If you have a building project coming up soon, you’re going to need a team of builders to carry out the work. Here are 10 steps to help you find a reliable and experienced firm in Calgary that you know will do a good job.
1. Your first job should be to quiz friends and family and ask for recommendations of firms they’ve used and liked.
2. Ask them about firms they’ve used who weren’t so good as well. Knowing who to steer clear of is just as useful.
3. Use a local business directory to draw up a list of builders in your region. Some will offer reviews and ratings that you can use to whittle the list into a shortlist.
4. Speaking to a trade organisation like the National Federation of Builders could be another important step, as they can tell you which of the firms you are considering are registered.
5. Once you have two or three names on the list, ask them for quotes in writing. Ask them to stipulate where planning permission is needed.
6. Ask the builders for references and examples of their work, too. They should each be able to provide this and it may help you when making a decision.
7. Any other due diligence you can do will stand you in good stead. One option may be to speak to previous customers or Google the names of the building firm and its owners to see what has been written about them online.
8. When you’ve chosen one, ask them to agree the project in writing. Ask for the quote, a breakdown of work, completion date and hours of work.
9. Confirm that everything is okay with the builder’s public liability insurance and check with your insurance provider to make sure your home insurance isn’t complicated by work.
10. Be wary of firms asking for a deposit. In most cases, you won’t have to pay until the job is done. The only scenarios where you may be required to pay is when it’s a particularly big job.
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