How to hire a builder

Advice on hiring a builder through MyBuilder

Don't work outside the site

If you hire outside the site, you won't be protected by our feedback system, and won't be able to hold your builder accountable for the work they do. Builders who suggest that you bypass our system are more likely to be dodgy in other respects. A builder who knows they do great work will want your feedback to add to their great reputation.

Be wary of builders who have no feedback or references

It's not bad to hire people with no feedback: after all, everyone has to start somewhere. But make sure you do those extra checks yourself if you have no prior information about their work through MyBuilder. The more feedback an individual has, the more important your feedback becomes. They wouldn't want to ruin a hard won reputation by having an unsatisfied customer leave negative feedback.

Insist on a quote!

Anyone worth hiring should be able to give you a quote on your project. Things often turn out differently than expected, but good builders win some and lose some with their estimates. Watch out for builders who give you surprisingly low quotes. It may mean they don't have a good handle on the amount of work required -they'll often try to claw it back when they see they're losing a lot of money. Going for the cheapest quote could cost you the most in the end.

Sign a contract!

For any significant project or anything at all that requires you to hand over money upfront, you'll definitely need a contract. Also, make sure you get receipts for any payments you make. Set the tone of professionalism upfront, so you don't have to worry about it later.

Verify important information

Before you make a decision, verify any information your builder has provided that you think is important (qualifications, memberships of trade bodies, insurance, etc). References and job feedback is checked by MyBuilder, but you need to be comfortable that any other key information is accurate. Never hire a builder who has given you false information.

Communicate!

Talk to your builder throughout the project. There is no substitute for frequent, genuine communication. If they know what you want and you know what they're planning to do, it's much easier to nip any problems in the bud. A professional relationship with constructive communication is a great head start!