Hi Dennis - this builder is turning out to be a better than expected choice (OK its still early days) as he has a huge amount of equipment, so no hiring, borrowing or buying. I'm expecting him to roll up with a concrete pump for when we do the upper slabs. He's got a crane, and a lot of other kit already on site. His company is a proper building / engineering outfit and so far anyway, it shows.
I have not even described or shown his 'woodworking' skills yet which was another reason why we went with him. That's to come soon.