General Contractor Guide for Qualifications and Training

Cash Jobs & Guarantees Do it Yourself Tips for Qualifications and Training

Beware of anyone offering to do the works for cash, you will have nothing in writing, you will have no proof of what you are paying for and indeed that you have even paid him for the work.

Any guarantee that you are entitled to should be written and dated i.e. damp , electricity and gas. You should insist on having these before you pay your final payment. See our section on completion checks

Any provisional sums that are listed in your quote should cover the cost of what is being carried out, tell your builder that you want to know if the item may cost more, you can then decide whether this is a fair price and question it if you wish. You should also ask if it does not cost as much as the provisional sum listed, are you entitled to a reduction? You should be.

Insist that you are entitled to have put right what you are not happy with. Any paint splashes or drips for example should be put right by your builder, make a list of what you are not happy with. This is known as a snagging list. Colours you are not happy with but have chosen, is not your tradesman's fault.

Before you allow your builder to start work clarify (in writing) a few things with him such as:

A start date

How long it will take

Access to the property

Payment dates and how much

If there will be someone working everyday (somethings need a day to dry, so work is impossible).