How to Choose a Builder in Manchester

Manchester's mix of Victorian terraces, inter-war semis and city-centre warehouse conversions means the "right" builder for one job can be the wrong fit for another a mile away - a specialist in terrace extensions in Chorlton isn't necessarily who you want for a period conversion in the Northern Quarter.

Ask about the specific street, not just the city

"Have you worked on this street, or one like it nearby?" is a more useful question than "do you work in Manchester?" - a builder with genuine local experience will know things like typical foundation depth on that block, whether the street sits in a conservation area, and how the council tends to handle skip and scaffold permits there.

Before you sign anything

• Public liability insurance - ask to see the actual certificate.
• Recent, verifiable reviews - ideally with photos, from people you could plausibly contact.
• A written, itemised quote - labour, materials and provisional sums broken out separately.
• Who's doing the work - some Manchester builders subcontract most trades; not a problem in itself, but you should know upfront.

Compare quotes on the same brief

Give every builder the same written job description rather than explaining it slightly differently each time. If quotes come back wildly different for the same brief, ask both the cheapest and the most expensive why - one has usually missed something, or is pricing in more risk than the other.