1. Are you a UK limited company?
Trading as a Ltd company means proper accounts, liability separation and a public registration. Sole traders aren't automatically a no, but for a six-figure project, you want the protection of a registered company. MB Design and Build Limited is Companies House number 13067281.
2. Are you VAT registered?
VAT registration is a meaningful proxy for trading scale and longevity. It means HMRC sees the business in full daylight. Our VAT number is GB375604189.
3. What insurance do you carry?
Public liability, employer's liability and contract works insurance are non-negotiable. Ask to see the certificates, plus check the dates. We'll send copies before contract.
4. Can I see three completed projects?
Not three pretty photos, three properties you can drive past, with clients you can ring. Any builder worth hiring has them ready. Ours are all in Bristol and the South West.
5. Who is the project manager and where will they be?
Find out the named PM, how often they'll be on site, and what their reporting cadence looks like. A weekly written update with photos and programme is the minimum you should accept.
6. What's in the fixed price, plus what's not?
Read the inclusions and exclusions list. The cheapest quote is almost always the one that excludes the most. We define everything in writing before contract.
7. How are variations priced?
Variations are inevitable on bigger jobs. The question is how they're priced, plus whether you sign off the cost before the work happens. We quote variations in writing before they're done.
8. Are your trades directly employed or subcontracted?
Subcontract chains break communication and quality. Our core trades are directly employed; specialists like steel fixers and plasterers are long-standing partners with us on jobs every week.
9. What's your payment schedule?
Watch out for big front-loaded deposits. A reasonable schedule is staged against measurable progress, with clear retention at the end.
10. What guarantee do I get?
We offer a 10-year workmanship guarantee with automatic check-ins at three, six and twelve months.
11. What's your snagging process?
A defined snagging walk and re-walk, not 'we'll come back when we can'. We document, fix and re-inspect everything before final invoice.
12. When can you start?
If a builder can start tomorrow on a six-figure job, ask why. The good ones are booked weeks ahead. The really good ones are booked months ahead.