Choosing the right builder

The building firm you choose will be spending several weeks, or even months, working in your home. You need to be confident both in their ability to do the work, and that you will have a good working relationship with them.

• Ask friends and family to recommend building firms who have done work for them.

• Talk to the builders' previous customers. Go and see the jobs they have done and ask the customers if all went well.

• Ask at least three builders to provide quotes.

• Produce a detailed written specification of the work you want done. Where possible, include detailed drawings, such as those submitted for planning and Building Regulations approval. Make enough copies to send a full set to each builder you ask to quote for the work.

• Make sure the builders' quotes cover everything you would like done, including supply of materials, removal of rubbish and 'making good' after the work is finished.

• Ask for details of how the builder should be paid. This should be in instalments, as parts of the project are completed.

• Check whether any guarantee of the work will be supplied. If you use an FMB MasterBond builder you can purchase a 10-year insurance-backed warranty on the work.

• Make sure the builder has the appropriate level of public liability insurance for the work to be carried out at your home.