Builder Let Us Down

Naomim

We have had plans made up and a builder quoted us £30k to build a 20m2 extension plus 1.5m2 porchway and restructuring of internal walls upstairs. This included removal of chimney breasts on ground and first floor and re-wiring throughout.

However, through not fault of his own he is now unable to do the work. His Dad has said he will come out of retirement (also a builder) to do the work but when my husband spoke with him; he seemed unaware of the amount of work we'd been quoted for.

We don't have a contract as no dates had been set and we hadn't paid the first deposit. Our neighbours have signed the party wall act and we were chasing up the builder for the Permitted Development neighbour consultation paperwork to be sent off. I'm now sending this myself to the council to get the paperwork through.

Now we're worried that the quote we have been given by the original builder is "too good to be true", his Dad will refuse to do the work for that price and we wont be able to get anything close. This is our maximum budget for the building work as we also have to get a new kitchen & bathroom and decorate.

Naomi

Dan-Dan

What is the question ?

Naomim

not a question.... just a statement that I'm worried we can't have the work down as our quote maybe wholly inadequate.

Maybe it should be.. can we hold his Dad to the price his son quoted?

Dan-Dan

Naomim wrote: »

can we hold his Dad to the price his son quoted?

I think you know the answer to that

27col

Naomim wrote: »

not a question.... just a statement that I'm worried we can't have the work down as our quote maybe wholly inadequate.

Maybe it should be.. can we hold his Dad to the price his son quoted?

Don't be ridiculous. It was the son who quoted, not the father. If the father thinks that his son under quoted, then obviously he is not going to do the job for the same money.
Just because you can't afford something, it does not mean that it was too expensive. It just means that you don't have enough money to do the job.

LUHG1878

Normally for work of this scale you'd have 3 or more quotes, this would have alerted you as to whether your guy was miles off.

What price did your other quotes come in at?

phil24_7

Count yourself lucky as if the original builder had carried out the works they would likely have been substandard, missing vital elements OR there would have been masses of extras charged.

You will likely have to do the extension or the internal works first then save up for the rest.

Regards
Phil

chappers

That's a very keen quote for the works you want done. I think you may have to revisit this and see where you can cut some costs, maybe ditch the porch for the time being or the remodelling up stairs. I wouldn't say your miles away, but as I said on first impressions you've been under quoted.

stator

You just need to get him in to review the exact details and sign a contract for the work and price. Treat him as a completely different builder, unrelated to your original one. Get some other quotes too

G_M

so you were about to pay the first installment for a job for which you have no contract. No proper specification. No comparative quotes.

Yes, you should be worried.

Now a 2nd builder (about whose work you know nothing, and who is retired) has come along and wants to review the quote?

you've had a lucky excape.

Let dad give you a new, written quote, fuly specced out and see what it is. Meanwhile, get at least two other builders to quoye as well.

Ask for reference for all 3 (dad as well).

Who was dealing with Building Control: you or the builder?

Yes - you'll suffer delays

Rain_Shadow

I'm having a 25sqm extension built atm plus some minor works in the house. Without seeing your plans it is difficult to compare too accurately but I am paying a lot more than £30k, nearer £55k. You definitely need some properly specced and detailed quotes from other builders. You may, inadvertently, have had a lucky escape.