Find a builder - How to find a builder online

In many ways, trying find a builder online is no different to finding a builder in your local phone book. You search and select 2 or 3 and e-mail them (instead of phoning), then wait for them to turn up.

The first one doesn't do jobs that small/big. The second one can't start for 3 months and the third can start straight away as long as you have the £3000 deposit by morning "cash please."

Wouldn't it be great if you could find a builder by placing a free advert in a magazine read by builders.

Quality builder required to build extension.
Approx. 15 sq metres floor space, tiled sloping roof.
Planning approval acquired.
Ready to start in 4 weeks.
Quotes being accepted now.
Quality tradesmen only, Cowboys need not apply.

Then you could sit back and wait for the builder to come to you. You wouldn't be wasting your time or the builders because any one coming to see your plans and give you a quote already knows its the type of work they do and that they are available to do it.

We've found a company online called UK-Tradesman that works just like the above, making it so easy to find a builder. Here's how it works:

You select the trade you are after, plumber, architect, plasterer, builder etc. and fill out an online form giving details of the work. These details are then sent to all the appropriate tradesmen in your area that are registered and and have been vetted by UK-Tradesman. At this stage your contact details are not given out.

The first two that let UK-Tradesman know they are available and want the job are given your contact details so that they can then get directly in touch with you.

If you give the job to one of these (you are under no obligation to do so) you are offered a means of giving feedback to UK-Tradesman. This feedback is used to rate each trades professional and UK-Tradesman removes any professionals they deem to be below acceptable standards.

UK-Tradesman review

Whilst giving bad feedback and knowing a builder who made a mess of your extension had been removed from UK-Tradesman's list may give some satisfaction, it would still mean you are left with a bad job. After all, paying another builder to correct faulty work and taking out legal action for compensation is exactly the situation you were trying to avoid by using a recommended builder in the first place!

This, as far as we could tell, was the only flaw in an other wise excellent idea. We contacted David, the brains behind UK-Tradesman and pointed this out. David told us:

"While our members are vetted and many already belong to a Professional Association such as the governments quality mark scheme, it is the amount of work we supply our members together with our feedback system that helps getting a builder who makes a mess of your extension, as you put it, unlikely. We also, for a small fee, provide a building contract which can be downloaded for further peace of mind. We recommend the use of a contract regardless of who does the work."

"We now have over a Hundred people using our service every week.  To date we have not received a single word of complaint about the quality of our members' workmanship and have received only compliments. This is because our trades’ professionals get a lot of business through us and they do not wish to loose the benefits of membership. That's why they endeavour to maintain an excellent reputation with us. This means that a dispute is less likely to occur, and if one does, they are more inclined to resolve the issue to the clients’ satisfaction rather than risk loosing their membership privileges."

Verdict.

We like this service a lot. David has turned the method of finding a professional on its head with his unique service. The feedback system is a great idea because of course, the person/company doing your job knows its in place so is going to be extra keen to please. 

This service is fast. Once you fill out the form the required tradesmen in your area are e-mailed with your jobs details within minutes. The online form is available 24 hours a day 365 days a year.

Its also very convenient. Members range from sole traders to medium sized companies. The small business tradesmen is usually out and about on site working for customers during the day and is often not in a position to take incoming phone calls (which of course is a problem with traditional methods of trying to contact tradesmen). With this service, members can check their e-mails at a time when it suits them and call you back when they have their diary, calculator, maps etc. to hand instead of receiving phone call enquiries when they are up a ladder or driving their van.

If you are trying to find a builder or any other type of construction professional, simply fill out the online form and wait for them to find you.

For more information visit  www.uk-tradesman.net or their sister site www.trades-pro.net