Builders charges

nicolaxx74

Hi all,
Let me give you the background first...
Over a year ago we were recommended a builder as we were looking to extend our property. The builder recommended an architect (quite a big local company) to get drawings done which we did. After a bit of tooing and froing we finally had drawings that we were happy with and the builder had a look and gave us a quote. Whilst all this was going on the builder returned to our property a number of times to check 'things' measurements etc oh and to make a hole in our kitchen ceiling to check the beam going across and a hole in our arage floor to check the footings. When he gave us the quote it came in alot over our budget, he also didn't give us any sort of breakdown of costs. We decided that instead of doing the 2 storey extension we would instead do the extension into the back of the garage. Sometime later he came back with a quote for that of £20000, which after looking into it further we have now decided not to go ahead with as it would not add this amount to the property once finished. Again he visited our house number of times to take measurements etc. And again he has not provided us wih a breakdown of costs. He also has said that 'this would be the max it would be, no extra hidden costs, and would possibly come in under that amount.' We have lost faith i him completely after all this, he would say he was coming to measure etc and not turn up, he hasn't provided us with any written paperwork related to cost and we now have a hole in our garage floor and kitchen ceiling. Oh and for information no contract has been signed.

So come to today, he wants to come round to fill the hole in, he has spoken to my husband on the phone and wants to charge us £300 to do that and for all the site visits. Hubby has brought this cost down to £200 as we have paid out on drawings and planning permission that the builder suggested we get done so that he could work out a cost. We realise our stupidity at just following what the builder said, but he did also know our budget from the start and said ok.

What I want to know is, is this cost a fair one seeing as he did the holes so that he could give us a quote, i.e. he wanted to we didn't ask him to.

And if not what can we do about it?

Thanks in advance,
Nicola

btedds

We are currently having work done on our house too and we had at least 5 quotes from our builder and he visited site repeatedly before we gave him the job.

We never paid him or any other builder for visiting us or for quotes - we have had at least 20 people out for site visits for quoting and if they all charged us for the site visits we would be very poor by now.

I have had people say they would charge for site visits but they have always advised us in advance - if he never mentioned charging you for them before then he can't ask you to pay for them now - it sounds like he's just a bit peed off at not getting any work out of you.

Just be thankful that you haven't hired him as your builder!

As for the holes being fixed - do you want him to fix them. If you are happy to fix them yourself, then you shouldn't owe him a penny.

Just my humble opinion.

Imp

The builder should have told you that his investigations and making good would result in a fee. Bad Builder.

The builder carried out investigations to ensure that his quotation was accurate, and he wasn't going to start work and suddenly find that he needed to change the beam in the kitchen or underpin the garage (at your cost). Good Builder.

£200 for an accurate and reliable quotation of the works is probably money well spent. Whether you have to pay it, I don't know.

So far the builder has given up his time (and therefore earning potential) for free on the understanding he would carry out the works. He has provided a service to you. It is not unreasonable to pay him for this service. On the other hand, I doubt a contract currently exists, so you could easily get away without paying anything.

I guess it all boils down to how you feel - a moral dilema.

phill99

I would be inclined not to pay them. It seems that at no point were you made aware of these charges so I don't think he has a leg to stand on.

booty40uk

I never charge for estimates or site visits. you win some, you lose some, thats just the way it is in the building game.

I wouldnt pay a penny.

Andy

trumpton

I wouldn't pay either. Fill the holes yourself if you can. To be honest, I don't know why he needed to make so many visits - if the project was fairly starightforward and he knew what he was doing, surely he would only need to visit/measure once or twice.

For our extension, the builder gave us a ballpark figure and then a proper quote based on the plans and a proper measuring of the site.