Builder wants 60% upfront to cover materials

Rosa_Damascena

Tell him to whistle and find a builder that will give you a quote that you can trust from the outset. A tradesman without credit is either a rookie or waving a big red flag at you.

Don't waste another iota of brain space on this so-called builder.

greatcrested

I note you've not answered the question about Building Regulations. Who is arranging inspections and getting them signed off? You or your man? Or is your man an approved 'Competant Person' able to sign off himself?

I agree with FreeBear the quote sounds cheap. Always attractive to pay less and this IS a moneysaving site, but often cheap is NOT moneysaving! Quality and safety and legal compliance can suffer. And if his budgetting is hand-to-mouth there's real potential for problems.

But assuming £6K is the real cost, and will deliver what you've specced, then 50% 3K is over the top. Offer 20% and agree 30%. No more.

And pay by credit card as that gives you protection

I note you've also not said what the other quotes were.

BargainJunky

Alarm bells would be ringing with me on the actual quote itself - basically three rooms renovated for £6000!  Quite a few years ago the labour on just one bathroom was nearly a third of that.

Doozergirl

I totally agree that the labour element there should be more than the total cost quoted. 

The materials cost is highly inflated.  It's very rare for materials to be 60% unless they're supplying a whole kitchen to you.  

Find someone else, this is only going one way from this point and right now is your only escape route!  

Where did you find this person? 

bogeymen

You expect him to do all of that for £6k?? Material prices have gone up quite a lot recently (plaster for example). If he wanted £6k for materials alone, I'd say he was taking the mick but would imagine it'd be more like £3-4k for material alone at a glance. Labour you're looking at £15-20k. Is he a qualified electrican and gas-man? Who's going to do the plastering? What about the kitchen? If you want a good finish these need to be completed by skilled people. A one man band won't be skilled in all these areas and if they are they I doubt this job would interest them.

A building contractor will have skilled people who can do these jobs but it comes at a price.

Where have you found this guy from? As others have said run a mile and consider yourself spared.

bambi1980_2

I've just fell foul of this - I found tradesmen via mybuilder and enlisted them to refurb my kitchen (new doors), en suite, cloakroom and fit internal doors. Their quote was around £6100 which included all labour and materials bar from two sinks and a toilet. I paid for the materials up front after a detailed breakdown and 12 days into the job not one room was near completion after being promised it would take around a week. They've basically legged it off the job leaving me with incomplete kitchen and en suite. I didn't pay any labour but have paid for materials I've never received. They have made a lot of mistakes and the work completed is a shambles. It's going to cost me a lot now to put right.

twopenny

I've just had a quote from a well established plumber for a small bathroom for £3,000 and I place a request with the bathroom suppliers which he will order when he knows he can start. On delivery I will pay for the hardware. Not the cheapest but I know he'll turn up (eventually) and complete.

Neighbour same 1 small bathroom with hand built painted cupboards and classy shower with trimmings £6,000.

Both under a week to complete.

So you can see that the quote is wildly off even if you pay for materials.