There have been some interesting findings in a recent survey conducted by Which?

The results suggested that over 2.5 million people have had a dispute with a builder or tradesman in the last 3 years, and a quarter of those actually took formal action. When you look at the reasons for disagreements between client and tradesmen, the cowboys are definately rearing their ugly heads. The most common disagreement was regarding the quality of work, but other problems included not turning up when agreed, delays over completion and general untidyness.

Other feedback from the Which? survey showed that a quarter of people didn’t get a written quote before start of work, and 4% were asked to pay the upfront for the whole job.

Obviously here at DIY Doctor HQ, we aren’t exactly surprised by the results of the survey, and their executive director, Richard Lloyd has some wise words

“To avoid problems, you should always have a written agreement between you and the trader. And it’s important to do your homework – make sure you get several quotes before deciding who to use, choose a recommended trader and check they’re a member of a professional body.”

So with the DIY Doctor free ‘Desired Outcome Building Contract’, you shouldn’t find yourself in dispute. The contract protects homeowners against rogue traders while protecting good tradesmen from rogue homeowners (yes, there are such people!).

There is no better test of anything than to put it in the hands of the people who will use it the most and we are happy to say (as you can see from the video below), the Desired Outcome Building Contract passed all tests with flying colours.

The homeowners felt that they had full control of their job and had no fear of ‘surprises’ while the builder knew he was going to get paid, the right amount and on time.

The Desired Outcome Building Contract proves what we have said all along. With the right tradesman both parties have exactly the same agenda. The right job, for the right price.

If you are looking for reliable, insured tradesmen, click here

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In our never ending search for something new to offer you, we are launching a Facebook gallery next week with the self-explanatory title of ‘Builders Bums’.

We are hoping you will enter into the spirit of things and send us your photos of the best (and worst!) of builders bums as you complete your DIY projects around the home and garden.

Smile, you're on Candid Camera

All (non-offensive!) photos submitted will be put on public display in our Facebook gallery and we will tag them only with the permission of the owner of the bum – not the owner of the camera!

Get snapping people and lets see if we can’t put together  the cheekiest gallery on the web. You will need to ‘Like’ us on Facebook to take part.

Dont forget not all Builders are men!

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As June comes to a close, and the weather has improved a little, there is still time to tackle some of those outdoor tasks to enable you to enjoy a little bit more of your garden.

Our latest outdoor and garden projects include laying weed control fabric, building slab and brick steps and even how to make a beehive. By next summer you could be sitting on your new patio tucking into your own honey!

If your focus is on outdoor maintenance, then take a look at the projects on rendering external walls or fitting a weatherboard to your door.

We hope you have been able to take advantage of the recent project on building a barbecue -  let’s just keep our fingers crossed for some sunny weather for the rest of the summer.

If there is anything that you are planning that isn’t covered in our project pages, then let us know! Simply email office@diydoctor.org.uk with your suggestions and we will endeavour to write it.

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It may come as a surprise to many, but self-builders are the largest group of housebuilders in the UK, accounting for around one in five of Britain’s new homes each year. As there have been so many mainstream builders giving up or scaling down their own new builds, this could represent nearly a quarter of new homes finished this year.

Despite this, the UK has one of then lowest numbers of self build homes in Europe.

The announcement from Housing Minister Grant Shapps that the Government will help more people to build their own homes will no doubt put this topic firmly in the spotlight.

Speaking from the Grand Designs Live Show in London, Mr Schapps outlined plans to reduce red tape and remove some of the barriers faced by those wishing to build the house of their dreams. One of the key areas is for more land to be made available exclusively for the self builder.

Self build is usually a once in a lifetime experience and can often take several years from start to finish. The downside is that it will be a huge time commitment and will impact on all aspects of family life for the duration of the project. The upside is of course having the house you want with the satisfaction of having done it yourself!

Have a look at our self build – finding land project for more information.

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An article on DIY Doctor’s free ‘Desired Outcome Building Contract’ has been published in this week’s ’Somerset Standard’ newspaper:

It explains how the contract sets out to help homeowners and builders to ‘bridge the communication gap’, and ‘save time and reduce the potential for setbacks and unforeseen costs’.

As Mike Edwards, Business Development Director at DIY Doctor Ltd, says

“The majority of builders and tradespeople are honest operators who price their work fairly; a good contract should protect them as much as it protects the homeowner.

