HOW TO BEAT THE TOP FIVE BUILDING GRIPES

05/02/2010

 8th April 2009

 

We’ve all heard horror stories about cowboy tradesmen, botched jobs and unfinished work, but what are the things that really annoy us about builders?

 

Cowboy builders who charge extortionate rates for shoddy work massively harm the public's perception of the whole industry, creating a very misleading impression. A person’s home is their castle after all and the last thing anybody wants is to become the victim of a rogue tradesman.

 

Here Tom Pybus, owner of Leeds-based residential and commercial construction services company TJ Pybus, reveals all about the building-related gripes that really get us going and gives his tips on how best to avoid being the victim of an unscrupulous trader...

 

1.        Builders that don’t finish work properly

One of the most common building-related issues I hear people complain about is poorly or unfinished work and it’s the gripe that upsets people the most.

 

After forking out for a professional to undertake a job, homeowners expect the end result to look fantastic. Unfortunately, poor attention to detail, overlooked snags and incomplete work sometimes mean the final result can be bitterly disappointing.    

To avoid being a victim of unfinished and shoddy workmanship, always begin with a work specification document and contract. Make sure the document outlines all work to be undertaken and details exactly who is responsible for what, including the removal of rubbish and making good the area after work is complete. This way, there’s much less leeway for a tradesman to shirk his responsibilities and you’ve got written proof of what’s been agreed if any discrepancies do occur.

2.        Ill-mannered and intimidating workers

Letting strangers into your home to undertake renovation and building work can be daunting at the best of times, but when faced with ill-mannered or intimidating workers it can be an even more stressful experience. There’s nothing worse than realising the builders you’ve hired seem to have a total lack of respect for your home and don’t take your ideas and expectations seriously. 

 

The important thing to remember if you’re in this situation is that it’s you who is paying them to do the job you want, not the other way round. If it’s clear that someone is trying to change the goalposts in order to cut corners and save time then you need to address the situation immediately. Calmly but firmly re-iterate exactly what you want them to do, referring back to your agreed specification document. The same rules apply to behaviour you deem to be unacceptable. Simply explain your concerns to the person in charge of the project, making it clear that unless the issue is resolved then the relationship will need to be reviewed.

 

However, to avoid being put in this type of situation in the first place make sure you get recommendations from people you know. Also find out if potential contractors are members of a professional body like the Federation of Master Builders and ask them to show you testimonials from previous clients.

 

3.        Untidy sites

Building and renovation work is a messy affair, but what really gets homeowners annoyed are builders who trample dirt and dust around the whole property and don’t tidy up at the end of each day.   

 

To keep your home as tidy as possible whilst building work is going on, cover up all nearby surfaces, tell contractors about the areas that are off limits and make sure they know you expect them to clean up after themselves daily.    

 

4.       Jobs that run way behind schedule

Construction-related work does sometimes overrun slightly, but it doesn’t make it any less annoying!

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However, although there are certain uncontrollable factors like weather that can affect how long a job takes, by asking your contractor for a timescale plan detailing work to be undertaken and an expected completion date you should be able to avoid your job running too far behind schedule.

 

5.        Unclear costs and untrustworthy payment methods

Many people end up paying more for a job than originally agreed, because they haven’t been given transparent costs and information.

To make sure you are not tripped up by higher than expected costs ask for a fully detailed costing document, which should form part of your agreed contract. If works vary to those agreed on the document you can then also ask for an appropriate cost reduction.

You also need to make sure you never give a builder any money upfront. Instead discuss acceptable payment methods, as most builders require payment at varying stages throughout the project.

 

And finally, but probably most importantly, you need to agree a ‘retention’. This is an agreed amount of money, usually around five per cent of the total cost, that’s not paid until all works are complete and any snags corrected.  

 

TJ Pybus is an award-winning provider of tailored building and renovation services in Leeds and Yorkshire that prides itself on exceptional workmanship and service, detailed and transparent costing and dedicated staff who are passionate about what they do.   

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