Learning to walk before I run

Paspatur

Karmacat all lobsters and crabs were brought into our house alive. One of my older brothers was a bully to me but I was allowed to get my own back by chasing him with them because he was terrified of them. 
Edinburgher, even free they were never a main meal or even part of a meal just a tasty snack, need a lot of crab or lobster to feed 6 kids and 2 adults
This was the 60's and early 70's and the water was not polluted
It probably was once oil fever struck but the fishing moved up the coast and our fishing industry died in favour of supply boats for oil rigs
But I still get fresh fish from within 30 miles of my house
1 kg of haddock £15
1 kg smoked haddock £16
And hopefully in the next few weeks some cod roe

edinburgher

This week has ended on a high after we received a very sensible quote for our extension and downstairs work (a little over £40k). It doesn't include a couple of finishing trades (for example tiling or kitchen fitting), but is otherwise very credible. The firm seems reputable (have won small trade awards etc.) and we get a very good feeling about their willingness to engage with honest responses about tweaks to the spec etc. While they can't do it until Jan '23, they will protect the price unless building supply inflation continues unabated, at which point they will allow us to cancel the contract without penalty, they don't require any form of deposit and their approach to stage payments sounds fine (weekly payment based on milestones as set out in the contract). I still need to spreadsheet everything, but with the single assumption that a completed loft extension will allow us to borrow a further £16,500 against equity, it looks to be doable without further saving or borrowing elsewhere. I think that's eminently doable, leaving us in the odd position of being "all systems go" again (well, potentially in just under a year). Am very excited about the possibility 

We will, of course, try our damndest to save as much as we can so that there's a decent contingency.

Suffolk_lass

Just as a precaution, check out your local trading standards. Not trying to put a downer on it but just to do a bit of due diligence. I wish I had

Alchemilla

Suffolk_lass said:

Just as a precaution, check out your local trading standards. Not trying to put a downer on it but just to do a bit of due diligence. I wish I had

Sounds like a good plan. 

@edinburgher exciting times!

edinburgher

@Suffolk_lass - builder is based in another LA. I've looked at the section of their website dealing with "trusted trader" type information, but it's vanishingly small, mustn't be used much? I can't find any horror stories online about the builder...

Karmacat

That sounds very hopeful, Ed.  As to checking on them, do they use trustpilot?  checkatrade?  They themselves will often tell you - my kitchen fitters, and my fencing guy, gave me a card to fill in (they didn't mention it beforehand, just to be clear on timing).

Suffolk_lass

edinburgher said:

@Suffolk_lass - builder is based in another LA. I've looked at the section of their website dealing with "trusted trader" type information, but it's vanishingly small, mustn't be used much? I can't find any horror stories online about the builder...

Promising... I would ask if they are willing to let you see some previous projects and maybe speak to a couple of previous customers when the time gets a bit closer

edinburgher

Damn! I think I have found the skeletons for our builder 😢

One very negative Google review which led to the fact they have dissolved 7-8 companies in the last decade. That has to be dodgy, right?

powerspowers

Ouch that doesn’t sound good!! 

edinburgher

Plus ca change