Home repairs can be costly but are a necessary evil.  Even if you're not overly bothered about the appearance of your home, making timely repairs both maintains the value of your home and prevents minor problems from becoming major ones.

Some repairs of course can be handled by a competent DIYer, and a DIY approach can save you hundreds of hard-earned pounds. But many home repairs require the services of a building, plumbing or electrical professional.  Making mistakes with substantial building, plumbing or electrical work can be very dangerous.

For many of us, having or lacking the expertise is not the issue.  Sometimes we just don't have the time, and hiring a builder is the only option.

Here are some things to consider when hiring a local builder:

Ask around. Talk to your friends and relatives who have had experiences with home builders. They may be able to refer good home builders (or tell you the bad ones).

Research them on the web. Check out their websites. If their sites are professionally done, then you know they can demonstrate professionalism. Check out customer endorsements and testimonials. Good feedback tells a lot.

Call them and ask for their credentials. Check what insurance they have. Ask if they have current projects. Go to the worksite and ask the homeowner about the work ethic of the home builder.

Find out how long it will take them to finish the work. Ask for a work schedule. Find out about the costs, about fees and any extra costs that are associated with the house repair. Ask to see the contract to see what you are required to do and what the home builder is promising to do.

If you're not able to visit building sites and previous building work, ask for pictures of their construction work.  If you do your research, you can be sure that you can find the right home builder for you--someone who has experience but is affordable and who can complete the house repair on time.