CUSTOMER INFORMATION
Clear terms for using Search A Builder
Last updated 4 September 2026
Terms of use
Search A Builder is a directory and introduction platform. We help customers discover building professionals, post work and exchange proposals. Unless we expressly say otherwise, we are not the builder, employer, surveyor, architect or party carrying out the building contract.
Customers must provide accurate job information and make their own decision about whom to appoint. Builders must keep profile, identity, insurance, qualifications, pricing and availability information accurate. Users must not submit unlawful, abusive, fraudulent or misleading content.
A verification badge records the checks completed by our administrator at the time of review. It is not a guarantee of future conduct, workmanship, solvency, availability or regulatory status. Customers should check quotations, insurance, references, contracts and any trade-specific registrations before work starts.
There is no lead fee and no charge for shortlisting. A builder pays a 10% platform service fee only when the customer accepts that builder’s quotation and contract. This fee supports the platform’s running costs, including lead matching, builder and customer notifications, quotation and contract tools, payment administration and verified-review checks. It is calculated as 10% of the accepted quotation value, is not added to the customer’s quotation, and appears on the builder’s monthly statement for collection at the end of that calendar month. Builders must report cancellations or genuine pricing errors promptly so any eligible adjustment can be reviewed before collection.
Privacy notice
We use contact, profile, job, message, order and payment-reference information to operate accounts, match customers and builders, administer shops, prevent misuse, provide support and meet legal obligations. Payment card details are handled by Stripe and are not stored by Search A Builder.
We share information only where needed to provide the requested service—for example, releasing customer contact details to a shortlisted builder, passing checkout information to Stripe, or using infrastructure providers that host the service. We may also disclose information where required by law.
We retain information only as long as reasonably needed for the service, disputes, fraud prevention, accounting and legal requirements. You may ask to access, correct or delete eligible personal information, restrict or object to processing, or raise a concern by emailing privacy@searchabuilder.com. You may also complain to the UK Information Commissioner.
Shop marketplace, payments and cancellations
Products are sold by the shop identified on each listing. Product descriptions, stock, delivery areas and fulfilment are the seller’s responsibility. Search A Builder provides the marketplace checkout and administration.
The product price and any separate checkout service fee are displayed before payment. Search A Builder retains a 10% marketplace commission from the product order value and the seller receives the remaining 90% after delivery confirmation, subject to refunds, disputes and payment-provider adjustments.
Consumers should contact support promptly to request cancellation or report non-delivery, damage or an item that is not as described. Statutory consumer rights are not excluded. Refunds are returned through the original payment method after review; bank processing times may vary. Personalised, perishable, installed or otherwise exempt goods may have different cancellation rights where the law permits.
Do not confirm delivery until the order has been received and checked. We may pause a seller payout while a cancellation, refund, chargeback or dispute is investigated.
Complaints and support
Email support@searchabuilder.com with your name, account email, job or order number, what happened and the outcome you want. We will acknowledge complaints and aim to provide a substantive response within 14 days. Complex payment or evidence disputes may take longer, and we will explain the next step.
For urgent safety risks, suspected fraud or unlawful content, put “URGENT” in the subject line. This complaints process does not restrict any statutory rights or access to courts, regulators or payment-provider dispute processes.