Once you have interviewed builders, checked their references and received written price quotes from those you are interested in hiring, it’s time to decide who will be doing your job
Builders should be allowed adequate time to prepare a quote for your
project and you must ensure that each builder is working with the same
plans and specifications. It may be helpful for the builder to present
their quote in person, so that they can discuss each aspect with you
and answer any question you may have. Once you have met with the
builders who are quoting on your job, you should review each set of
quote documents carefully before deciding who to hire.
- You should compare every
aspect of their quotes – the description of the work, specifications
(materials and products), price and allowances, deposit and payment
milestones, project schedule and any additional recommendations or
ideas for your project.
- You should also review the
information you collected during and after your initial round of
builder interviews – your initial impressions of each builder and what
their previous customers had to say about them.
You must decide on the importance of each aspect of your evaluation.
While overall price is important, it is only one factor. Many
homeowners who have successfully completed major home renovations speak
about the importance of ‘peace of mind’ – working with a builder they
trusted and felt confident in.
If you have a particularly strong sense of confidence in one builder,
they are probably your best choice, even if their price is not the
lowest. In the end, you should choose the builder based on your sense
of the overall value they can provide to you.
Be sure to use a professional you can trust. HIA members adhere to a strict code of conduct. To get the most out of your next project, contact an HIA member near you by visiting tradebuild.com.au.