How to check a building contractor before you hire
Simple checks to make before handing over your project and money: licence, past work, insurance and how the contractor quotes.
By Redbay Group ·
Check the licence
Building contractors in Kenya must be registered with the National Construction Authority (NCA). Ask for the registration certificate and check the name and category on the NCA's website. The category tells you the size of project the contractor is registered for.
See real work
Photos are a start, but go further:
- Ask for two or three past clients you can call
- Visit a site that is under construction, not only finished houses
- Look at the quality of walls, corners and finishes up close
Ask about insurance
Contractor's All Risk insurance covers damage to the works during construction, for example from fire, theft or storms. Ask whether the contractor carries it for your project.
Read the quotation carefully
A clear, itemised bill of quantities is a good sign. It shows the contractor has measured your project, and it makes comparing quotes fair. Be careful with very low lump-sum quotes; missing items usually come back as extra costs.
Agree it in writing
Before work starts, have a written agreement that covers:
- The full scope of work and the drawings it follows
- Payment stages tied to finished work, not to dates
- The timeline, and what happens if it slips
- Who buys which materials