The largest amount of money we spend on a single object is on the homes we live in. Repairs, conversions and extensions can cost us a fortune, therefore no wonder we get a bit nervous talking to our friendly local builders.
The fear of throwing large amounts of money away on a bad job, or on being overcharged, is quite rational. Ironically it is this very fear that makes some of us jump into making a decision rashly. We panic and don't give full consideration to all the facts and figures to enable us to make the right decision.
Everything should start with a plan, or at least a discussion with a person who can prepare a plan for you. When you take your plans to the builders you want to be sure that these are clear, specifying as much detail as possible. That way it should be easier to compare the 3 quotes that you should try to obtain.
Get a recommendation from somebody who has had similar work done. Avoid the friend-of-a -friend scenario, unless you've seen the work with you own eyes. Try also to talk to the owners to see if they were happy with the overall level of professionalism, as there may be hidden issues.
Make sure that any contract is detailed and includes a start and finish dates with penalties built in for late completion. If the specification changes, make sure that you are provided with a new quote. Don't blindly accept the reassurances of a builder who confuses you with technical terms. If you don't understand, ask him to put it in writing and get some independent advice if necessary.
The later your payments the better - within reason. A reputable builder will not require cash in hand at the outset, and you'd be leaving yourself open to trouble anyway. Stagger payments through to various stages of completion and make sure you hold back at least 20% to sort out any unfinished work at the end. Follow these basic tips and your next builders project should be a breeze.