Any Tips on managing tradesmen ?

compuphonic

I've got 3 weeks of building/renovation work starting soon and I'm a bit unsure how to manage the work being carried out.

I'm particularly unsure of when money should change hands etc.

If they say the work will take 3 weeks should I be asking them for a breakdown of what they expect to be doing on those days ??

Any resources on the net you can point me to, I haven't been able to find much..

Thanks

Stuart

mosaicwendy

My husband is a builder and whenever we put a quote or estimate forward we always break down the work into stage payments and consult with the customer to agree them before the work starts.

If you sit down with your builder and ask them to break down the work into convenient stages and agree terms - I would suggest NOT paying in advance unless you know them very well and do hold back a final payment until the work has been completed to your satisfaction.

I know there is a lot of press about cowboy builders - but a genuine tradesman will be happy to discuss terms with you - and get it down on paper.

Hope this helps
Wendy

nearlyrich

My other half has done most jobs in our house but we had a new kitchen fitted earlier in the year and it was my first experience of having workmen around.

We paid a deposit with the order, a lump on starting the work and balance on completion. The final payment was paid after the thankfully short list of small issues was resolved. If you pay in full before you are happy you won't have any bargaining power.

Good luck!!!

divadee

I would suggest all of the above, and make sure you get all the terms in writing and signed by yourself and your workmen.

Definately keep back a final payment until you are completly satisfied. A genuine builder will be used to this and not mind at all.

HTH ;D

divadee

Should of also said, have you got a fixed price quote or a daily rate?

If you have a daily rate then i would agree at what stages work will be done and try to agree that if the job is not done in three weeks then maybe get a discount, if you are on a fixed price then it wont matter so much if they are over as you wont be paying for it.

Di

it sounds a bit late but you really ought to have had a contract stating stage payments and a penalty clause if they are late finishing on due date (stated in in contract).

I had the dubious pleasure of having a house built from scratch due to susbsidence. being an insurance claim, i had a surveyer to oversee the works but the builder still tried it on! sorry mosaicwendy, no offence, im now married to an ex site manager, so he had one foot in both camps. NEVER pay up front 'i need it to pay for materials' if they have such bad cash flow, hmmm

mosaicwendy

no offence taken

I agree about getting it in writing first - we do it as a matter of course to protect ourselves as much as the customer. All parties then have clear expectations and there are no disappointments on either side.

Good luck with the building work
Wendy

compuphonic

Thanks for the replies.

Regards

Stuart