Questions to ask builder's previous clients

Paudi04

Going to visit houses built by a builder i am thinking of using for my build. he is showing me two houses. What important points/questions should i ask his previous clients?? Im going this saturday. Just gonna throw it out there. Thanks

Kristopherus

Paudi04 wrote: »

Going to visit houses built by a builder i am thinking of using for my build. he is showing me two houses. What important points/questions should i ask his previous clients?? Im going this saturday. Just gonna throw it out there. Thanks

You'd be better off getting a list of the houses he built in the last 18 months and doing your own research, imo. Have you any way of knowing that he won't have the householders primed?

Paudi04

Kristopherus wrote: »

You'd be better off getting a list of the houses he built in the last 18 months and doing your own research, imo. Have you any way of knowing that he won't have the householders primed?

Was sort of thinking if he was a bad builder could a client really hide that. I know I wouldn't be able to. He has told the householder that we would be coming alright. Couldn't expect just to land out at a house unannounced. I have heard that he is a good builder but never spoken to any of his clients or saw his work. Thanks for quick reply.:)

tred

Paudi04 wrote: »

Was sort of thinking if he was a bad builder could a client really hide that. I know I wouldn't be able to. He has told the householder that we would be coming alright. Couldn't expect just to land out at a house unannounced. I have heard that he is a good builder but never spoken to any of his clients or saw his work. Thanks for quick reply.:)

and how would u know he built them either....local independent knowledge is vital!

sas

tred wrote: »

and how would u know he built them either....local independent knowledge is vital!

Or that you aren't visiting his brother in law!

I heard a story of a builder that once brought a couple to a house to view his work. Turned out on the day that the occupants had been called away suddenly but they were able to view the extension from outside and inspect landscaping etc.

The couple discovered later that he had never set foot in that house and that they had been trespassing while "viewing his work"

daver123

Paudi04 wrote: »

Going to visit houses built by a builder i am thinking of using for my build. he is showing me two houses. What important points/questions should i ask his previous clients?? Im going this saturday. Just gonna throw it out there. Thanks

Ask the client did the builder stick to the schedule and were they charged much over the agreed price for extras that were not on the drawings

wirehairmax

daver123 wrote: »

Ask the client did the builder stick to the schedule and were they charged much over the agreed price for extras that were not on the drawings

Well if the extras are not on the drawing, of course they are going to be charged for them.

Peplum

Questions to ask:

• Was the project completed on time and on budget
• Were there any difficulties with extras
• Was the engineer happy to sign the cert of compliance on completion: were there any issues between the engineer and the builder during the build
• Aftercare: has the builder been quick to respond to any issues that arose once they'd moved into the house (minor things always crop up)

You can ask other questions relating to his workmanship etc, but it's even better if you are visiting the house as you can inspect the quality of his finishes yourself

DOCARCH

wirehairmax wrote: »

Well if the extras are not on the drawing, of course they are going to be charged for them.

Yeah, but some guys go to town on that! There are the 'Ah..love..that'll cost ya types' and other guys who are very reasonable with extras.

Another architect told me when meeting a builder for the first time to check out his hands! If they are very clean and well kept, he probably spends too much time at a desk/on the computer generating claims for extras!

fclauson

our builder favorite reply was "not a bother" and "let me price that variation so we can discuss"

these two got s through the whole build with out a single argument !!!!

mfceiling

Very simple questions.

Was the builder easy to get on with.
How did you work out with payments.
Was he clean and tidy.
Did he finish stages at agreed times (weather permitting)
Any disgruntled Subbies looking for money ie electrician/plumber/plasterer/painter
Would you use him again.
Did he come back easy enough for snags.
Are you happy with your new home.

Paudi04

Thanks to all who posted. Met with the builder's previous clients and viewed his workmanship today. I have to say very happy with the feedback I got and with what I viewed. The questions posted here helped me a lot and made my decision alot easier!! Thanks again!