Awkward: EA says my quotes will be bumped up because I am a woman

Bossypants

So I am trying to buy a cottage, and have had a structural survey done. Survey says the place is basically fine but badly in need of a new roof covering. This will be quite an expense so I want to renegotiate price based on it. Send report to the EA, junior EA says he will send it to the vendor and assuming she is happy to negotiate, suggests that both she and I get quotes in and we can go from there. That seems sensible, I line up a small local firm with a good Checkatrade firm to do my quote.

Today the senior EA comes back to me and says that the vendor is happy to negotiate. I say great, I will get my roofer to book the quote in, he says sure, go ahead and do that, but 'bear in mind that lots of firms will put an extra percentage on because you are a woman'. Exact words, with the implication that I should obviously trust 'his guy's' quote, even though his guy is specialised in a completely different type of roof, has just glanced at it from the scaffolding next door, and, oh yes, works for the agent of my counterparty.

Now, personally I don't think his assertion is true, and I don't really care that he's trying to trick me into thinking he is my friend, but I feel like I'm in a bit of a catch 22 situation, because now any quote I get in will automatically be treated with scepticism from the outset. It won't be their quote vs my quote, it'll be their quote vs my quote less 20%, and if I try to argue against it, or get more quotes, I am just proving their point. I feel like the only way to get around it is to play hardball, but I really hate doing that. Any suggestions as to how best to handle the situation?

Andypandyboy

Get the firms to write in bold on the bottom of their quotes:

We are a reputable company with a verified work history who quote on the basis of work required and not on the gender of our client.

Grenage

So basically the EA wants you to think that the roofing work will cost less than it will.

You can never trust an EA.
Crack on, and get your own quote.

Bossypants

Andypandyboy wrote: »

Get the firms to write in bold on the bottom of their quotes:

We are a reputable company with a verified work history who quote on the basis of work required and not on the gender of our client.

I can't tell if you are joking but I like this, very to the point! :laugh:

Andypandyboy

I am not joking....I think it would make the point to the EA quite succintly.

Guest101

The EA isn't wrong, a lot of firms would do that. But that doesn't make his quote any more trustworthy

dc197

Don't worry about what the EA tells you. Proceed with your own trader.

david1951

The Estate Agent just wants to sell the house and will say anything and everything to do that. Sounds like he wants you to start doubting yourself so that you accept a higher offer on negotiation.

Get the quote, say that the original offer was based on a sound roof which this place hasn't got. Tell the agent that there is a clear conflict of interest with their quote and you are going to stand by whatever your guy comes back with. Why not get three quotes and use the average?

DaftyDuck

Given your username... I'd likely give you a 30% discount and a first-rate job!

Why do I suspect this translates as the agent saying "now listen to me, sweetie, I'll do you a favour and sort all this out while you get your nails done...." I'm a bloke, and behaviour like this winds me up!

I do agree with andy, above. I suspect some casual tradesmen will load their price - but they might do the same with an elderly bloke, a geek, or someone very young. Any reputable quote will be a quote for the job in hand, no more, no less.

Reminds me of telling a neighbour I'd got money off my water bill for poor water... he had been trying for years, and he stomped right off to the phone, and called them up... things weren't going well on the call, you could tell from the bluster, and then he used his full skills with the immortal phrase: "Now look here, Missy..." and the phone went dead on him....

That phrase has entered our household as one I use at my wife.... when I realise how wrong I am!

Tell the agent you got the very, very best deal by fluttering your eyelids... or threaten to knee him in the :eek:

ReadingTim

I'd get a number of quotes, rather than a single one, especially if I hadn't used that outfit before - dunno why you think your outfit is any better or worse than the EA's mate...you only got your recommendation from the internet, and it's not like online reviews can't be faked, forged or otherwise falsified - how do you know Checkatrade is any more reliable than Tripadvisor?!?

So get your preferred outfit, the EA's mate and one other, and see who comes up best....

Mojisola

Bossypants wrote: »

Survey says the place is basically fine but badly in need of a new roof covering.

Exact words, with the implication that I should obviously trust 'his guy's' quote, even though his guy is specialised in a completely different type of roof, has just glanced at it from the scaffolding next door, and, oh yes, works for the agent of my counterparty.

I would get three quotes of my own and not accept his one at all.

You want people who can show they are experienced in the kind of work you need doing.