Construction tenders come in all shapes and sizes, and are notoriously hard to scrutinise. We offer free tender review appointments to help you compare them like-for-like.
We’d be nervous about working with a builder too. Companies need to pass a rigorous vetting process to be accepted onto our platform.
No more hunting for email attachments. Keep track of your tenders, site visits, files and more in our easy-to-use dashboard.
You won’t get spammed by dozens of unverified accounts
All completed by builders we introduced
Our process is a little different to your classic ‘find a tradesperson’ company. Resi will offer you a vetted shortlist of quality builders. You won’t be flying blind either. We’ll help you compare the tender like for like.
We've had over 35,000 quotes published on our platform
Each Resi building contractor must pass the following vetting checks. We only work with builders who meet these criteria
Regardless of whether you use Connect or chose to source a builder on your own, the Connect team always recommend that you follow these steps...
Check their finances
It’s important that you take the time to do a financial background check on your builder’s company.
If you see any changes to the directors, this could be a red flag the company may have filed for bankruptcy in the past.
Check the details
When it comes to your quote, the devil is in the detail.
A good contractor should break down their pricing so you can check every design component has been properly accounted for.
If your quote is too vague, ask your builder to be more transparent with their numbers or seek a construction consultant to guide you.
Customer references
At a minimum, you should speak to at least two previous clients.
One from 6 months ago and another from 18 months ago.
This should help give you an honest overview of your contractor’s current work practices, as well as showing how their work stands the test of time.
To be extra thorough, we also recommend speaking to a client that’s currently onsite to help round out your understanding of a contractor’s product delivery.
Contracts and insurance
Ask your contractor which contract they’ll be using.
We always recommend homeowners go for a JCT contract, as this provides the most security and accountability.
This is recommended by RIBA and is recognised throughout the industry.
Protect yourself with the right payment plan
We recommend you agree to a payment plan that has you releasing funds when milestones have been met.
These milestones should be the key stages of the build, such as your foundations, superstructure, roof installation, etc.
This will ensure the builder is the one funding the project, while also letting you stay in control of quality throughout construction.
If you can perform quality checks at each milestone, this will provide further protection, and something a project manager can do on your behalf.
Look for anomalies
Watch out for those ‘too good to be true’ quotes and turnarounds.
Often, when a project is priced significantly lower than its counterparts, it can be a sign that key details have been left out - likewise with super quick time estimates.
Will you work well together?
How did you get on with the contractor? The rapport between you will be just as important to them as it is for you.
A lot of contractors are busy and if they’re offered two potential contracts of similar value and start date, their decision will then be based on the relationship with the client.
After all, construction takes time and plans are liable to change.
Having a good working relationship will make their job that much easier, as it will yours.