However, there are any number of unscrupulous rogue traders out there that will not think twice about landing a job by offering a very cheap price – and then spend the next week dreaming up a list of extras, or additional, unforeseen problems for which they will charge an arm and leg to overcome.”

He goes on to say ”By setting things out clearly from the start, there’s a far better chance that the end result will be successful for both the builder and customer.

“Anyone who has a builder lined up for a job who is unwilling to sign a contract it’s better to steer clear.”

The ‘Desired Outcome Building Contract’ is recommended for use by homeowners with domestic projects not exceeding £75,000 in value, where no architect, building surveyor or consultant is being employed to oversee and advise.

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Our new project page on Building Contracts has received some great feedback, and the following comment from J. Kerr particularly caught our eye:

‘I have sat interested through reading all your information, and with 23 years experience in building, at last I’ve read something that makes sense and explains things exactally as they are. All Builders and clients should read this.’

The project page offers you the opportunity to email for our new ‘Desired Outcome Building Contract’ for FREE. The contract aims to benefit the homeowner and contractor by setting out what is expected from both parties when undertaking domestic projects, and we believe it is as good, if not better than the JCT (Joint Contracts Tribunal) which you have to pay for.

For further information, or to email for a copy of the contract, just go to the Building Contracts project.

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DIY Doctor have just made their new building contract available for FREE on their website. Called the ‘Desired Outcome Building Contract’, it has been written by tradesmen, and aims to protect the home owner and contractor in equal measures.

The contract offers a simple solution in a document to every potential problem you might encounter during a home improvement project.

To read more on the Desired Outcome Building Contract and to receive a free contract, go to our Building Contracts project page.

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Research done by the personal finance group, Saga, are publicising research they have done which reveals that women in particular are suffering financially, with one in five forced to allow their home to deteriorate as they cannot afford to repair it.

Our thanks to DIY Week for issuing the following story.

Saga’s poll of more than 14,000 over 50s in the UK found that 16% cite roofing as the area most in need of repair, while 13% say their drainage and guttering needs fixing.

When asked how they might pay for housing maintenance, more than one in seven respondents explained that they cannot afford it. Half of the people asked said they would use their savings and almost a third said they would turn to their regular income or pension.

More worrying is that many over 50s could be cold this winter as nearly one in ten said that their heating needs mending. London homes seem to be suffering most, with 42% of Londoners in need of housing repair, according to Saga. Meanwhile, 26% of Scottish respondents are in need of roofing repair.

Saga Group executive chairman Andrew Goodsell commented: “People are living longer which means that retirement incomes have to stretch a lot further to keep up with inflation. Many retirees find they need additional cash, whether it is to make every day life easier, fund house repairs, take the trip of a lifetime, or to contribute to care in later life.”

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Travis Perkins is about to become the largest plumbing and heating business in the UK after agreeing to buy the BSS Group for £557.6 million.

“Our respective businesses are complementary and we look forward to working with BSS’s customers, suppliers and employees,” said Robert Walker, chairman of Travis Perkins.

But job losses are feared as Builders’ merchants Travis Perkins, which also own Wickes, will want to cut costs by more than £25 million.

The deal is subject to shareholder approval, although Travis Perkins said it had already received undertakings of support from around 35% of BSS investors.

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Tesco have launched a range of large self-assembly log cabins, including the Finnlife Helsinki cabin which costs £9999 (earning customers a massive 19,998 Clubcard points!)

Manufactured from high grade scandinavian whitewood, the Helsinki log cabin has 5 rooms and a handy upstairs storage area. It is made from 44mm thick tongue and groove boards which slot together. The 32ft by 16ft 10ins building is topped off with eight double-glazed windows, French doors and a felt shingle roof. There is a terrace decking area and it can even be upgraded to include a guttering kit, laminate flooring and even underfloor heating.

The company’s website warns ‘Prior to purchase check whether planning permission and building regulations approval may be required.’

It is only available from the company’s website, with an additional £5 charge for delivery. It comes with a step by step manual including a list of tools required including a ladder, saw, screwdriver, mallet and tape measure. It states: ‘No specialist skills are required. Anyone can build a Finnlife log cabin although some tasks may require more than one pair of hands……Construction times will vary depending on your skills and the number of people helping you.’

It also suggests ‘it should be built on foundations of concrete or compressed gravel.’ 

Buyers might want to take a look at our Building a Shed Base project !!

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