Building cost Estimation service offer by Travis Perkins

Bleg

We have finally received the building regulations approval for our proposed loft conversions/kitchen extension. I am now in the process of trying to get quotes from various builders. I came across a service offered by Travis perkins whereby they itemise and give you an estimate on the total cost of materials/labour. They charge about £120 for domestic clients.

I am tempted by this as I am abit reluctant to just hand it over to the builder and take his word as gospel. I have been told time and time again that at least 20-25% savings can be made if I order the things my self. I admit I am a complete novice and this would probably be the first and last time that I may have to do this. I thought this could at least act as a point of reference when negotiating with the builders

Please advice me. I am not out for cheap, just value for money. Has anyone out there used this estimating service offered by Travis perkins or any other?

All comment welcome.

latecomer

I would ask what prices they will be quoting - if its retail prices then its of no use. If its normal trade prices then its probably worth £120 if you are getting trades to quote for materials and labour seperately.

We did consider using this service but didn't in the end.

tlrtone

I did use the service and the report you get is comprehensive and lists labour rates as well as parts and materials.
I paid £50+vat if I remember. (ping me your email and I will email you what they sent through so you can see).

I contemplated getting a builder in, but I decided to do the whole thing myself, as I am pretty handy and like to do the research on the internet anyway!
My 2-storey extension cost around £12k in the end as this was just materials, and sourced mainly from the internet (for insulation etc) and from local suppliers with whom I set up a trade account (Jewsons, TP and B&Q).

The big thing I would suggest is do plenty of research on the web - the Buiding Regs plans should detail everything (if you have the full plans approval) and so you can start to get an idea of materials costs. It should go down to the type of blocks, insulation, timber sizes etc.

A lot of this negates the need for the Travis Perkins service to be honest!

I know it sounds really corny, by Haynes do a "Home Extension" manual, which actually is great for a novice as it covers everything you go through and pictures each stage, so it is a great reference to help you plan the project and set your own expectations at each stage. It also helps you get the terminology right for when you speak with the builder!

Bleg

Many thanks for the reponses. tlrtone I would very much like to see what was quoted for you by Travis perkins. If Materials cost 12K what was the labour. Did you hire in the individual trades your selves?

[Deleted User]

He said he did it himself.

aboard_epsilon

i would say ..say to travis perkins ..they can do the estimate ..and in return ask them to give you the builders discount, if you promise to buy all materials from them .

all builders get a good mark down on price of materials, if they are a regular customer of a certain builders merchants.

about 20 years ago ..i was building a large-ish workshop ..and got the discount ..it was worth about 10 percent to me.

all the best.markj

iamcornholio

Bleg wrote: »

I have been told time and time again that at least 20-25% savings can be made if I order the things my self.

There is also a 50% chance that the wrong stuff is ordered, or not delivered on time or too much is delivered at once, or the timber is all twisted etc - leading to extra charges by the builder for the delays or messing about.

I've known customers order floor joists or rafters as per the plan in advance, only to find that an unforeseen requires different timber sections.

If you are going to order materials yourself, do it in co-ordination with the builder - don't order everything in advance

IMO, I don't think the cost savings are that clear cut, as the builder may mark up his labour costs to compensate. But the client takes on all risks and responsibility for the materials for marginal potential savings

As for TP estimating, its not so much the costs but the quantities and cutting list which is of value. Each builder will have his own labour rates and uplifts, so their service is no use there. TP will just use material prices which you can get anywhere (not just their own inflated rates), so again not much use. Plus, their estimating may not be valid (if wrong) if you eventually order from elsewhere.

Use an independent QS (quantity surveyor) to work out your materials, of just get several all-in and like-for-like builders quotes

Bleg

Many thanks. I do intend to get in as many quotes as I possibly can. The reason I thought the TP estimate would be useful was because it would provide me with a list of all the individual bits of materials/sundries that need to be got in conjunction with the most obvious ones. I would not necessarily purchase it all from them it could be that I could arrange a discount with some other merchant. I am in such a quandary.