Any tips on getting realistic building quotes?

Biffer

A quick update on this. I decided against getting a building firm in. My friend agreed to project manage this and bring in labour as and when needed.

We're half way through the build now and we're on track to do everything for under £20k. Which is half the price of that first quote!

1984ReturnsForReal_2

Biffer wrote: »

A quick update on this. I decided against getting a building firm in. My friend agreed to project manage this and bring in labour as and when needed.

We're half way through the build now and we're on track to do everything for under £20k. Which is half the price of that first quote!

And what is the timescale then?

nickj_2

evoke wrote: »

OP: I always get three quotes from local tradesmen. I use MyHammer and MyBuilder for the quotes as you can see the builder's qualifications (which those sites verify), what work they have carried out and what feedback they have got.


Check for a proper postal address, a liveried van and a landline phone number (call it to check that someone actually answers the phone).

Any builder not willing to supply the above is probably a cowboy.


Be prepared to wait for a good builder to become free. It may take a week to prepare a quote and then several weeks before a good builder can start on a big job. A builder that chases you all day long is likely to not be in demand as is the one who can start tomorrow. Get one who is in demand and can provide references.

a liveried van doesn't mean anything , anyone can get a van signwritten wether they are good or not , a good builder wouldn't need to advertise , when i changed my van i left it blank, i get more work than i can cope with without advertising , or using myhammer etc

also the "several weeks before a decent builder can start":rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:, any builder who is half decent wil have at the very least several months before they can start, if not a years worth of work