Why is Finding the Right-Size Building Team so Important?

When searching for the perfect building team for renovations, the scale of a business is often overlooked in favour of reviews or personal recommendations. The size of the building company is actually one of the most important things to consider: too large a team, and you might be paying for unnecessary overheads; too small, and you risk delays and coordination issues. The ‘right’ size team depends on the scope and complexity of your renovation, but will get your project done on time, within budget and to a high standard. Understanding the profile and landscape of builders available before booking a team is key. In this article we’ll cover:

• The types of building teams you can work with in London
• The differences between sole traders, small building companies and large construction companies
• The profile of our Pagers
• How you can find the right builder for your project

What kinds of building teams can you work with?

Sole traders 

Sole traders typically offer highly personalised service with direct communication between the homeowner and contractor. Without the overheads of larger companies, they can charge less for smaller projects and can be more flexible with schedules and changes. They often rely on recommendations for jobs and build their reputation on quality work.

However, sole traders have significant limitations. They can only handle so much work at once, making larger projects challenging and potentially lengthy. Their insurance coverage is often more basic, and if they’re ill, have other unexpected commitments, or are juggling jobs, your project could stop completely. They also might lack expertise in certain areas required for complex projects, having to outsource work to sub-contractors or specialists, so you might have to be more on top of communication to make sure no detail slips through the cracks.

Small building companies 

Small building companies strike a balance between bespoke service and project capacity. As they usually employ some subcontractors with specialised skillsets and experience, they can handle medium-sized renovations while maintaining efficient and personal communication. They typically offer comprehensive insurance coverage, formal contracts and established quality control procedures, but come with a slightly higher cost than sole traders to cover their business expenses.

Depending on the scale of their operations, you might be waiting slightly longer to get your project booked than with a more available sole trader or large company with greater capacity. There is also a level of organisation and project management needed from the homeowner when working with this size of business – you won’t be totally handing the reins over as you might with a more premium building company –  but for the price, reliability and quality of work, it’s worth it. Unless you have a very flexible budget or are doing a huge project (building from scratch, for example), most homeowners benefit from working with mid-sized building companies who can deliver quality workmanship without the premium price tag.

Large construction companies 

Large construction companies excel at handling major projects thanks to extensive resources and specialised teams. They typically provide comprehensive insurance coverage, warranties and dedicated project managers. These advantages come at a premium, however: large companies tend to be significantly more expensive and less flexible with changes once work has begun. 

Communication is often more formal and involves multiple layers of management, rather than being able to call or WhatsApp your specific builder, for example. Smaller residential projects are likely to be less appealing to big companies and their approach, with multiple specialists, might be overly complex for smaller-scale jobs like bathroom upgrades or kitchen remodels. It can be a case of too many chefs: if you’re doing a small job and have an interior designer, multiple contractors and a structural engineer involved unnecessarily, you’re going to be paying up to triple what you could be with a more appropriately-sized team.

The profile of our Pagers

The majority of our Pagers (the builders we work with) fall into the above middle bracket: ambitious small business owners. They’ve cut their teeth at big construction firms and now run efficient companies themselves: you receive top-quality workmanship from highly skilled and experienced builders, without the premium markups of big construction firms. They have tight-knit teams, with excellent project management skills and minimal overheads that allow them to be price-competitive, meaning you’re truly getting what’s in your quote: quality labour and the materials for your project. Our Pagers are building a name for themselves, which they work hard to uphold; they’re proud to stand behind their work with a workmanship guarantee. 

Get matched to the right builder for your project

The Page is a free London-based renovation coaching and builder matching platform. We provide homeowners with a renovation roadmap: achieve your dream space with clarity and bespoke support throughout the process, transparency on budget and real market costs, and the expert workmanship of our Pagers. Pagers are the hand-picked, hands-on contractors we work with. Highly vetted, skilled, and experienced, with tight-knit teams, their lean businesses equal top-quality work for a fair price.

Thomas is our in-house renovation coach. He intimately understands the renovation process and project-specific challenges – he’s helped over 1,000 Londoners renovate with confidence. Whether you’re transforming your kitchen into a host-with-the-most space or adding an extension to maximise family time, Thomas is here to signpost you at every stage of your project so you can make informed decisions. From budgeting and sourcing fittings, right through to the pinch-me moment when you’re raising a toast to your new space, he’s here to help. 

The result? Confidence in your investment and a home you love.