Our bettered builders can better your build

From something as simple as fixing a boundary wall or a built-in braai to a completely new house, we can connect you with up to 3 skilled building contractors perfectly suited to your project.

Our experienced Fix Forward contractors are able to assist with any and every kind of build: building new from plan, house extensions, granny flats, loft and garage conversions. If you can dream it, we have a builder that can help you realise that dream.

Building projects we handle:

Hiring a building contractor

Our experienced Fix Forward contractors are able to assist with any and every kind of build: building new from plan, house extensions, granny flats, loft and garage conversions. If you can dream it, we have builder that can help you realise that dream.

Start at the beginning

The good thing about having an architect on board is that they are experts in the construction arena and as such will have a network of contacts and building contractors that they can recommend.

In a world where there are lots of builders, both good and bad, what you really want is a builder who will fit in as part of the bigger team. There is no point in hiring a builder who can’t work with your architect, no matter how good the builder appears to be.

This is about building the best team and you need to make sure that all the component parts work well together. So, ask your architect for a few recommendations of people they have worked with or want to work with. Chat to the prospective candidates and go from there.

Match the job to the team

You could hire a master builder to repair the chimney on your braai but it will be prohibitively expensive and completely unnecessary. Rather make sure that the job is fitting for the people you are talking to and go from there.

The cost of hiring a builder

Once you have these quotes do your best to compare them at every level – not just the bottom line. If you are too focused on the bottom line you may well risk missing out on key caveats or hidden costs. Look at the materials needed, look at the contingency fees, and look at the duration of the job.

These are all important considerations, as are things like guarantees and the people involved in the job. For instance who will project manage the job? Is it assumed that you or the architect will do this, or does the builder have somebody in his team who will fulfil this role?

Indeed, is a project manager even needed? Make sure you check all these key things before making your final choice, which will obviously be based on your budget as well.

Building hire references

Building can be a very stressful time – having construction workers in your space, living with furniture covered by plastic sheets or even having to vacate your house for a period – so, you may well expect your contacts to tell you what a challenging experience it was.

This is not to say the builder was bad. Ask about the quality of their work and what they were like to deal with on a personal level. Did your friend feel respected regardless of how difficult the overall process was? These are the type of questions to ask.

You can also use an online platform that vets and rates contractors to try and find the right person or team for you. Fix Forward is designed specifically to match the right contractor to the right job. Independent builders are vetted and upskilled and afforded a place on the platform which in turn aggregates jobs.

It is a simple process but for people who are not sure where to start, it is a great launch pad and the perfect place to do some good at the same time by supporting qualified and well-trained entrepreneurs.