Directories vs Contractor Networks vs Going Direct
There are three broad routes to a building contractor. Each works differently, and each suits a different kind of homeowner and project.
Three routes
Directories, contractor networks and going direct can all lead to a good builder. The difference is how much of the checking and organising falls to you.
When you need building work done, you can approach contractors yourself, use a directory or review platform to shortlist them, or go through a contractor network that appoints one for you and runs the process around the job.
None of these is right for everyone. Each route changes who checks the contractor, who you deal with day to day, how the contractor is paid and how much of your own time the project takes.
This guide explains how each route works, what to check whichever one you choose, and how to decide. It builds on our guide to choosing and checking a building contractor.
Route one
Going direct: you choose, you check, you organise
Going direct means approaching contractors yourself, usually through a personal recommendation, a local name you have seen on other jobs or an online search. You contact them, arrange the visits, compare the quotes and manage the job.
What it gives you. Full control over who you approach and a direct relationship with the person doing the work. A recommendation from someone you trust, who had similar work done, is one of the strongest starting points there is.
What it asks of you. All of the checking and organising. You verify insurance, take up references, look at previous work, chase quotes, agree start dates and keep in touch while the job runs. On a small job that may be very manageable. On a larger one it can be a significant commitment, which is the subject of the time cost of doing it yourself.
Worth knowing. A recommendation tells you the contractor did good work once, for someone else. It is still worth running the basic checks. Our answer on using a builder recommended by a friend covers the balance.
Route two
Directories and review platforms: a shortlist with a track record
Directories and review platforms list contractors, usually with ratings and customer reviews, and let you contact them. Some let you post a job description so that interested contractors can respond. Well-known examples in the UK include Checkatrade, MyBuilder and Rated People, and TrustMark, which is the government-endorsed quality scheme for work in and around the home.
What they give you. A quick way to build a shortlist, a public record of reviews and, on some platforms, checks carried out by the platform before a contractor is listed. They are a useful starting point when you have no recommendation to go on.
What they ask of you. You still choose the contractor, arrange the visits, compare quotes and manage the job yourself. The contract is between you and the contractor, and the platform is usually not involved in the work once you have made contact.
Worth knowing. Each platform decides what it checks, and the checks vary. Some verify identity or insurance, some rely mainly on reviews, some require members to meet set standards. Read what the platform itself says it checks rather than assuming. Contractors usually pay to be listed or to respond to jobs, which is how the platform is funded. Our guide to trade accreditation schemes explains how schemes differ from directories.
Route three
Contractor networks: one contractor appointed, the process run for you
A contractor network works differently. Rather than giving you a list to choose from, the network appoints a contractor it has already checked to your job and then runs the process around it: arranging the visit, preparing the quotation, handling communication, organising dates and, in some cases, administering payments.
What it gives you. Much less organising. The checks are done before the contractor is introduced, you have one point of contact throughout, and someone other than you chases the things that stall.
What it asks of you. Trust in the network's checks and process, so it is important to know exactly what they are. You are typically introduced to one contractor rather than choosing from several, although you can still get other quotes to compare.
Worth knowing. Networks vary a great deal. Ask who carries out the work, who your contract is with, who holds the insurance and gives the warranty, what the network checks and what it does if something goes wrong. The answers should be clear and in writing.
Side by side
How the three routes compare
The same project, three ways. Details vary between individual platforms and networks, so treat this as a general picture.
Going direct, or through a directory
- You choose which contractors to approach
- You check insurance, references and previous work, or rely on the platform's checks
- You arrange each site visit and chase each quote
- Quotes arrive in whatever format each contractor uses
- You organise start dates and keep in touch during the work
- You pay the contractor directly
Through a contractor network
- The network appoints a contractor it has already checked
- The checks happen before you are introduced
- The visit is booked and confirmed for you
- The quotation is prepared in a consistent format
- The network handles communication while the work happens
- Payment arrangements depend on the network, so ask
Whichever route you choose
Six questions that apply to all three
The route changes who does the checking. It does not change what needs checking.
Who will carry out the work?
You should know the name of the business doing the work before you commit, and whether any of it will be done by other firms.
Who is my contract with?
This decides who is responsible for the work, who holds the warranty and who you would pursue if something went wrong.
