Ensuring your property investment is a success.
Finding the right build team is crucial to the success of your project. The build team you choose will be responsible for the execution of your vision, so it's important to choose a team that you can trust. Here are some tips on how to find and select the best build team for your project:
Ask for referrals One of the best ways to find a reliable build team is to ask for referrals from friends, family, or other property investors. This can help you get an idea of the team's reputation and experience, as people are unlikely to recommend anyone who’s not done a good job.
Check their track record Have a look at previous jobs they’ve completed or even jobs they’ve currently got on, ask if you can go onto a local site and have a look at what standard they’re adhering to. Additionally, go online and check reviews or if they’re active on social media. Often when businesses share their work it’s because they’re proud of it and value their reputation.
Ensure they’re ‘above board’ Before hiring a build team, check their credentials. This includes their licences, certifications, and most importantly insurance. For larger projects it's even worth checking their accounts on Companies House (you don't want to be the one covering their poor cashflow!) All three of these things will speak volumes about their quality of work and protect you should anything go wrong. Always get a written contract signed and if they’re reluctant to sign, think to yourself — why? No good trades person will have any issues with signing a contract to protect both themselves and you.
Communication is key When choosing a build team, make sure to choose a team that communicates well. They should be responsive to your questions and concerns and keep you updated on the progress of your project. Trades are notoriously not the most communicative so it's important to set expectations from the start.
Budget and timeline Make sure to discuss your budget and timeline with the build team before hiring them. This will help ensure that everyone is on the same page and that your project stays on track. Ask them how many jobs they’ve currently got and how many they typically take on at once, to make sure yours isn’t going to be last priority or dropped as soon as a bigger project comes along.
Compatibility Finally, it's important to choose a build team that is compatible with your vision and working style. Make sure to discuss your expectations and goals at the start so it’s clear. There’s nothing worse than you having all these amazing design ideas and then a build team putting in their two pence piece saying it’s not possible, when it really is!
You should treat finding the right build team just as important as choosing the right husband or wife! It is essential to the success of your property development project but also in allowing you to scale your property business. By asking for referrals, checking credentials, communicating well, discussing budget and timeline and choosing a team that is compatible with your vision, you can find the best build team for your project and ensure that your vision is executed to perfection.
