Design 2 Build

SurreySaint

Has anyone had any work carried out by a Mr Peter Beales (also goes by the name of Peter Bell) from Design 2 Build - based in Dorking? I have an exceptionally well priced quote and am keen to know I should trust it. He has no website and no presence on any building review sites and my concern is that this could be a deliberate ploy to keep himself anonymous.

Any help would be appreciated. SS

Doozergirl

This should be on the In My Home board.

Have you had more quotes than just his? How does it compare exactly?

Have you asked to look at other customer’s projects? Spoken to other customers?

I worry about anything ‘exceptionally well priced’ with building as building is not cheap.

Not having an online presence is okay, but there are still plenty of ways to do your due diligence. Where did you find him?

SurreySaint

Thank you Doozergirl. Can you tell me how to move it?

You hear a lot of stories about cowboy builders and rogue traders so I need to be sure Peter Beales is not one of them.

I've had some numbers of other customers but it's hard to know if they're genuine or cherry picked.

Has anyone else had any experience of him?

pramsay13

As Doozergirl says a lack of online presence isn't necessarily a problem but you will have to rely on traditional methods of actually phoning some customers or going to visit previous builds.
Going by two different names would worry me.
Local facebook groups are good for this kind of thing.

DCFC79

I echo the previous advice, I cant see you will find a past customer of his on here, you would need to ask him for his previous work(which you have done and are concerned which I understand) he has completed or go with a builder you have seen the work done for a neighbour/friend/relative. Get more than quote though, get a mix of quotes from a variety of sources. There's also Nextdoor, its a website for the local commuity.

JSmith33

SurreySaint - actually had work done by this guy so glad I saw this - do NOT hire. Contracted him for a medium sized project in Leatherhead last year and it was a disaster. Started well with branded board outside etc but workmanship was poor quality which only became clear after took most of the money from the job and stopped showing up. Hired due to price but ended up paying lot more to fix problems than if I went with other quotes from recommended builders. Stay clear!

G_M

well there's your answer!

But.... how did you find him? Useful lesson for others to learn: if you found him via a leaflet, or newspaper ad, then that just confirms my view that you should never source a builder like this.

Use a professional body (RICS, Fed of Master Builders, whatever), or an independant trader scheme like Which? Trusted Trader.

(not a commercial one of similar name eg advertised on TV!)

Doozergirl

Well, there we go!

Did you google him to find this thread, JSmith33?

If one other disgruntled client searches him out that quickly, I dread to find out how many others there are?!

Nollaigbk

Only just come across this thread, but better late than never I suppose and if it helps anyone out in the future then great.

This guy seems to operate in the Dorking, Leatherhead, Bookham and Fetcham areas. Avoid employing him at all costs.
The workmanship is criminal and, as others have said, ultimately will cost a fortune to put right. He's vague and evasive, never does what he promises, is always looking to scam money up front and will disappear leaving you in the lurch.
Avoid Peter Bell (Beale) (Beales) Design 2 Build all all costs.