You’ve signed contracts, reckoned with removal firms, plonked your settee in the living room, and prepared to start a new life in your dream home. Yet a house is almost never a settled entity. Every room is a broad canvas waiting to be painted on, and new additions and improvements are always a possibility.
But as a quick check of MyBuilder or CheckATrade illustrates, finding the right people for the job is about as complex as Infinite Jest. There are many reputable traders, and then there are those that are exemplars of the practice, providing effective customer service and quality craftsmanship that puts them head and shoulders above the average.
How do you sift the wheat from the chaff? For a start, you can peruse the list below, which highlights a grab-bag of tradespersons and material suppliers that have a reputation for excellence.
1. Lonsdale Metal.
Whether you live in the wet and windy Highlands of Scotland or the temperate suburbs of South London, one rule always holds true in a home: the more windows the better. Lonsdale Metal has a similar ethos, providing glass roofs that let in sunlight or let you gaze at the stars from the comfort of your conservatory.
Established more than 70 years ago, the company has weathered the strains of time because of an intimate knowledge of its area of expertise and a reputation for efficient, effective service for both small and large-scale providers.
2. DIY Assist.
If you’re hoping to get handy, then taking ‘do it yourself’ too literally will lead you on a hiding to nowhere. Before you start swinging a sledgehammer at the shoddy drywall in your front room, consultations with consultants like DIY Assist are a potential cash saver.
This company is designed to provide advice on how to tackle your DIY, either by helping you learn the basics of project management, giving you reassurance on your skillset, acting as a sounding board to help you assess the viability of tasks, or even making sure you’ve got the right tools for the job.
This brand offers video consultations, face-to-face meetings or new home consultations, and can even provide ‘hands-on’ sessions, during which time a professional will be right alongside you while you tackle your DIY.
3. Probuild.
Right, time for a big job: grappling with a home extension is something that even the most avid DIY expert would struggle to manage on their own.
But companies like Probuild offer extensive extension design and building services. These can vary from single- to multi-storey extensions, giving you more room for a home office, extra bedroom, games room, or anything else you can dream up.
4. British Institute of Interior Design.
If you’ve got some spare lucre lying around, then hiring an interior designer is a useful way to transform your home from a bag of ideas and personal quirks to an intricately colour-coordinated haven of luxury.
The British Institute of Interior Design is one of the more reliable sources if you’re hunting for an interior designer. Its members have all reached BIID Registered Interior Designer® status and have extensive portfolios available online. Find one that chimes with your personal design instinct and you’ll enjoy a home with a light touch of professionalism.
Do you have any tips for finding companies to help build your dream home? Share your thoughts in the comments section below!