"Rogue builders" although in the minority decidedly give the building industry a bad name and scarcely a week goes by without there being however another TV program about the so called "Builders from Hell". With the assistance of hidden cameras these "Rogue Builders" are uncovered in front of millions of lookers when they blatantly try to betray clients out of their hard earned cash.

Therefore how can you protect yourself from these unsavory characters who unscrupulously rip off trustful fellow members of the public? The following are some helpful hints to consider before hiring a builder.

1.Always ask for sources and details of previous jobs. Go to see these lines of work wherever possible. A good builder will be only too delighted to show you bear witness of his expertness.

2.Be wary if they offer 'cheap deals' for "cash-in hand" jobs or hint you can avoid paying VAT for cash.

3.If they do not want to commit themselves to a written contract they should be avoided like the plague.

4.If they say they can start immediately be wary, as a good builder is commonly busy.

5.If they give you a amazingly little quotation you should deal this with suspiciousness.

6.If they seem unwilling to look at plans or to talk about the inside informations this should also ready off alarm bells.

7.If they can only be reached by mobile phone and are reluctant to divulge where they live then this should be seen as a red flag.

8.If they try to baffle you with complex explanations when asked seemingly simple questions they may be graduates of the "If you can't convince em blur em" school of constructors and you know that it may not be in your best concerns to employ them.

9.If they say they are a member of a deal affiliation, make sure to check it out as anybody can say they are a member when in fact they are not.

10.Obtain at least three written quotes from various builders and be very special about what you want done.Leave very little room for misunderstanding and this will pay dividends further down the line.

11.Now is the time to clear up everything and make sure that no gray areas exist specially involving payments and when they should be prepared.

12.If any problems rise up during the building up work sort it out with your constructor exact away and make sure he fully realise your instructions.