Honesty in the building profession is sadly not always a priority. Thereare some cowboys out there just waiting to take money from unsuspectinghomeowners. While recommendations from friends and family help, it is importantto find out if a tradesperson has the right skills to complete the job. Buildinga garden wall is not the same as building an extension onto your home.

You don't have to put up with poor service and workmanship either. Checkthat the firm/tradesperson you are thinking of using is a member of theGovernment supported TrustMark-registered scheme () or is on the register of theNational Federation of Builders ().

What to do in an emergency

You can still vet a tradesperson in a building emergency. If you only havetime to do initial checks by phone, ask what the call-out charge is, the hourlyrate and if their prices include VAT. Check if they carry spare parts andmaterials in their van or if they assess the job and then go and buy thematerials needed. If the later is the case, ask if you will be charged for thetime it takes them to go and buy the materials. Also ask for an estimate of howlong the job will take to finish and an idea of the total cost. Insurance isanother point to raise. Check if the firm/tradesperson has insurance and ifthey offer a guarantee or warranty on their work.

Make an informed decision

Hopefully you won't have to make a quick decision. If you have the time,make sure you assess the skills, workmanship and history of the tradespersonyou are considering for your job. An honest tradesperson should be able toprovide references that you can check. Take the time to actually go and inspecttheir work.

It is also important to note that when you are looking at quotes, make sureyou compare like for like. If one quote is a lot cheaper than the others, findout why.

Draw up a work plan

Once you've done your detective work and have made your choice, you nowneed a work specification agreement. This written document should includespecific details like what work you want done, who is responsible for removingrubbish, and who is responsible for ?making good? on completion of the work. Ifat any time during the building process changes are made, you need to amendyour work specification agreement. This ensures that both you and thetradesperson are clear on all details of the work. You should also ensure thatthe tradesperson states in writing that all work will conform to BuildingRegulations. As the owner of the building, you are legally responsible if theydon't.

Money Matters

To avoid any unpleasant situations, draw up a payment schedule before thework gets underway. Ideally all payments should reflect the amount of workcompleted.

Advanced payments are not unusual in the building trade but they are notfor the benefit of homeowners. Try to retain a portion of the total cost untilone month after the job is finished. This allows you time to find anyproblems/defects with the work and incentivise thetradesperson to make them right sooner rather than later. If you are havingcustom-built items made, in most cases you will have to pay for them upfront.

You need to notify your insurer of any work you have had done to your home.It may affect your home insurance policy. For a home insurance quote and moreinformation about the types of home insurance available from Churchill, visit .