Choosing your builder
Site visits, quoting, comparing, and the fit beyond competence.
- Builder fit — chemistry as well as competenceA renovation lasts months. Beyond competence, choose a builder you can talk to and trust to be in your home day after day.
- Comparing builder quotesThe lowest quote isn't always the cheapest project. Look at scope, provisional sums, programme, and the builder's communication. The majority of customers don't choose the lowest.
- How a quote review worksOnce the builder quotes are in, your planner or build advisor walks you through the differences and helps you compare the substance, not just the headline number. You can ask for line-by-line breakdowns.
- How quotes change after design is lockedA quote given before design is finalised is provisional in places. Once the design is locked, your builder updates the quote against the final brief. Here's why and how.
- How to get builder quotesUp to three vetted builders visit your home, send you their quotes, and you pick. Here's how that flow works in practice.
- How to prepare for your builder site visitsEach builder visits your home, takes measurements, and asks you about the project. A bit of preparation makes the visits more useful for everyone.
- Negotiating with the builderA professional exercise in value engineering — adjusting design, scope, and materials so the work fits your budget. Most builders are open to it. Here's how to do it well.