Honest status: QuoteZila is pre-launch. Customers cannot post jobs yet, and no businesses are listed yet. This page explains how QuoteZila will work for builders, and for homeowners who need one. We are signing up local businesses first, starting in Cheshire.
What does a builder do?
A builder carries out construction and renovation work, often managing several trades on one project. Typical jobs include:
- Single and two-storey extensions
- Loft conversions
- Garage conversions
- Knocking through walls (with structural advice)
- Whole-house renovations
- Brickwork, repointing and structural repairs
- Garden rooms and outbuildings
- Project managing other trades
What should I check before hiring a builder?
General guidance, whichever way you find someone:
- Ask whether the job needs planning permission or building regulations approval, and who will apply. Some extensions fall under permitted development, but rules vary, so check with your council.
- Structural changes need proper design, often from a structural engineer. Ask who will provide the calculations.
- Get a written quote and a written contract with a clear scope, programme and stage payments tied to progress. Be wary of large upfront payments.
- Ask about public liability insurance and what happens if something is damaged.
- Ask who does the electrics, plumbing and plastering, and who is responsible for managing them.
- If work is near a shared wall or boundary, ask whether you need to notify your neighbours under the Party Wall etc. Act 1996.
- Membership of a trade body, such as the Federation of Master Builders, can be a useful extra check, but it is not a guarantee.
Useful official sites: Federation of Master Builders. QuoteZila is not affiliated with these organisations.
QuoteZila plans to show customers what we checked about each business and when. Those labels describe checks only and are not a guarantee of any business or its work.
How will QuoteZila help me find builders near me?
- Post your job for free. Describe the building work and where you are.
- Matched local businesses send quotes. Each job is planned to go to a small number of suitable businesses, not the whole town.
- Compare. See what each quote includes, ask questions and review what has been checked.
- Choose. Pick who you want and agree the details in writing.
This is how QuoteZila is designed to work. Customer posting is not open yet.
What should I put in my builder job description?
- Describe what you want built and roughly how big, and attach any sketches or plans.
- Say whether you already have planning permission or drawings.
- Say what you want included: kitchen, bathroom, decorating, flooring.
- Give your preferred start date and whether you have a budget range you are comfortable sharing.
Are you a builder in Cheshire? How can you get local work with no lead fees?
QuoteZila is built so that local businesses spend their time quoting, not buying enquiries. Our intention is no lead fees: you would not pay per enquiry, per job or per quote. The first 500 businesses to join at launch (the Launch 500) get 2 months free with no card needed. After that the planned price is £15 a month, starting later and only once you accept the terms. That is our current plan, not a contract. Choose Building & extensions as your main trade on the sign-up form and tell us how far you travel.
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Which Cheshire towns will QuoteZila cover?
We are launching first in Crewe, Nantwich, Sandbach, Congleton, Winsford, Middlewich, and the wider county. See the Cheshire areas page for details. A launch area is where we plan to start, not a claim that builders are already listed there.
Frequently asked questions about builders
Do I need planning permission for an extension?
Not always. Some extensions are permitted development, but conditions apply and rules differ for flats, listed buildings and conservation areas. Check with your local council (Cheshire East or Cheshire West and Chester). Building regulations approval is separate and usually needed.
What is a Party Wall agreement?
Under the Party Wall etc. Act 1996 you may need to give notice to neighbours before certain building work on or near a shared wall or boundary. Ask your builder or an adviser whether it applies to your project.
How should I pay a builder?
Agree stage payments in writing, linked to progress, and avoid paying large amounts upfront. Keep copies of the quote, contract and receipts.
Can I find a builder on QuoteZila yet?
Not yet. QuoteZila is pre-launch and is signing up local businesses first, starting in Cheshire. Customer job posting is coming soon and will be free for customers. If you are a builder in Cheshire you can register your interest in the Launch 500 now, with 2 months free and no card needed.
Other trades QuoteZila is launching with
All trades · Find local tradesmen near you · Jobs for tradesmen · FAQ