Member Article

Drive the property cowboys out of the region

As lending from the banks remains constrained, the RICS is warning homeowners in the North East of the problems that can come from choosing a building contractor on price alone.

The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors, which sets standards inthe construction sector, is highlighting the fact that the lowest cost doesn’t always work out the most cost effective in the long term.

Chairman of the RICS North East regional board David Coulson, who is also Senior Partner at Broadley and Coulson Chartered Surveyors, said: “When the housing market is slow, there is a marked increase in thenumber of people who opt to make improvements to their current property as a way of increasing square footage and, hopefully, value.

“Such improvements, which can range from conservatories and conversions right through to multi-storey extensions, can however, cost thousands of pounds.

“Some of the region’s residents are falling victim to cowboy builders, because the current climate encourages people tolook for the cheapest possible options.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Ruth Mitchell .