When you are thinking of doing some building work, who should you hire? Do you use a large, established building firm or opt for the conscientious, more personal sole-trader to build your home extension?

Here we look at the pros and cons for both but ultimately, whatever building outfit you choose, make sure you do your research and trust your own instincts. If you are planning a big home extension, these builders are going to be in your home for months. There are three key considerations:

1. Pick a builder that you can get on with.
2. Choose a builder that will see things from your point of view.
3. Check your quotes and use a builder that will come in on budget
   

Choosing a One Man Band

Pros: When you find an independent builder who you can work with, it feels like you have won the lottery. You know exactly who is going to turn up every day, they will soon know your property inside-out – and will know what goes where, why and how so there are no worries about misunderstandings with lots of different contractors on site. There is only one of them, so you get their full attention. And, usually they won’t be juggling several jobs at the same time. Depending on the builder, they will also be up for a design that is more quirky and personal rather than the out-of-the box style conversion that everyone has.

If you want to be more involved, then working with an independent builder will provide more opportunity to project manage the build and keep an eye on costs.  You can assemble your own architect, builder + design team. But you do need to be clear from the start what your input will be.

Cons: Size is important! If you are planning on a total palatial 5-bedroom rebuild, then a one-man band is not going to cut it. And vice versa. A big, high-end construction company will not want to put in a downstairs utility room. You need to choose the right team for the right job. So, check your builder’s most recent work. Is it on a similar scale to what you are planning?

And what about timeframes? If you have ever watched DIY SOS, you will know that many hands make light work. If you have got one builder, there is only so much that they can do in a day!

If things go wrong, if you fall out over the contract, or your builder falls ill, there is no one else you can deal with. You are stuck and so is your build.

Choosing A Building Firm

How many times have you picked up a glossy local magazine and drooled over the adverts of the dream loft conversions and extensions the big firms can offer in your area?

PROS: Picking an established and reputable building firm means they will have a slick, well –oiled process of getting your build done on time. They will have a small army of contractors and skilled labour to bring in on the build to make sure everything runs to schedule. And for many, that offer of a one-stop-shop for all your building requirements is a tempting mix for peace of mind.

CONS: It may cost a lot more (well, they have to cover all their marketing costs for those glossy ads), and the experience can be less personal. A firm will have several different projects on the go, so you could have different teams working on your home at different times. The person who sold you your dream, might not be the one who works on site with you. Make sure you find out who will be your one building contact.

Ultimately, when choosing a builder, always put it out to tender and get 3-5 different quotes from a variety of building outfits. By being diligent at this stage and choosing a builder or building firm that is right for the size of your project, has stood the test of time and has the reputation of being honest and fair, you can avoid many major arguments, hiccups and headaches further down the line.