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Starting a building project is a daunting task, and selecting the correct builder is top of the list. Like most industries, construction has a few bad apples, commonly called cowboy builders who rip off unsuspecting customers. These unskilled con men make it hard to determine if you are selecting the real deal, so here are some things to keep in mind to help spot the tell tale signs of a cowboy builder. Forewarned is forearmed, so do some legwork and find out what you can about the builder or company that you are looking at.

Legitimate companies do not operate from the back of a van with a single cell phone as the point of contact, beware of the “man with a van” cowboy builder. Many online review sites offer references from previous clients of builders, and these are the best source of honest reviews. Genuine builders will have a long list of references that they are willing to share with you before committing to any work. Use these referees wisely to get a realistic idea of what to expect if you enter into an agreement with the builder.

The rogue trader often uses friends and family as references, so try to visit and inspect work where possible to avoid this trap. Ask lots of questions to find out if the client was happy with all aspects of the project like the timescales, quality of materials used, and general demeanor of the tradespeople. All that being said, word of mouth references from friends (that you trust) and family is often the best way to find a reliable tradesman.

A project plan is a good idea for many reasons – it will help keep tabs on the project, and it also lets everyone know what they should be doing and when. These plans can vary in complexity from simple lists to convoluted documents, but as long as the financial backer of the project is clear on the plan and the work required for it, then it is one less thing to worry about. After that, the project manager and head builder can work out the details between themselves to achieve the agreed plan. A cowboy builder will run a mile from a plan, (and a timescale) with cries that they cannot commit to something so early on, and that the timescales can change at a moments notice. Start a project without an agreed plan at your peril.

Costing the project is a very important step. Ideally, get at least three quotes from different builders for the same project and this will give an idea of the real market cost. Quotes should list the work that they include and the timescales in which they can be achieved. Cowboy builders will stand out here for two reasons – firstly, they will usually be amazingly low in their quote. This low quote will be on a cash in hand basis – stop there, any work done for cash will have little or no legal comeback. Think about it, if this guy wont pay the taxes on his work, then is it likely that he pays his insurance premiums? Cheap work done will cost later, when things go wrong.

Working out the timing of a project not easy, but is vital to ensure that the project progresses smoothly with materials delivered when they are required so that tradesmen are kept busy. Cowboy builders will “clear their books” for your project to start the next day, which is a sure sign that they are not reputable (or busy), as a respectable builder will be booked weeks in advance and committed to ongoing projects. Visiting the site often is a good way to check progress against the agreed timescales.

Despite all this, it is inevitable that the cowboy builder will snare another victim now and then. If this happens, act quickly to report them to the local police and construction authorities. Keep as many records as possible during projects which can be offered as evidence when trying to track down and get justice from the rogues. As rogue traders are a bit of a media darling of late, you could try publicizing your rogue through local newspapers and television networks and hopefully help get them off the streets before the next unsuspecting client takes them on.

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