There is a (not altogether unfounded) perception that finding people to work on your project is challenging and almost always fraught with disappointment. While it’s not true in most cases, there does remain some stigma and wariness in this area, and it’s not always an easy situation to get right.
Any self-build project will need trades on site at some stage. Most builds need them from the very beginning. So how can you make it a successful project where you and the trades you employ work in harmony together?
As a homeowner taking on a build project, you will undoubtedly want the best people for the job, for the best price, all completed to a timely schedule. Engaging with trades from the start is therefore essential in forming a great working relationship that will last throughout the project. And how do you do that? “The overriding thing to keep in mind when getting your builder (and trades) on board is clarity. Specifically, clarity of vision, of design, of information, of working conditions, of costs and of the terms and conditions of engagement,” says chartered surveyor and self-build expert Bob Branscombe. “Achieving this is challenging, and takes time and effort.” So being organised from the very beginning will put you in good stead to be able to deal with a build project, and with the trades who
