Luke Burford, founder of a home renovation budget comparison company, has noted that many problems in home renovation work begin before the first job starts. The co-founder of comparebuilders.co.uk indicated that choosing a contractor based on price alone is the costliest mistake, and warned that quotes with excessive discounts of 30% lack line items that the customer will pay for later.
Burford rejected large upfront payments, stating that a legitimate builder with a sound business does not request 40% in advance. He recommended that customers ask for references from their last three clients, not their three best, and request insurance certificates along with details about liability in case of unforeseen circumstances.
The specialist identified three recurring client failures: excessive deposits, lack of a proper contract, and failure to agree in advance on charges for changes. He noted that modifications during the work are where "budgets die" and advised defining specifications before starting.
Burford urged clients to choose kitchen, tiles and sanitary fittings before starting work, and warned against cutting costs on structure, roof and waterproofing. He noted that customers with the best relationship between spending and results are "the decisive ones", and that indecision during the work is extremely expensive.
To detect poor workmanship, he recommended observing visible finishes such as uneven tiles, doors that rub and crooked sockets. In new construction, he advised reviewing door and window closures, finishing touches, thresholds and drainage before handover, and drawing up a comprehensive list of defects in writing.