Once you have decided on the builder who is going to carry out your refurb there are a couple of essentials you want to ask from him before he starts
These are just to put your mind at rest and protect you
Insurances
These are the first thing you want to see. These should be Public liability, Employers liability and Contractors all risk. Do not let work start until you have copies of these
CDM Liability
Confirm in writing that he is happy to assume CDM responsibilities and will undertake the duties of Principal Contractor
Understood survey findings
If you are doing any structural alterations as part of the refurbishment works then you should have got a Refurbishment and Demolition survey. A homebuyers survey is not enough. If the R+D survey has detected the presence of asbestos make sure your builder has taken this into account and will take the correct steps to deal with it
Competency Matrix
This is a list of everyone who will be working on your project. It will list their trade skills and records of their Health and Safety training. It will also list anyone who has had First Aid training along with anyone who has any special skills such as digger driver or scaffold erector
Signed Contract
If you don’t have one of these in place then you are basically just giving a large amount of money to him and hoping for the best
If you have all of these in place before your project starts you will have a great deal of legal protection against any unforeseen incidents. You will also be in a good position if there are any disagreements regarding quality of work or money
These are just a few basic things to give you peace of mind before work starts
What you will need to give the builder
Don’t forget a project is a 2 way thing
Just as you require certain things from your builder, he will require certain things from you
Make sure you have the correct drawings, detailed spec and a programme ready for him
If you have agreed to supply any materials make sure you have got the deliveries organised
Don’t expect him to be a mind reader and know what you want
Discuss everything with him and be precise on details
Its no good complaining your builder is no good if you havent explained everything to him
If you have followed all the above steps, you will have built a solid foundation for a successful project
Of course things can still go wrong and will need to be dealt with at the time when they arise
If you need any help with a project please contact us