor levels,building lines etc on a New Build like you are on an extension. 

My worry would more be-can they price it accurately? If you miscalculate one element on an extension (skips for digging founds for example) the hit should be smallish & able to be absorbed in the overall price. The scenario you don’t want is the guy realising he’s dropped s clanger at some stage & either a)cutting corners to make up the shortfall or b) losing heart & interest in the job as he takes on other work to keep his cash flow rolling.