Estimates ??

I always think 3, and if you are happy go for the middle one but I have realised in my mature years that you get what you pay for! Sometimes though it's the person doing the job that sells it for me, if you can see their work or they have done work for you in the past and you were pleased then that helps too. Check a Trade for your area is a good judge of trade.

Also use rating sights like Checkatrade. DD has used them to find builders and other workmen when she cannot find a recommended tradesman locally and has always been very happy with her decision.

Hope it's OK to mention another social media site on here but I belong to my local Streetlife group. It's amazing for requesting recommendations for tradesmen, etc. My drive, my garden, somebody to service my gas boiler and someone to clear the gutters, have all come from recommendations. I don't know whether every area has one but it's worth searching on line to find out. Also, I have a notebook that I jot down any numbers that I think I may need in the future. I would always get at least two or three quotes and usually find I get a feeling for the right person - not just the cheapest. Good luck.

Thank you to everyone. All good tips (useful to everybody I hope).
I am fortunate that I have a local plumber, electrician and lovely conscientious chap who can turn his hand to anything - and I rarely ask for quotes from any of these as all are trustworthy and reliable.
What I require now, though it isn't a big building job, needs suppliers/fitters outside my usual requirements and I have heard prices can vary greatly for such supply and work, so thought I'd get a consensus.
I am grateful that you have bothered to help me with suggestions. Thanks again.

I have a plumber who I never ask for a price, ditto decorator but they both tell me a price as they have been working here for a long time. We had a fitted bedroom fitted by a firm recommended to me . They have never advertised as all their work is by word of mouth and they are very busy . All people you could happily leave in your house.

Ask the person coming to quote to give you name and contact of a recent job that theyve done too

Agree ,go for recommendations every time Several people in our immediate area have had drives done by the same company ,which indicates neighbours asked neighbours and so on. So will contact them when we get round to it. Similarly friend has had a new stair case and I notice the people down the road who have had a huge extension, and presumbably lots of work inside ,have a van on their drive advertising a company which does staircases so I will knock on their door .
Round here decent trades people are in huge demand so not necesarily cheap.And people guard the name of their 'odd job' person like gold. I agree streetlife is good for recommendations .We dont tend to bother with lots of quotes as its time consuming Just had new unit in our bathroom- replaced by the company who did the bathroom 11 years ago .Probably not the cheapest option but they did a good job last time And I knew they would this time .I appreciate if you are short of money getting a good deal is important but it can be quite stressful and time consuming .I have friends who shop around and bargain for everything .I sometimes feel like saying ' get a life' I'm not sure they necesarily end up better suited anyway

Make sure whether what is being provided is 'quote' or an 'estimate'. They are not the same thing.

An estimate is just that, an estimate of how much the job will cost and it can, and usually, does rise when work starts and the builder/decorator finds problems he was unaware of.

A quote is a fixed price to do the job, whether future problems arise or not.

Like Anya I set great store by personal recommendations. We were recommended to our kitchen fitter by our neighbours. He had done both a kitchen and a bedroom for them and he got the majority of his work from personal recommendations. It didn't stop us looking at other firms, but in the end we chose him and got a superb job at a good price. We are currently in the process of getting a lightweight roof put on our conservatory. We looked at three firms. One had a huge showroom, loads of staff and were very helpful but eyewateringly expensive. Another firm were also very helpful but when their salesman came to see us, he was about as much use as a chocolate fire guard. He didn't seem to be able to answer any of our questions very well, and kept muttering about samples in his car but never produced any, and didn't seem to know whether he could put us in touch with any of their customers who had had the work carried out. He never came back to us on that one. The third firm's rep was on the ball, had a fully engineered sample of the construction (which was exactly the same as the first firm with the huge showroom), and arranged for us to visit someone who had one of their installations so that we could see it and talk to him. They were also three thousand pounds cheaper than the first one, but more expensive than the second one (confused? So was I!). There's no substitute for talking to people who've had work done.

Try Streetlife website for local recommendations

Yes, get a couple of quotes first, but recommendations from a trusted friend or relative is always best. Beware of the type of builder who seems to think a job is more complicated and 'ums' a lot and the kind who try to blind you with science or patronise you.

There are plenty of good builders out there, and you may have to wait after your quote as the best are in great demand.

Never, ever pay up front. A reputable builder will have an account at his local building suppliers. If he needs money to buy materials it suggests his credit isn't good and he's not trustworthy. If it's a large job (say £10,000 or more) or more then agree to pay him half way, or at regular intervals, for work done and materials already used.

We've renovated two houses, in different parts of the country, in the last 10 years so have a good grasp of how it works. And finally, don't worry about asking for your quotes. Most reputable builders know you win some and you lose some.

If the workmen come from friends'/family recommendations then I don't necessarily look for three - the plumber, electrician and builder doing my utility room are all recommendations from my father, who's a shrewd judge of quality and character.
Obviously I still asked for quotes beforehand.

In my neck of the woods if you can find anybody to do the job you are very lucky! Cash in hand when the work is finished or they do not start. If it is a big job, staged payments but still cash in hand.

I work in a building firm, you must have three and best if you know people who have used their services

Greymary. Whatever you decide, DONT give them all the money up front.

Greymary I know exactly what you mean. We have decorators coming in for 2 weeks at what feels like an horrendous cost to me but he was lovely, didn't mind Sam our little dog and was just very relaxed about the work whilst highlighting the quality of what they will do.

So fingers crossed !!

I hope you find someone you like ( and who likes dogs too )

Thank you, that is what I thought.
I do prefer quality to quantity, but I'm a bit of a pushover if the tradesman enjoys gardening or likes dogs.

I would always get 3 estimates, that's enough to allow for the cheap, medium and high quote and if you ask for them to be detailed and you give the same information to each you will be able to evaluate them.

The cheap quote is not always the cheapest in the long run though. It also allows you to meet the tradesperson and decide if you like them and they understand what you want.

Its usually all about the people for me , Ill take a higher price if its a tradesman I think I can work well with.

Good Luck