Why it pays to get 3 quotes....

jamtart6

I've had 5 quotes for the plumbers and still havent decided who i trust most!

hollydays

blue_monkey wrote: »

Great thank you. Yes, this is the kind of thing I am looking for really I am just having a browse through.

Just heard another 10-20 cms of snow forecast for tomorrow. Yikes!!

Well, if you find someone who can make me a sledge-let me know-I am stranded up a hill..

wimblewomble_2

blue_monkey wrote: »

But is that the MSE thing to do? Especially when there is 2k difference between the prices. To be honest, I felt quite comfortable in his company and it'll be me here during the day.

I suppose I am asking if there is any recompense available if something goes wrong because of all the 'danger' stories you read everywhere these days. I've googled and he is on the internet being a business owner, the address checks out and he is local, to disregard his services because he is cheaper just seems a bit daft as he might well do a good job but does not have so many overheads and expensive new vans to run and that.

I think I am going to get him around here while my husband is here and we can go from there.

I agree with maninthestreet.

as a general rule, I would make sure all the quotes are reasonably close together.
anything too cheap relative to the other quotes, or too expensive relative to other quotes, and concern should be raised; hence the wisdom of discarding anything too cheap or too expensive.

blue_monkey_2

hollydays wrote: »

Well, if you find someone who can make me a sledge-let me know-I am stranded up a hill..

You know, get a big thick plastic bag or a liner. You know those plastic sledges.... I got myself plsu the 2 kids on one the other day. There was no way I was missing out on the fun, LOL!! I even let them pull me home on the sledge for a bit. Because I am kind like that. :rotfl:

blue_monkey_2

Thanks, I am going to get the cheap one round, I've called TS and CD (who could not help) and they asked me about the quote and where I found his details and they said he sounds OK.

I have to say, it does have a discount for the work being done in the winter - and it was quoted in the paper as having a seasonal discount - so the 2 would be like for like I suppose.

I am going to go with the one I felt easier to talk to though, he offered more advice and can fit me in quicker and there is a payment on completion where the other chap is saying stages upfront before it is finished.

There are pros and cons really but part 1 has to be started soon so going to get him round for a chat and go from there. If hubby is not happy then we can move to chap 2 - heaven forbid being left with chap number 3 and his 14k quote!!

hollydays

Not that I know anything-but can you lay concrete in frost or snow? I thought you couldn't?

blue_monkey_2

No, not as far as I know, we are going to book him for Mid March all being well - the person I asked for a recommendation had hers done pretty recently so it can be done in the winter. They have all quoted me for the work commencing within a month. Then it'll be done for the Kids finishing school in April for the Easter break. I've called him since I posted last and he is coming around on Monday (weather permitting) to speak to my husband as my husband has stuff he wants to ask, bring more photos of his work and sort out the changes that need doing to the plans I made.

We've also decided that rather than get it done in 2 lots it is cheaper to use the overdraft to pay and pay interest for a few months, than it is to lose the winter discount.

TomsMom

I've been reading your thread with interest blue-monkey as we recently had to employ builders.

When our builder turned up he apologised for being 2 minutes late (even though he'd come 60 miles!) and he brought with him a portfolio of his work which included photographs and an A4 list of clients with names and phone numbers and an invitation to ring any of them and go to see his work.

I would say that a good tradesman will always be happy for you to ask to see some work he has done. If he objects he probably has something to hide. So go ahead and ask, you're not being cheeky or rude and he certainly wont mind if he's proud of his work - he'll be happy to show it off in order to get your custom.

hollydays

JUst watched Dom on telly tonight- cowboy builders-OMG-don't ever use the Federation of Master Builders...

spuds_2

Yeah, the Federation of Master Builders is really just a club you pay to belong to. I would never take it as a recommendation.

It's really tough to find reliable, fairly priced tradesmen. We wanted our kitchen knocking through - in total we rang 10 builders. Most didn't call back, one missed two appointments, one quoted £22k (reckon he didn't want the work). The one who did it was cheap and good, but our friends then used him and fell out with him big style.

I think the recession may make having work done a bit cheaper as I lot of people will put off landscaping, extending etc. when things are looking insecure.