Builder recommended by agent?

shereeki

I've spoken to the sellers agent about the survey- report says a lot of work needed.  They've has sent details of a local builder who might be able to visit/quote.

The agent works for the seller, so how much would you trust what this builder says about costs. Or am I being paranoid? 

Any thoughts/ ways to approach? 

cattie

What would the builder gain by giving an inflated figure & possibly losing out on a potential job?

The majority of builders will not visit a property to get an estimate for required works unless you actually own the house, so really, in this situation, the builder if he agrees to visit, would actually be doing you a favour by looking & giving an estimate.

NSG666

It might be worth posting on here what the issues are as often they are standard things that come up so the surveyor can cover his backside.

gettingtheresometime

cattie said:

What would the builder gain by giving an inflated figure & possibly losing out on a potential job?

The majority of builders will not visit a property to get an estimate for required works unless you actually own the house, so really, in this situation, the builder if he agrees to visit, would actually be doing you a favour by looking & giving an estimate.

I would imagine that if the survey says X needs doing & this builder says it will cost £Y to fix then that's the starting point for a price reduction. Of course it might actually cost £Z to fix.

OP - I'd get my own builder or one independently recommended to me

eddddy

I'd be surprised if the builder gave you free quotes in those circumstances.

I suspect you'd have to pay, and they're more likely to be rough estimates.



But a cynical person might wonder where the builder's loyalties lie...

The estate agent is giving the builder lots of "very easy" business - getting paid to look at problems and give a rough estimate of costs to fix them.

The builder might be tempted to try to keep the estate agent happy by saying stuff like "that's a really simple, cheap job" - so that the estate agent keeps giving them more work.

canaldumidi

eddddy said:

....
The builder might be tempted to try to keep the estate agent happy by saying stuff like "that's a really simple, cheap job" - so that the estate agent keeps giving them more work.

This /\.

And will this be an estimate or a quote? And in whose name- yoursor the sellers?

If a quote in your name, then you'd have a strong position to get him to do the job at the price quoted once you own (provided the quote is not time-limited).

Anything less is suspect, so find (and probably pay) your own builder.

But as NSG666 says, we may be able to help to some extent if you specify the work needed.

shereeki

eddddy said:

But a cynical person might wonder where the builder's loyalties lie...

The estate agent is giving the builder lots of "very easy" business - getting paid to look at problems and give a rough estimate of costs to fix them.

The builder might be tempted to try to keep the estate agent happy by saying stuff like "that's a really simple, cheap job" - so that the estate agent keeps giving them more work.

...this was my thought!  Am assuming they wood be estimates only but will ask...
Not knowing anyone personally it may be the only realistic option available due to time frames etc