2. Local Builder — "Four Signs You're About to Hire the Wrong Builder"
Most building horror stories don't start with a disaster. They start with a normal-looking quote from someone who seemed perfectly reasonable at the time. Here's what's worth noticing before you sign anything.
They can't (or won't) show you recent work nearby. A builder who's genuinely active in your area should be able to point to a job completed in the last few months, ideally one you could walk past. Vague answers, out-of-date photos, or references who "aren't available right now" are worth pausing over.
The quote has no breakdown. A single lump-sum figure with no itemization — materials, labour, contingency — makes it almost impossible to know what you're actually paying for, and even harder to query anything later. A proper quote separates these out, even roughly.
They push for a large deposit upfront. Paying a deposit is normal, especially for materials. But a request for 50% or more before any work has started is worth thinking about very carefully — it removes your leverage if the job stalls.
The guarantee on the work is vague. If the answer to how long the work is guaranteed for is along the lines of “my work is so good that you won’t have any problems, but of course if you do I would fix anything that goes wrong”, be careful. A reliable builder should be able to give you a straight answer.
None of these on their own are proof of a bad builder. But two or three together are worth taking seriously before you commit — a good tradesperson won't mind you asking, and a bad one usually will.
If you'd like a second opinion on a quote you've been given, or want to talk through a project before it starts, get in touch — no obligation, no hard sell.