buying from trade only shops !!

sam1970

We are in the process of applying for planning permssion for an extension and loft conversion. I would like to keep on top of things, if that is at all possible, and thinking of sourcing most of the materials from the likes of Jewson, Howdens and Travis Perkins. Now they only sell to builders and although I know that I could ask my builder to buy the stuff for us but I cant find the prices on their websites so how would I know who is cheaper? Obviously I cant ask my builder to waste his time going between various branches to find the prices !!!what is the best way to do it?

MX5huggy

Jewsons and TP sell to the public, you ring each your branch ask for a price for 24 sheets of x and they ask is it cash or account you say cash and then pay with a credit card (or debit or even cash). they deliver next day.

Howdens is trade only but you go in and ask them to price x and y and they give the price to your builder, howdens is not a builders merchant so tou don't need to get prices for most stuff from them.

ian103

Id also try an independant as they can be more helpful. Id always get a minimum of 3 prices anyway before ordering

snowcat75

You may end up paying as much though, Trade Customers, cash or account will or should get a lower price than the general public, for the simple reason of repeat custom.

There will be no hard and fast prices, and much is left down to the discretion of the branch manager, on there system there will be the price they bought it in for and the list price, he or she can chose to discount as much as want between the prices.

Your builder should be able to get a better price than you, much depends on how much they mark up, In the fabrication shop I put 20% on materials as standard, but if customers are slow payers, or its a pain in the !!!! section it could be more.

If the builder struggles with cash flow you may be better just offering to pay suppliers as they come in.

Ohh if you do go and buy materials yourself, make sure you know what your doing, talk the talk. trade can smell those who are green a mile off and just sell at list.

BTW don't forget all trade will be quoted ex VAT prices.

I_have_spoken

TP will let you register as a self-builder and give you a card, but not a credit line

jcb208

Think you will find B&Q trade point will be generally cheapest for most building materials

fluffpot

As mentioned, many wholesalers discount according to the volume you purchase - so as an individual you might pay 25 or 50% more than I pay and a huge company many well pay 25% less than me

Also if things go wrong and the builder has purchased and supplied all the materials then you know where you stand - the builder will be responsible for sorting it out either him/herself or with the wholesaler

Doozergirl

Are you project managing this all? (I'm getting deja vu, perhaps?)

It's fine to want to buy your own stuff, but you need to find someone accustomed to that or willing to let you do it.

Spending extra time trying to explain to a customer what is needed and when so they can go and buy it themselves still includes the time and effort in pricing and uses the knowledge and experience of the builder but removes control, some profit line and pretty much de-trousers them.

Fine if you are employing the brickie, carpenter, labourers etc all separately. Not going to be popular if you're expecting someone to manage the build.

Part of it does involve supply. I know that I can supply products to customers for the same price as my trade suppliers would supply them. The only person winning is the supplier - they take part of my income stream.

I've been on both sides, I just know that if I am the client, I need to be the manager too to save the money.

rustyboy21

As Doozergirl says, have you spoken to your builder about doing this?


He may have given you a quote for the job, in which the Labour aspect of it, takes into account the margin he will make from the materials. If you now go out and buy the materials yourself, he will most likely be out of pocket, which could cause conflict if there are any snagging problems. ''I have a problem with the bathroom' may end up with the response '' well you bought it, you sort it''


Think long and hard before doing it, it amy come back on you and bite you on the !!!! !

sam1970

thank you very much guys for all the valuable advice. propably I should have made it clearer that I am not planning to buy bricks, cement etc. I am taking about bathroom suite, kitchen units, fire doors for the whole house and the like so I would like to get these things to my taste rather than get the builder to supply them

Hintza

We we built our new house we did this for the things you have suggested (kitchen, tiles, bathrooms etc) but this a fully managed contract and all these things we had to buy were specified in the contract.