How To Find The Right Caravan Builder
Learn everything you need to know about finding the perfect person for your caravan remodelling.
Congratulations! You’ve started your journey towards your dream van.
Whether you’re looking to completely refurbish a vintage fixer-upper or are updating your current ride, it’s essential that you find the right builder for your project. Choosing a good contractor will allow you to execute your remodelling dreams smoothly.
You should not only have your perfect caravan at the end of the journey but have an enjoyable and stress-free building process too. The adventure can be daunting, and you’ll want to find someone you can trust. You’ll need to put aside some time to think, plan and research—all worth it for your perfect van.
Here’s how you can get started.
Plan and Budget
Brainstorm
Before you begin searching for a builder, you need to know your goals for your remodel. Make a comprehensive list of what you would like out of the project—new countertops, modern plumbing, fresh paint—knowing your needs is essential to finding a builder that can meet them. Don’t hesitate to get out a pen and paper to write and sketch your ideas. A good contractor will want to hear them.
Budget
As important as your project goals is your budget. Be realistic, practical and thorough when you draft your finances. It will be worth it in the long run as surprise costs should be expected in any remodelling endeavour. Look into your options with insurance and warranty, as having a safety plan will provide you peace of mind.
Timeline
You’ll also want to set out a timeline for your project. You may want to have your van ready for a specific occasion or have an open-ended deadline. Look into durations of similar projects and have your expectations ready for your builder.
Scope
Finally, ask yourself how involved you’d like to be and what kind of builder you want for your remodel. You may want a small, budget-friendly, hands-on contractor with whom you can get involved in the building process. Many people want to refurbish themselves but need assistance from a skilled professional. Fixing up a vehicle with your own hands can be very rewarding, and it might be kinder to your wallet.
If you aren’t interested in manual labour or have a less constrained budget, you may want to go with a larger, established contracting company. The reliability and efficiency of an experienced builder is highly appealing to many renovators. Although it comes at a higher price, quality and assurance are of great comfort.
Do Your Research
The first step to finding any good service is asking your friends, family and community for recommendations. If you don’t know anyone personally that has had a caravan remodelled, look for relevant Facebook groups and online forums where you’re likely to find a host of suggestions and tips.
You’ll also want to get clued up on the law regarding vehicle remodelling in your area. It’s essential that you know your rights and responsibilities when entering any contract and starting construction. You may want to get legal advice or contact local building and automotive regulation organisations.
Once you have a few builders in mind, do your research on them. Google and Facebook reviews can’t easily get censored by companies, so you’re likely to find honest ratings and feedback for your prospective contractor.
Don’t hesitate to ask questions. Being thorough in the first stages of the process will likely save you a much larger headache down the line. Have a sit down meeting with potential builders and engage in an honest and open conversation. Here are a few questions you might want to ask:
- Have you worked on a similar project in the past? If so, what challenges did you face?
- How well do you think you can execute my ideas?
- How do you ensure your budget and costing is accurate? How will unexpected costs be billed for?
- Who will be working on my project? Who will be supervising my project?
- How is your team trained?
- If there are concerns and issues during the building progress, how will these get addressed?
- Do you provide a warranty for damage during and/or after the construction process?
- Can you provide me with some references for past clients?
Always request to view previous projects by the contractor. They'll likely have plenty of pictures available to view but don’t be afraid to ask to check out a project in person.
Once you've narrowed your search, request a quote for your project and get a price from more than one builder. Once you have a clear idea of the price and capabilities of each contractor, you can make your decision.
Signs You’ve Found the Right Builder
So, you’ve got your quote and think you’ve found the right builder; everything seems perfect. But how can you know for sure that this is a good fit?
Here are some signs that you've found the contractor for you.
Your contractor should be honest and upfront regarding your budget. A good builder will break down the costs for you and give you a crystal clear idea of where every cent is going. Your builder should also communicate the possibility of hidden and surprise costs.
Your builder should give you a clear and realistic timeline, including specific milestones and an expected start and end date.
Any good contractor puts the specifics on paper. You should get a physical contract and a written budget.
Your builder will also provide professional plans and drawings for your project. This will help you avoid a haphazard, improvised build and a potentially dangerous van.
An experienced and reliable team is essential for your remodelling project. A good contractor will have a team of well paid, skilled builders that will work on your caravan while giving you complete peace of mind.
A good contractor will keep you updated and communicate throughout the pre, during and post construction process.
The right builder will be someone you get along with. You’ll likely be spending a lot of time, money and energy on this project and you’ll want to work with someone with whom you have a mutual relationship of trust and respect.
Whether you’re embracing vanlife, moving house and need temporary on the road accommodation, or want to enjoy extended road trips in comfort, remodelling a caravan is an exciting project. And with the right builder, you’ll soon be ready to get going.
Taking the time to research and find the correct contractor pays off in the long run, and the end result should give you hours of comfortable, safe travelling.