Builder Vetting and Reference Check Record

Who this is for

Check a builder before you hire, not after. Page one sets up to three firms side by side against the checks worth making, from trading address and scheme membership to insurance, past work and contract terms; page two records what each referee told you.

Homeowners choosing a builder or tradesperson for anything from a bathroom to an extension, especially a firm found online or through a leaflet rather than a personal recommendation.

What this helps you track

• The checks made on each firm, and where and when you made them
• Scheme membership and registration for the trade concerned
• Insurance certificates seen, with insurer and expiry
• What previous customers said about time, tidiness and price
• Your concerns and the reasons for your final choice

How to use it

1. Write the project, who is checking and the date, and the names of up to three firms.
2. Work down the checks for each firm, writing what you found and where, such as a scheme's own register or the insurer named on a certificate.
3. Ask each firm for references from recent jobs like yours and record each conversation on page two.
4. View past work where you can, and write down anything that worries you.
5. Write the decision and your reasons in the notes; the browser version saves in your own browser.

Formats

• Printable PDF (A4 and US Letter)
• Fillable PDF with form fields
• Fill in online, saved in your browser

The printable is laid out inside a box that fits both A4 and US Letter, so the two files are identical and neither one is scaled. The fillable PDF has real form fields. The online version keeps what you enter in your own browser and builds the completed PDF on your device.

How to print

Download the A4 or US Letter file to match the paper in your printer, open it in a PDF reader and print at 100% — not "fit to page", which shrinks the writing space. Both files leave a 14 mm margin, which clears the unprintable edge on home printers. To print the online version with your entries in it, use the Print this sheet button, which prints only the sheet and none of the page around it. More on printing.

Questions

How do I check scheme membership?

Use the scheme's own website or phone line rather than a logo on a van or leaflet, and check the firm is registered for the trade you need. Write the membership number and the date you checked.

What insurance should a builder have?

That depends on the job and the rules where you are. Ask to see the certificates the firm holds, note the insurer, type of cover and expiry date, and ask your own insurer whether anything else is needed.

What should I ask a referee?

Whether the work started and finished when agreed, whether the site was kept tidy, whether the price held and how extras were handled, and whether they would use the firm again. The questions on page two keep it consistent.

How is this different from the quote inclusions checklist?

That checklist compares what each quote covers. This record checks the firms themselves: who they are, what cover and qualifications they hold, and what past customers say about them.