The contractor you choose has a huge impact on cost, quality, programme and stress. Taking time to vet contractors properly is one of the best investments you can make before building or renovating. Here is how to choose a building contractor with confidence.

1. To choose a building contractor, check registration first

For new homes, the builder should generally be registered with the NHBRC. For regulated trades such as electrical, plumbing and gas work, make sure the people doing the work are registered or authorised to issue the required certificates.

2. Ask for references and visit past work

Ask for recent references from similar projects and actually call them. Ask whether the work was finished on time, on budget and to a good standard, and how problems were handled. If possible, see completed work in person.

3. Get detailed, comparable quotes

Get quotes from more than one contractor, based on the same scope and specification. Compare them line by line. Watch for exclusions, provisional sums and vague items.

4. Look at how they communicate

How a contractor communicates during quoting is often how they’ll communicate during the project. Are they responsive, clear and organised?

5. Confirm insurance

Ask what insurance they carry, such as contract works and public liability, and request proof.

6. Check health and safety approach

Ask how they manage safety on site. A contractor who takes safety seriously usually runs a more organised project overall.

7. Use a written contract

Agree scope, price, programme, payment terms, variations and defects responsibilities in writing. For larger projects, a standard building contract may be appropriate.

8. Agree fair payment terms

Avoid large upfront payments. Link payments to completed and inspected work.

Red flags

• Pressure to sign or pay quickly
• Requests for large cash deposits
• No physical address or verifiable references
• Unwillingness to put things in writing
• Quotes far below others with no clear explanation

Before you start looking

The best way to choose a building contractor is to be clear about what you want first. Contractors can only price what you describe. Before you approach anyone, have:

• A written scope of work, room by room
• Approved plans where they’re needed
• A list of finishes, or at least clear allowances
• A realistic budget range
• Your preferred start date and any fixed deadlines

The clearer your information, the more accurate and comparable the quotes will be.

Questions to ask in the first meeting

A first meeting tells you a lot. Useful questions include:

• What similar projects have you done recently?
• Who will run the site day to day, and how often will you be there?
• Which trades do you do in-house, and which do you subcontract?
• How do you handle variations and extra work?
• How will you keep me updated on progress?
• What do you need from me to keep the project on track?

Listen to how they answer as much as what they say. Clear, direct answers are a good sign.

Checking references properly

When you speak to past clients, go beyond “were you happy?” Ask:

• Did the project finish when expected? If not, why?
• Was the final cost close to the quote?
• How did the contractor handle problems or changes?
• Did they clean up and leave the site tidy?
• How did they deal with defects after handover?
• Would you use them again?

Understanding the quote

A good quote is detailed. It should show the main items of work, the materials or allowances, what’s excluded and how long the work will take. Be cautious of a single lump sum with little detail. Ask questions about anything you don’t understand, before you sign.

After you appoint

Choosing well is half the job. The other half is managing the relationship. Agree how often you’ll meet or get updates, keep changes in writing and pay on time for work properly completed. Contractors who are treated fairly and paid on time tend to give the project their best people and attention.

When to get help

If the project is large, you’re not available to oversee it, or you simply don’t feel confident judging quotes and contracts, it’s worth getting a project manager involved from the start. Getting help early to choose a building contractor is much cheaper than trying to fix a bad appointment halfway through a project.

Trust your instincts, but check the facts

Sometimes a contractor looks good on paper but something doesn’t feel right. They’re hard to reach, the answers keep changing or the paperwork never quite arrives. Other times, a contractor makes a good impression but you haven’t checked the details yet. In both cases, slow down and check the facts: registration, references, insurance and a proper written quote. A good contractor won’t mind you checking. In fact, the best ones usually expect it, because they know a careful client is easier to work with than one who signs without reading. Taking an extra week to vet properly is a small price compared to months of problems.

Final thought

A good contractor makes a project far smoother. Vetting takes time upfront, but it protects your budget, your property and your peace of mind.

Related reading: JBCC vs a Simple Quote, NHBRC Enrolment for Homeowners and What Does a Construction Project Manager Actually Do?.

Planning a build, renovation or fit-out in Gauteng? Call or WhatsApp me on 082 44 00 421, email unclemerwe@gmail.com or visit my homepage to see how I work.