Choosing a builder in Worcestershire: 10 questions to ask before you hire

We've been building across Worcestershire for over 35 years. In that time we've been called in to finish more than a few jobs that started with the wrong builder. Here are the ten questions we'd tell a friend to ask before they sign anything.

The ten questions

1. Who owns the business? A family-run firm has a name to protect. Ask who's actually going to run the job on site.
2. How long have you been trading? Longevity matters. Anyone can print a website.
3. Are you insured? Public liability, employers' liability and contract works — all of them.
4. What are your qualifications? CITB, CIOB, City & Guilds, SMSTS, UKATA and Guild of Bricklayers are all real, checkable credentials.
5. Do you work under CDM 2015? If they look blank, walk away.
6. Who are your sub-contractors? A vetted, long-standing team matters — one-off tradespeople scraped off a job board don't.
7. Can I see recent similar projects and speak to those clients? A yes here is worth a lot.
8. Do you provide a written programme and cost breakdown? Rough numbers on the back of a business card are a red flag.
9. What happens if there's a variation? Get the variations process in writing before you start.
10. Who's my point of contact day-to-day? You want a named person you can pick up the phone to.

What we do

Every JRC project is personally run by John or Jack — the same two people you meet on the doorstep are the ones on your site. See our reviews or request a free quote.