"Even if your builder comes highly recommended and you’ve been impressed by other jobs they’ve done, projects can sometimes go wrong," explains Helen Phipps at Compare the Market. "It's essential the builder you hire has the right insurance for the job."

As a bare minimum, this should include general liability insurance but also ideally builder's risk insurance and possibly professional liability insurance for designer-builders. Always ask to see certificates as proof of insurance before work begins.

26 Questions To ALWAYS Ask A Contractor Before Hiring Them