Moving to a new area is always going to be a mix of excitement and anxiety. You’ll hopefully have found a new home that you can’t wait to move into, and if you’re moving to Solihull then you know that you’re heading somewhere that was voted best place to live in the UK a few years ago. But there are always going to be anxieties about finding the best local shops, the best route to work, your new favourite restaurant, and finding the right contractors to customise your home.
If you’re in need of some excellent local tradespeople to help you achieve your vision for your dream home, here are a few tips to help you get started.
Know What You Want
This sounds a little obvious but it’s important to think about. A contractor’s ability to get the job done exactly how you want it depends on you knowing what that is. They might be able to help you to throw some ideas around, but you can really help by sitting down ahead of time and figuring out exactly what you want. Then, they’ll be able to tell you whether it’s feasible, how long it might take and what it might cost.
Set A Budget And A Timetable
The next step before you get in touch with any contractors is to know how much you’ve got available to spend. A good contractor will tell you if your budget is unrealistic for the project that you’ve got in mind, and knowing how much you can afford ahead of time will keep you from overcommitting and overspending. Times are tight for everyone right now, so it’s important to do everything that you can to manage this project financially.
A schedule is the next important step. Overruns aren’t just inconvenient, they’re costly too. You also need to take the weather into account, as severe rain and wind can cause delays. You should rethink your plan if it seems like it’s just not feasible for the amount of money and time that you have. It’s also a good idea to give yourself a small cushion for your budget and your schedule, as there’s always going to be something that you can’t plan for.
Look For Good Feedback
You’re probably not going to be able to pick up the phone and ask your favourite contractor to pop around if you’ve just moved to a new area. The good news is that you’re not going to struggle to find excellent tradespeople in Solihull. The best place is start is by looking for excellent reviews. Say you’re looking for bricklayers near you to help with an extension or a new wall. There’ll be lots of people out there who will tell you that they’re the perfect person for the job.
Online reviews and feedback will show you what previous clients have to say about their work and can cut down the risk of you making a mistake. You can search on MyBuilder for a bricklayer and see previous reviews instantly. How it works is that you post your job, and contractors will bid on it. Then you can comb through feedback and decide whether they’re the right one for you.
Look For Open And Honest Communication
Following on from the earlier point about honesty over price, it’s really important to find a contractor who’s going to be a straight shooter. You don’t want to be told what you want to hear and end up living in a building site for months because they never said that your schedule wasn’t realistic.
A good contractor should be easy to contact, and they should also be honest about any potential challenges that might come up. For example, there have been a lot of stories about supply chain issues and shortages of construction supplies. That’s something you need to know about if you’re committing to a lengthy project. Don’t be put off if your contractor disagrees with you.
Look For Local Experience
This is an important point for anyone considering major work on their property. Local experience isn’t just about knowing where your road is. It’s about knowing what kind of issues crop up a lot in the area. It’s about knowing how certain materials hold up against the weather specific to the region, and it’s about knowing who the best suppliers are to deal with. And that’s what it really boils down to when you pay for local. You’re not just paying for convenience; you’re paying for everything that you don’t know and maybe don’t know that you need to know.
