Frequently Asked Questions

No – Builder's Mate is a trade‑only platform for tradespeople, contractors, and construction businesses. It isn't available for personal or domestic use. If you're a homeowner working on a personal project, we'd recommend contacting local builders' merchants directly for pricing.

Builder's Mate is a platform that connects construction professionals with approved local suppliers to get the best prices on materials and equipment. Simply submit your requirements, and suppliers in your area will compete to offer you their best prices.

Click "Get Started" on our homepage, fill in your details and material requirements, set your deadline, then submit. Relevant suppliers in your area will be notified and can submit their bids.

No. Submitting requests is completely free for customers. You only pay the supplier directly if you choose to accept a bid and proceed with the order.

We currently operate in Kent and surrounding areas, specifically postcodes beginning with CT, ME, and TN. We're expanding to new regions soon.

The standard bidding window is 90 minutes during business hours (Monday-Friday, 9am-5pm). If you submit a request outside these hours, the deadline will be set for the next business day.

This depends on how many suppliers in your area can fulfil your request. You'll typically receive between 2-5 competitive bids, though this can vary based on the materials requested.

When the deadline passes, we automatically identify the winning bid (lowest price) and send you an email with your winning price. If you're happy with it, click accept and we'll share the supplier's contact details with you — and let them know to expect your call — so you can arrange delivery directly.

No, there's no obligation to proceed. The winning bid is simply a quote - if you don't accept it, no contact details are exchanged and the offer expires after 7 days (supplier prices can change, so we can't hold quotes indefinitely).

Visit our Become a Supplier page to learn more about joining our network. When you're ready, go to our Supplier Portal to view open requests and submit bids. We'll review your application and, once approved, you'll start receiving relevant bid requests in your area.

Registration and receiving bid requests is free. We charge a small commission only on successful orders - contact us for current rates.

When a relevant request comes in, you'll receive an email with a link to submit your bid. Simply enter your price and any notes, then submit before the deadline.

If your bid wins, both you and the customer will receive an email. The customer will contact you directly to arrange payment and delivery. It's then a direct relationship between you and the customer.

You can reach us by email at hello@builders-mate.com or by phone at 07958 340 396 during business hours.

We take data protection seriously. Your information is stored securely and only shared with relevant suppliers when you submit a request. See our Privacy Policy for full details.

Once submitted, requests cannot be cancelled as suppliers may have already started preparing their bids. However, you're never obligated to accept any bids you receive.