Avoiding cowboy builders is not easy. Just to illustrate this, in the UK alone there are over 100,000 complaints a year against what we call ‘cowboy’ builders. It is so bad that TV programmes have even started to be made about them. The problem is you do not need any official qualifications to be a builder in the UK. So the profession is littered with people who are unprofessional and not skilled – they operate in a grey area of the law much like cowboys did in the late 19th Century USA – hence ‘cowboy’ builders.

So how do you avoid these cowboy builders?
Cowboy builders are a fact of life. But there are lots of things that you can do to avoid getting one. Here are 12 top tips you can do to avoid being caught by people determined to exploit others:

1. Avoiding cowboy builders for one thing means don’t just accept the offer of the first builder you come across. Look for at least 3 quotes from reputable businesses.

2. Find out about them. For example, get the builder’s actual business address as well as their phone or email details.

3. Check out their professional credentials. Do they possess ‘competency’ certificates or qualifications, and are they members of an accredited association? Rogue and cowboy builders are usually not.

4. Ask for references and check them out. Reputable service providers will collect testimonials and examples of their work. Check that these are genuine. Most are proud and only too willing to produce evidence like this.

5. Keep detailed notes of all conversations you have with a builder, including dates and prices etc. and document any important matters you agree in writing.

6. Insist on a quotation. Get a written detailed quotation from potential providers

7. Avoid cowboy builders by documenting any changes to the quotation and insist on receiving a new amended version each time a change is made.

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8. Ask your builder for a timetable of events for completing the project and agree any changes to this together. Always have in your possession the latest agreed project timetable.

9.Try and pay for each stage of the building work as it is completed. Never pay a builder up front all of the cost. Agree payment terms and installments in advance, and avoid paying any money upfront.

10. Price and quality. Remember, when choosing a business there is often a trade off between price and quality — the better quality work and/or materials the higher the price is likely to be. Don’t expect to get the best quality for the lowest price

11. Examine progress. As the work proceeds, personally inspect each phase as you go and don’t pay for it unless you are satisfied with it

12. Project Manager. If the project is particularly large consider employing a project manager. They will charge you for managing the work on your behalf but will relieve you of the day-to-day management and hassle.

To avoid cowboy builders means you have to be very very careful. There are plenty other things we could advise to avoid cowboy builders and suggest but these are the main points to consider. If you keep to these you shouldn’t go far wrong and should be protected from anyone trying to exploit or cheat.

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