Last year homeowners were duped out of £260 million by dodgy builders doing slapdash work, according to research for FMB.
FMB writes:
The research shows that almost half of homeowners (48%) are losing out by paying builders for the total project in cash, in an attempt to avoid paying VAT. Over one in 10 (11%) homeowners were left with badly done building work and of these, a shocking 76% paid for the job in cash.*
Around 200,000 building projects take place in British homes each year with the average home building job costing £15,740, this amounts to £260 million being wasted on shoddy jobs.
Brian Berry, spokesperson for the FMB’s Master Builder of the Year Awards, explains: ?’Before employing a builder, it is vital to carry out checks to make sure you are using someone reputable, such as an FMB builder. Choosing your builder on price alone can be a false economy which may neither add value to your property nor make for a smooth building project.
‘There are plenty of great builders out there, as seen in the entries to the FMB’s Master Builder of The Year Awards – the search for the best builders in Britain. The winners show that choosing the right builder makes the difference between having a dream home or a financial nightmare.’
Architect and Channel 4 presenter George Clarke, who will host the Master Builder of the Year Awards, adds: ?’If you pay a builder large amounts of cash upfront then you leave yourself vulnerable to them increasing the price or walking off the job half-way through and you don’t have any warranty if it all goes wrong. By using a reputable builder, signing a contract, and organising staged payments with receipts, you will have recourse if it all goes wrong’.
If you have used a great builder over the last year, nominate them for the Master Builder of The Year Awards at: LINK
For the award see: LINK
FMB News: LINK
