The 40-page builder handbook
How to find good builders, what a fair deal looks like, and how to handle it when things go wrong.
Premium Project Pack
Working With a Builder Project Pack
Find, vet, contract and manage a builder — with the templates that keep the relationship fair and the job on track.
- 40-page PDF
- 14 templates
- Instant download
- Updated August 2026
Secure checkout coming soon — payments are not yet enabled.
What's included
Everything in this pack
Most home project disasters are relationship and paperwork failures, not building failures. This pack fixes both.
Printable
Builder vetting questionnaire
35 questions to ask before you shortlist, including insurance, references and capacity.
Editable
Scope of works template
Define exactly what is included so quotes are comparable and disputes are rare.
Spreadsheet
Payment schedule planner
Stage payments tied to completed work, with retention built in.
Editable
Variation and instruction log
Record every change, who asked for it and what it costs — signed by both sides.
3 templates
Dispute escalation guide
A calm, staged approach from conversation to mediation, with letter templates.
Who is this for?
Built for you if…
Anyone hiring a builder
You want to appoint with confidence rather than hope.
Homeowners mid-project
The job has drifted and you need to get costs and communication back under control.
Landlords and renovators
You commission work regularly and want a repeatable process.
Table of contents
What you'll work through
Part 1 — Finding the right builder
- Where good builders actually come from
- Vetting, insurance and accreditation
- Reading a quote properly
- Red flags at first contact
Part 2 — Agreeing terms
- Scope of works and exclusions
- Contracts for homeowners
- Payment schedules and retentions
- Programme, access and site rules
Part 3 — Running the job
- Site meetings that work
- Handling variations and delays
- When to withhold payment
- Completion, snagging and final accounts
Inside the pack
Example pages
A look at the layout and depth you can expect. Final pages may differ slightly.
Vetting questionnaire Reading a quote Scope of works template Payment schedule planner Variation log Snagging and final account
Reviews
What homeowners say
Homeowner reviews will appear here once the pack is released.
Homeowner reviews will appear here once the pack is released.
Homeowner reviews will appear here once the pack is released.
Pricing
One pack, one payment
Working With a Builder Project Pack
£24£39
One-off payment. Lifetime access to updates.
- 40-page builder handbook (PDF)
- 14 editable templates and logs
- Free updates when guidance changes
- Instant download, no subscription
Payments are not enabled yet — this is a preview of the pack.
Prefer to start free?
Every BuildGuide guide and tool stays free. The pack simply gathers the templates, trackers and detail into one place so you are not piecing it together yourself.
Instant download once payments go live.
FAQs
Frequently asked questions
Are the contract templates legally binding?
The pack explains homeowner contract options and gives you supporting documents. For high-value work, have your contract reviewed by a solicitor.
Will using this annoy my builder?
Good builders welcome clear scope, agreed stages and written variations — it protects them as much as you.
Does it apply to small jobs?
Yes. Scale the paperwork down, but the vetting questions and payment principles hold for any size of job.
Ask Mason
Not sure this is the right pack?
Describe your project and Mason will point you to the guidance — free — that fits your home and situation, including whether the Working With a Builder Project Pack is worth it for you.
Start with MasonRecommended next steps
Read next
Building regulations 10 min
Building Regulations Explained
Understand what Building Regulations cover, when they apply, how approval works and how they differ from planning permission.
Read guideBuilding regulations 7 min
Working With a Building Inspector
A plain-English guide to building control inspections for UK homeowners: who your inspector is, the stages they visit, what they check and how to get your completion certificate without delays.
Read guideBuilding regulations 9 min
Structural Work and Party Wall Basics
A plain-English guide to structural work in the home and the Party Wall etc. Act 1996 for UK homeowners, covering when engineers are needed, what notices to serve and how to keep neighbours onside.
Read guideExtensions 10 min
Planning Your House Extension
From first sketch to shovel-ready drawings, learn the practical steps that lead to a smooth, well-priced extension project.
Read guideRecommended tools
Interactive tool
Building Regulations Checker
Answer a few short questions about your home improvement for an early, plain-English indication of whether Building Regulations approval is likely to be required.
Open tool Interactive toolExtension Feasibility Checker
Answer seven quick questions and see how likely planning permission, permitted development, building regulations and the Party Wall Act are for your extension.
Open tool Interactive toolAsk Mason: project checker
Describe your project and get tailored, plain-English guidance on the approvals, steps and risks that apply to your home.
Open toolYou may also need
- Building regulationsStructural, fire, insulation and safety standards apply to most building work.Planning Permission vs Building Regulations
- Structural workRemoving walls or adding openings needs calculations from a structural engineer.Building Regulations Explained
- Building control inspectionsBook inspections at the right stages so your completion certificate isn't delayed.Working With a Building Inspector
BuildGuide Project Packs provide general guidance for homeowners in England. They are not legal advice, a planning decision or a professional design.