Finding the best builders near you is the first step towards your perfect renovation, extension or new build. But with so many local builders to choose from, how do you separate the wheat from the chaff?

In this post, we’ll look at four key factors in your search for the best local builders.

1. Are they near you?

The first question to ask is whether builders are actually near you. Some builders will present themselves as a local firm, when they’re in fact based further afield.

It’s not uncommon for builders to have multiple websites targeting different areas, for instance, and then subcontract the work to someone nearby. While you would eventually be getting a local builder, it might not be the one you expected.

To make sure builders are actually near you, be sure to check for a local phone number and address.

2. Local experience

When it comes to something as important as your home, you want any workers to be experienced. Ideally, you want that experience to be local too. Working in the same area for several years or even decades is real test of quality and service.

Having plenty of experience near you will also give builders a good understanding of local properties. With many neighbouring homes built at a similar time, they often have the same structure, design and materials, all of which will give builders a better starting point for work on your home.

Working locally, builders will even know all the best local suppliers. That will help them get the best materials at a fair price with savings passed on to you. On the flipside, if a builder has experience but only in other areas, is raises questions as to why they’re moving about so much – and have to go further afield to find customers.

3. Accreditations

As with any contractor, you want local builders to have accreditations and memberships to back up their experience and expertise. Here are some key names to look out for:

Constructionline

Constructionline assesses all its members to make sure they’re adhering to high standards across the board. From environmental and quality management to equal opportunities and anti-corruption, you can rest assured Constructionline members are companies you can trust.

CHAS Accredited

The Contractors’ Health and Safety Assessment Scheme (CHAS) is the go-to authority for contractors’ compliance with health and safety guidelines. CHAS accreditation shows that builders near you comply with health and safety, environmental requirements, equality and diversity, and more.

Checkatrade

As well as running strict background checks on all its members, Checkatrade provides a platform for customers to post feedback on all their members’ work. They’ve published over 5 million reviews to date, meaning it’s a good way to see if local builders are confident in the standard of their work – as well as seeing what other people think of it.

4. Local reviews

That leads us nicely onto the final point – reviews. They say the proof of the pudding is in the eating. Who better to tell you about a local builder’s work than the people whose homes they’ve been working on?

Check for local builders’ reviews on sites like Facebook and Google to see what previous and existing customers think of their work – and highlight any potential problems before working with them.

Your local team of builders in Sheffield’s

Precision Builders is a team of experienced, reliable builders operating in Sheffield and the surrounding areas. Dedicated to South Yorkshire, we have a wealth of local experience with accreditations and great reviews to boot.

If you want to find out more about our work and how we can help you, don’t hesitate to get in touch with our builders near you. Call us on 0114 243 6911 or email [email protected].