Homeowner advice centre

Before you hire

• Write a one-page brief. Scope, rough budget, must-haves, nice-to-haves, deadline. Send the same brief to every trade so you can compare like-for-like.
• Get at least three quotes. Reject the cheapest if it skips prep, waste or VAT — that's where the surprise bills live.
• Check the basics: public liability insurance (£2m minimum), Gas Safe / NICEIC for gas and electrics, and a trading address you can actually visit.

Deposits and payment

• Never pay more than 20–25% deposit, and only for materials being ordered up-front.
• Use staged payments tied to milestones (first fix complete, plastering signed off, etc.) — not calendar dates.
• Hold back a 5% retention for 14 days after handover so snags actually get fixed.

Contracts

A simple written contract beats a 40-page legal pack. It needs: scope, exclusions, price, payment schedule, start and end dates, variation process, and what happens if either side walks away. The JCT Home Owner contract is free and well-tested for projects under £100k.

Building regs & planning

• Permitted Development covers most single-storey rear extensions, loft dormers (not in conservation areas) and internal layout changes.
• Building Control sign-off is required for structural, drainage, electrical and energy-efficiency work — even when planning isn't.
• Never accept "we don't need certificates" — when you sell, the buyer's solicitor will ask, and missing paperwork can knock 5–10% off your sale price.

Snagging & handover

Walk every room with the trade before final payment. Use a torch and a spirit level. Photograph each issue, list them on one document, agree a fix-by date, then pay the balance once they're done. Don't release retention until snags are signed off in writing.

Spotting a cowboy

• Cash-only, vague address, mobile-only contact.
• Wants more than 30% up-front.
• No itemised quote — just a single number.
• Pressures you to "decide today" for a discount.
• Can't produce insurance or trade-body membership when asked.

Every tradesperson on RefurbMatch is ID-checked, insurance-verified and reviewed by previous customers. Post your project to get up to 4 free quotes.