Many horror stories of builders leaving sites half-finished, budgets spiralling out of control and problems with customers. The truth is that most builders are professional and competent. You can avoid having bad experiences by simply managing your relationship with them. It’s worthwhile to establish a positive relationship with your builder. Here are some tips on how to do this well.

1. It’s not a good idea to approach a builder so soon. 

Although builders are good at pricing once you know what you need, asking for a price before any drawings or details about your project is better than inviting them to tell you what you want.

I recommend that you only approach builders after drawing the drawings and making a list of items to be included. You could end up estimating the final cost of the project.

2. Take into account the scope of your project

Choose the right type of building company Sydney to handle your project. A luxury retail project requires a contractor who is well organised. This includes multiple managers and a back office. They also need teams that can work around the clock and produce exceptional quality work. These contractors are usually very expensive and would not be suitable for adding to a kitchen or converting an attic.

On the other end, you will find many small-owner-manager builders who do most of the work on-site and manage everything using a smartphone on their hip. This type of builder may be cheaper than others due to the lower overheads. However, they might not offer the same level of service, organisation, and speed.

3. Determine if you require a specialist or a general builder

If the job is not unusual, a good general builder will be able to do it. A good general builder can convert an attic or make a basement bigger. A loft or basement company can also be hired, and they may be able to do great work. Finding someone who will do a good job at a fair price is important.

You can also use a company that makes staircases or sells doors to build your staircase. Or you can hire a skilled woodworker. A good builder can coordinate the right people (cabinetmakers and electricians) to create exactly what you need.

4. One point of responsibility:

It may be wise to hire independent tradespeople instead of one general contractor. Although a general contractor may take a cut from subcontractors, this money is still well-earned. It takes great skill and experience to coordinate the different trades on site.

Many people attempt to do this work themselves and get into huge problems. They end up spending more money and have to deal with the stress. It is possible to do some specific, well-defined tasks (e.g., laying carpet), but I recommend that you use one contractor to oversee the entire project.