The process of finding tradespeople may seem easy on paper, but the challenge comes from finding the right one for your project.
As self-build architects, we'll give you plenty of resources in terms of where to look, but we won't necessarily be helping you with every individual tradesperson.
If you are looking for that level of assistance, it would be a good idea to hire an external project manager. This can give you the assurance that someone who understands construction and pricing is having oversight on the project.
When you're starting to look for your builders, plumbers, electricians and any other specialists, there are plenty of online organisations you can look at to find out who is best suited to your project.
These show that the person has gone through a certain level of vetting and training to become a member of that organisation.
To give an example, if you're thinking about doing timber construction and looking for specialised builders, The Structural Timber Association is a reliable organisation that hosts a registry of members you can look through.
Additionally, you should be looking for tradespeople who have the appropriate insurance in place to carry out your project.
Here are a few resources you can use:
Amid all the modern digital methods used to source contractors, word of mouth is an effective measure of finding the right people near you.
Once you get that first tradesperson in, don’t be afraid to ask them for their recommendations for the other roles that require filling. Experienced contractors often have their own network of people they have worked with on previous projects.
There are some jobs you can carry out yourself but be careful with the ones that require a building inspector. If the work doesn’t meet the inspector’s standards, this can have major repercussions on your timeframe.
Taking on odd jobs around the building site can be a way to get labour costs down. If you have the time and ability, don’t shy away from getting stuck in.
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“A common question our self-builders ask is ‘What are the best ways to cut costs?’ If you have the ability to carry out tasks on-site yourself, you can save yourself a lot of money in the long run. Often around 50% of the total cost of your build will go to labour.”
- Jenny Chandela, US Registered Architect
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WHO IS RESPONSIBLE FOR MANAGING THESE TRADES?
The individual registered as a principal contractor is the one responsible for communicating and managing these trades. This person is also responsible for the health and safety on-site, and dealing with the back and forth from building control inspectors who pass through.
If any issues involving your tradespeople and their work arise, the principal contractor is the one in charge of resolving them.
These are things to keep in mind when deciding if you're going to take charge of your project’s construction.
ASK FOR QUOTES
We at AC Architects recommend obtaining multiple quotes from different tradespeople in your local area. Additionally, try to get these quotes written or documented, to give you a better understanding of the T's and C's.
As architects specialising in self-build, we can look at these quotes to make sure you’re getting a fair deal.
You can get these quotes over the phone, in person or online. Checkatrade’s ‘Request A Quote’ page is a good example of an online resource that can be used to find quotes for your build.
We also recommend having stage payments for your trades, as this assures you the job will be completed, and also puts less strain on your cash flow. This is dependent on your financial situation of course.
WHO CAN HELP ME?