Restoration and Refurbishment
How to select the best builder for your restoration and refurbishment project
Your home is one of your greatest assets. Not only is it functional, but it often holds treasured memories. Therefore, when it comes time to refurbish or restore a portion or all of your home, you want to ensure that you hire a specialist who will provide the highest quality of work and professionalism. Today, we are going to guide you through the process of selecting the best builder for your home restoration or refurbishment project.
- Have a detailed outline of the work you would like completed
- Find a tradesman with vast experience
- Select someone who makes you feel comfortable
- Get a detailed estimate in writing
- Discuss and put job guarantees in writing
- Inquire about professional memberships
Discuss in detail what you would like done
Before you bring builders into your home to quote your restoration job, it is important that you are able to give them a clear outline of what you would like done that includes the following information:
● How the area will be utilized
● What issues you are looking to repair
● The architectural design look you are focusing on
● Any special circumstances your builder should be aware of during the duration of the job
● Any permitting work that you have done or that still needs done in order for work to commence
It is worth noting that it never hurts to ask any tradesmen who come to quote your job what they would visualize for the space. It is a good way to gauge their interest in your project and compatibility to you vision.
Find a builder with experience
When you are on the search for a tradesman that specializes in restoration, seek one who has recent experience completing similar jobs with comparable materials. If you are looking to use authentic and reclaimed materials, ensure that your builder is comfortable working with these items and building techniques. Some tradesmen focus solely on reusing aged and vintage items, whereas others are only interested in modern materials and designs.
Ask those you are interviewing for references, portfolios or even to visit recent job sites to observe their style and quality of work in person.
Comfort is key
You want to hire someone who garners your confidence, but also your comfort. The restoration builder you hire should be someone who is courteous, prompt in communications and keeps their workspace clean and tidy. If they have a long list of positive reviews and references, this is a good clue to their work ethic and standard of service.
Take the time to get multiple estimates
It is worth getting at least 3 estimates for identical components of your job. These written quotes should include cost of materials, labor, clean-up and disposal fees, special equipment rental costs and any special taxes or VAT. Ensure that your estimate also includes a detailed timeline of how the builder plans to complete the project, as well as how they expect to receive payment.
You should be very wary of any contractor who wants the job paid in full before work has started. Most will ask for a deposit and then installments or for materials costs to begin work.
Confirm all workmanship guarantees
It is not uncommon with restoration and refurbishment projects to have issues that arise after a builder and his crew have completed the job and left. Therefore, you want to ensure there is a clearly written policy for any follow-up work that may need to occur. Any tradesman who is reputable should be more than willing to guarantee the quality of their work and materials.
Professional affiliations are an asset
When a tradesman is affiliated with a professional organization or scheme, it shows that they take their work seriously and are willing to continue their training and education, as well as work to high standards. Some of the most common organizations that restoration and refurbishment specialists belong to are:
● Federation of Master Builders (FMB)
● Guild of Builders and Contractors
● Guild of Master Craftsmen
● National Federation of Builders
Undertaking a home restoration project is no small task. We hope that this guide serves you well in making an informed decision when choosing a builder to complete your refurbishment job.