Bathroom fitter - paying up front

Bev06

I am going to be having my bathroom re-fitted and have just received my first written quote. The quote is for labour and materials such as pipework, grout etc. but does not include the bathroom suite, shower, tiles etc.

The quote states that the company (a small local bathroom fitters) want 50% of the money up front and 50% on completion of the job (all in cash or bank transfer). As this is the first major job I have had done in my house I wondered if anyone could tell me if this is normal practice?

Thanks very much - any advice is much appreciated.

geri1965_2

I've just had two quotes for new boilers, one of them wanted the cost of materials up front, the other wanted 50% up front. One of them is also quoting for replacing my bath, but I pay for that on completion.

I am a bit nervous about handing over a grand before anything done, but he is a one man band and I can understand his cash flow might not be great.

Inactive

50% up front seems fair to both parties to me.

McKneff

geri1965 wrote: »

I've just had two quotes for new boilers, one of them wanted the cost of materials up front, the other wanted 50% up front. One of them is also quoting for replacing my bath, but I pay for that on completion.

I am a bit nervous about handing over a grand before anything done, but he is a one man band and I can understand his cash flow might not be great.

I can understand your nervousness about handing over this amount of money.
I find that asking people for money up front is a bit of a Joke as most builders will have accounts with building supply companies, and only pay 30 to 45 days later.

Barneysmom

I think it's right that your fitter is asking for upfront money to cover parts, he may have learned a hard lesson in the past?

Canucklehead

Good morning: Many sole traders i.e. one man/woman bands don't buy materials on account but pay on purchase as they don't want to run up debt on accounts.: asking for a deposit is good business practice as is a written contract between parties detailing specifications, terms and conditions.

HTH

Canucklehead

ic

When I had my drive done, I paid a £100 deposit before hand, then £1500 halfway through the work (when easily that much work had been done), and then a final £2500 when they were finished.

When I had my fences done, I paid the £1200 on competition- nothing up front.

Personally I think anything more than 10% up front is too much. Money as they go along is ok, as long as you can see the work happening.

toffeegirl

I just had my kitchen re-walled, re-ceilinged and re-floored, had some damp-proofing done and paid nothing til completion.

Canucklehead

Hi...additional point for illustration...the material costs associated with the supply and fitting of a bathroom are usually more than the financial outlay required for many other projects eg .plastering, decorating etc. ...can't compare apples and oranges.;) On other threads in this forum, MSErs have detailed the money(££££s) they have spent on sanitaryware, tiles, brassware,lighting, accessories etc.

Alarm bells would ring for many tradespersons if potential clients baulked at paying a deposit and using stage payments....once bitten, twice shy:eek:

Canucklehead

toffeegirl

I would have been happy to pay something up front - especially for the building materials / damp-proofing..... but he was happy to wait til the job was complete.

latecomer

If it was someone out of the yellow pages I would be more hesitant but if its someone that has been recommended then I wouldn't worry about it too much for all the reasons stated above.