Steps to finding a building contractor to renovate your home or build your house

The wrong contractor could turn your home building project into a nightmare

You're ready to start building or renovating your house and you decide to get a building contractor to construct all of the work or parts of the project. Getting the wrong contractor could be disastrous, but equally, not providing the contractor all the information could mean that you receive variation claims during construction for the extras the contractor wasn't aware of, which will make your home build or renovation project more expensive and possibly result in lengthy legal disputes.
But also when you receive prices from building contractors you need to carefully check them (a process which we will look at in more detail in a future article) because not all prices are what they seem. 
The steps to finding and appointing a building contractor.

• Ensure that you’re clear about what you want the contractor to construct. If you already have drawings then these will form the basis of the contractor’s price. Maybe you only want the contractor to do portions of the work because you'll do some of the work or you'll appoint other contractors. Know what materials you'll supply.
• Make a list of all your requirements, as well as any restrictions which could hinder or limit the contractor’s work. For instance, are there particular working hours or maybe the estate has rules for contractors. When contractors know these restrictions they can include them in their price. Surprises during construction will allow the contractor to submit a variation claim and you'll probably have to pay them additional monies if they can prove that they couldn't have known about the restrictions or requirements which are now delaying them or causing them additional costs.
• Preferably, know what form of contract you want to use and what contract terms and conditions you will consider. I will discuss contracts later.
• Find suitable contractors – I discuss this in a future article.
• Investigate these contractors to see that they are a match for you and your project, that they have the capabilities to execute the project and that they want to do the work. Do they have the people and financial stability to build your house?
• Provide them written instructions of what they should price and the restrictions on the project.
• Provide them as much information as possible. This could include drawings of the new work, drawing of existing structures, estate rules, contact details, specific concerns, and preferably the contract document to be used.
• Walk the contractor around the project site so that they’re familiar with the working conditions.
• Give all contractors the same information so that you’re able to easily compare their prices.
• When the prices are received carefully adjudicate the prices – I'll discuss this in a future article.
• If there’s anything unclear with the price, or the price doesn’t include items it should, then send questions in writing to the contractor. Carefully evaluate the answers and adjust the price (or your additional costs) if necessary.
• Once you’ve chosen the contractor issue them with a contract document for them to sign. You and the contractor should each keep a copy.
• Once you’ve appointed the contractor it’s good practice to notify the other contractors that they weren’t successful.

​I'll discuss many of these points in more detail in later articles. But of course they are all in in my new book 'An Introduction to Building and Renovating Houses: Volume 1 Hiring Contractors, Managing Construction and Finishing Your Home' which also contains lots of valuable information to save you money and ensure that your home build or renovation project is a success. Click on the image below to read a preview on Amazon. The book is available in paper or ebook form from Amazon and other online stores, or ask your local bookstore to order a copy for you.

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