Getting decent builders/gardeners

[emmaf01]

Due in no small part to this site, we will soon have enough money to start renovating our house.(big thankyou!)

 

But as neither me or my husband has EVER had to deal with contractors, other than the odd plumber or electrician in an emergency, we are TERRIFIED!

 

You hear so many horror stories (especially on this site).

 

I understand we need to get a few quotes, but we want a garage conversion and an extension- should we get an architect? We need a new kitchen- apart from avoiding B&Q, is there any other kitchen suppliers to avoid?

 

Any help would be welcome- even if its who to avoid- and recommendations from the Liverpool area would be doubly so.

[Guest weegirl]

After renovating a house a few years ago, I personally found the best way was from personal recommendations from people I knew, and could see the work that was done.

 

Still had a few setbacks though, people not turning up etc, but that is to be expected.

 

Get a written quotation for EVERYTHING. Friend of mine bought a new house off a contracter at a set price, then asked for a couple of minor extras - plug in the kitchen for the dishwasher, outside tap, etc. She got a bill for £5k, it should have been about a fifth of that. She went to her solicitor and was told as she had nothing in writing, she would have a fight on her hands.

 

Don't pay until the job is done, or if it is a big job, pay in installments as they work. The only money I have ever given up-front was for a landscape gardener to get the bricks for my patio - I went with him and paid for it, then got it delivered to my house. At least if he cleared off, I still had my stuff for someone else to lay it down.

[emmaf01]

Every person I've asked for a recommendation, their builder is retired or no longer working!

 

I think I've got a gardener though.