A clear, comprehensive guide to employing a contractor, covering conversions/extensions, double glazing, fitted kitchens and other household projects. Find expert advice on: selecting contractors and getting the right price; overseeing works and knowing when to intervene; legal matters, including planning permission and advice on contracts.
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About the Author
Paul Grimaldi is a Projects Manager who has worked mostly in the building services sector of the construction industry for 30 years. For 20 years he has specialised in project engineering and administration. He has spent much of his career working on a freelance basis and has worked for small firms, major corporates, central and local government. He has extensive experience in all aspects of project management and has worked alongside quantity surveyors, lawyers and other construction specialists. His work has involved close contact with architects, general builders, structural and specialist consulting engineers in a wide range of construction projects from domestic to large commercial and municipal.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
61 of 63 people found the following review helpful
By "sanghasri"
Format:Paperback
If I had read this book before employing a builder (from hell) I would have saved myself an enormous amount of stress and problems. Altough it came too late to prevent the existing problems, the information has been invaluable in enabling me to get a clearer understanding of what the core areas of the dispute actually were; how they had arisen; what my rights were; what the builder's rights were; and what the possible ways forward might be.
By following the author's advice in this book, and by not being embarrassed or unwilling to put in the time and effort to negotiate a proper contract with a prospective builder before agreeing to work being done, will benefit a good builder every bit as it will benefit yourself. Both parties will know exactly what to expect and the project will run more smoothly. If, the other hand, you are unfortunate enough to approach a builder who is dishonest, the agreed contract will either have him pinned down enough to prevent any major dispute from arising later or will weed him out at the start because he won't have enough
scope within the contract to diddle you or leave you with awful work and inflated charges.
The book has not been out long and is one that was much needed. The author's many years of experience are distilled into a reader-friendly and clear text which is easy to read and with guidance that is easy to follow.
It is a book written by an expert for the layman and the advice contained in it is as relevant for the small tasks you might want to have done in your property, as it is for larger projects.
Prevention is certainly better than cure when it comes to building work. And this book will help you do just that.
We have become a nation of victims to bad builders. We don't have to be.
I highly recomend it.
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful
By Jonathan
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
Before getting the builders in to do a single-storey rear extension to my house last year, I bought this book along with some others because I'd never dealt with builders before. The book is good, pleasantly written without being in any way patronising or sickly (which is more than I can say for some other books on the subject), and very low on waffle. I found it very useful for getting a handle on the ideal way of doing things. However, here in the wilds of North London, some of its advice turned out to be a little unrealistic. For example, from what I could tell, no builder in London will embark on a job without a "deposit" of about 20% or more. The book pretty much says that only cowboys will ask for any money up front. Perhaps this is a recent trend though, as I note the FMB contract we used didn't provide for a deposit either. I also got the message from all the contractors I spoke to that expecting a breakdown against a detailed quote was also not going to happen, but the book says you can compare between quotes in this way. However, these are minor quibbles overall. If I learnt one thing from the book that was of extreme value, it's to write up a spec in great detail in order to get a fixed quote. Armed with this spec, a signed contract, and a full plans application to the Council before starting the work, we got a very nice extension built with hardly any fuss at all; on time and even slightly below budget!
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
By David L
Format:Paperback
Paul's book is excellent whether you want a small emergency job doing or are embarking on a huge project.
I have found it most useful in all the work I have commissioned.
If you have read it then any cowboys will be able to tell you know your stuff and will run a mile.
I have found it most useful in all the work I have commissioned.
If you have read it then any cowboys will be able to tell you know your stuff and will run a mile.
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