Developing: Hiring Tradespeople

builder. Hiring Professionals For Your Property Development

Finding A Builder
Finding An Architect
Project Managers & Other Professionals
Finding Tradespeople & Their Fees

As a developer, it's important you call in the property professionals needed to see your project through. If this is your first property development your lack of expertise could mean you waste time, miss opportunities, end up with something unsatisfactory and ultimately lose money. Here's our guide to finding the experts.

Find Professionals For Your Property Development

Finding A Builder

Start with word-of-mouth recommendations. Then get a price from the recommended builder and compare it with at least two more quotes. Check your builders' qualifications: ensure they have NVQs or HNDs in construction. Check that their company is a registered member of a trade organisation such as the Federation of Master Builders and the Guild of Builders and Contractors. Find a builder in Scotland via the Scottish Building Federation.

Paying A Builder

Ask if you can see former work by the builder. Agree on a fixed price upfront or a daily rate of pay, and the exact start and finish date. If you employ the builder set out in a letter or formal contract what work is to be done, the payment (in stages is better for a development) and what happens if the work is poor or overruns. Agree to pay the cash when each stage is finished, holding back 10% for snagging at the end of the project. Don't take on anyone who won't do this.

Does Your Builder Have Insurance?

Check that your builder has public liability insurance which will pay for any negligence on their part that results in damage to your property or injury to you. This insurance isn't a legal requirement but it is sensible for the building firm to have it.