Finding the right person to take care of your essential home building repairs in Derby can be difficult. There are so many contractors in the industry who claim to be experts in their field, but how do you know which one will meet your needs and budget? We’ve put together a few pointers that will help you choose a professional building and repair company that is reliable, affordable, and will treat your home with the respect it deserves.
Take a look at social media accounts to check authenticity.
When you’re doing your research, a good place to start is the social media accounts of the businesses providing essential home building repairs. Take the time to have a scroll and see if there are any recent updates. Regularly updating the likes of Facebook and Instagram doesn’t necessarily reflect the quality of their work, but it’s a good indication as to whether the company in question is authentic. If their social media pages haven’t been updated for months, it could be a red flag that they are no longer in business or don’t prioritise communicating with potential clients.
Social media accounts are also a good place to look for photos of projects that have been completed in the past. So, give any companies you’re thinking of contacting a ‘like’ and see what you can find.
Meet up in person to discuss your building and repair project.
Most people you enquire with will suggest meeting in person at your property so they can see where the work needs doing. However, you may get the odd individual who prefers to communicate over email to save time and wants to send over a quote without viewing your home.
ASK Building and Repairs always recommends that you meet face-to-face. Not only will this give you the opportunity to get a feel for the person you’ll be dealing with, but you’ll be able to show them your property and ask any questions you have. This means the quote that follows is more likely to reflect the work that needs to be done accurately because it will have context behind it. It’s also worth remembering that gut feeling counts for a lot, so meeting up will help you decide whether you want that person or the company they represent to work on your home.
Ask to look at photos of past building and repair work.
Choosing a business to complete your essential home repairs is a big decision. To reassure you, it’s a good idea to ask the company in question to show you photos of projects they’ve completed. Any professional company or contractor should understand that you want to do your research and oblige without hesitation. If you’re thinking of having some painting and decorating work done, for example, you could ask to see some pictures of rooms that the contractors have updated in the past.
For extra peace of mind, you could request the contact details of previous customers and speak to them about their experience of using the building and home repair company in question. Of course, the phone number or email address of the customer could only be given to you with their permission, but it’s an extra option if you want to do a thorough check of a business’s credentials.
Get everything in writing.
When you receive a quote from a building and repair company, make sure it’s a written version that you can keep and refer back to. Even if you’re given a ballpark figure verbally and you know the contractor well, a formal confirmation should follow. Any reputable business should send a potential customer a written quote of how much their essential home building services will cost. What’s more, this should include a breakdown of the work and labour cost involved, along with any payment terms and an estimated time scale for the project to be completed.
It’s important to know where everyone stands from the start and getting it all written down will protect both parties No one wants to find their final invoice contains hidden expenses, so an email containing all the finer details means a mutual understanding is in place before the work begins.
Contact ASK Building & Repairs for advice.
We can help you find the right service to take care of your essential home building repairs. Whether you need advice on which questions to ask potential contractors, or you’d like a no-obligation quote for some work, you can contact us by calling 07773 019 410 or emailing info@askbuildingandrepairs.co.uk.