What has actually been checked?
"Vetted" and "approved" can mean very different things. Ask what specifically was checked, and when. Our answer on what vetted contractor means goes further.
How is everyone paid?
Ask how the platform or network is funded and who you pay. It is a fair question, and a clear answer is a good sign.
Who do I contact during the job?
A name and a way to reach them. If that is the contractor, ask how they handle calls while they are working.
What happens if something goes wrong?
Ask who you raise it with, what warranty applies and what the platform or network does, if anything, to help resolve it.
Choosing a route
Which route suits your project?
A few honest questions usually point the way.
Do you already have a recommendation you trust?
If a friend or neighbour had similar work done recently and was pleased, going direct to that contractor is a sensible first step. Run the basic checks and get a written quotation.
How much time can you give it?
If you have the time and enjoy being closely involved, going direct or using a directory gives you the most control. If you work long hours or live away from the property, a network takes much of the organising off you.
How big and how long is the job?
A small repair needs little coordination. A job lasting weeks, with several decisions and payments along the way, benefits more from someone running the process.
How comfortable are you checking contractors?
If insurance certificates, references and Companies House records feel unfamiliar, our contractor checking checklist sets them out step by step. If you would rather it was done before anyone arrives, a network that states its checks plainly may suit you better.
Using what each route gives you
Getting the most from reviews, checks and quotes
Read platform reviews for detail, not just the score. A star rating is a starting point. The useful information is in what reviewers describe: the type of job, whether it finished on time, how problems were handled. Our guide to how to read builder reviews explains what to look for and what to be cautious about.
Fill in whatever the route hasn't checked. If a directory says it verified a contractor's identity but not their insurance, check the insurance yourself. If a recommendation came from a friend, you still want a current certificate. Our guide to checking a builder's insurance covers how.
Look up the business yourself. Whatever the route, you can check a limited company on Companies House for free. It takes a few minutes and tells you when the company was formed, who runs it and whether its filings are up to date. See checking a company on Companies House.
Compare quotations on the same terms. Quotations from different routes can look very different. One may be a single line, another several pages. Before comparing prices, check that each covers the same scope, materials, access, waste removal and warranty. How many quotes to get covers how many is enough and how to keep them comparable.
You don't have to pick one route and stick to it. Many people get a quotation through a network and one or two directly, then compare them. The only rule is to compare like with like: the same scope, the same materials and the same inclusions.
Where Mortaro fits
A contractor network that runs the process
Mortaro Group is a contractor network. We appoint a contractor from our network to your job, book the site visit, prepare the written quotation naming them, handle the communication, organise the start date and administer the payments as the contractor's payment administration agent. Every contractor was checked for public liability insurance, reviews and references, the warranties they provide, trade experience and work history, and their ability to meet our standards before being introduced.
We are not the builder. The contractor carries out the work, holds the insurance and gives the workmanship warranty, and your contract is with them. Contractors in our network price at trade rates, so your quotation is comparable to going direct. Why use Mortaro sets out the arrangement, including when going direct might suit you better.
Straight answers
Questions about choosing a route
Is a directory the same as a contractor network?
No. A directory generally lists contractors for you to choose from and contact, and you manage the job yourself. A contractor network appoints a contractor to your job and runs some or all of the process around it. What each one checks and does varies, so ask.
Do I pay more if I go through a network?
It depends on the network and how it is funded. Some add a separate fee; others are funded through their arrangement with contractors. Ask how the network is paid and compare the final quotation with a direct one on the same scope.
Does a directory listing mean a contractor has been checked?
Not necessarily, and where checks are made they vary between platforms. Read what the platform itself says it checks, and carry out any checks it doesn't.
Is going direct always cheaper?
Not always. The price depends on the contractor, the job and how the quote is put together. Compare quotations on the same scope and inclusions rather than on the route you used.
If a network appoints the contractor, can I still say no?
You should be able to. A quotation is an offer, not a commitment, and you decide whether to accept it. Ask the network whether the visit and quotation carry any charge or obligation before you go ahead, and take your time reading what you are sent.
Start here
Tell us about the work you have in mind
We will confirm we cover your postcode, arrange a site visit with a contractor from our network and send you a written quotation. No charge, no obligation.