1 week into home renovation / extension - should we pull the plug already?

Doozergirl

BlueC said:

BlueC said:

We chose them because they were always super-responsive and helpful, and the price was keen. Maybe these should also have been alarm bells. Who knows.

I already responded with why we chose them.

Hmm.  Other people's experiences and reviews? Their local reputation?  Having previously seen the quality of their work? 

Or just friendly, cheap and available? 

What proper due diligence was done? 

I'd suggest that the joiner attends the site meeting and the three of you go over the plans you discuss what is and is not practical and cost effective.  Also discuss whether the builder needs to supervise more initially
whilst the structure is going up.  You try to salvage the relationship before discussion of an exit plan.  

Also, don't email with initial concerns or complaints. You can keep a paper trail of meetings etc but you cannot convey your true intentions in an email.  Far better, always to speak directly with people when it can be dealt with there and then.  
 

NSG666

Email is great for having things in writing to refer to but can often be read in a completely different manner to that the writer intended. I've seen many a post on here that to me seems a bit abrupt and abrasive but in most cases I doubt that was the intention of the writer who is giving their time up to offer advice.

It seems like you have already decided to terminate the contract and are looking for reassurance which you might struggle to find on here. It will cost you for what they have done so far and you might struggle to find someone to do it for several months.

You can 'have it out' with the builder on Monday or you can try and have a conversation where you hold you hands up and explain that, as a layperson, you don't understand how and why things are being done and not quite as per the plans.

Getting an email from a client on a Friday night telling me 'things were not right' would really have annoyed me. I'm not blaming you as it must be stressful having strangers working in/on your home just trying to give you another perspective.

BlueC

Doozergirl said:

Hmm.  Other people's experiences and reviews? Their local reputation?  Having previously seen the quality of their work? 

Or just friendly, cheap and available? 

What proper due diligence was done? 

I guess their availability was a big factor but we really have got on with him well and had a good relationship. I also went to view a job they were undertaking that was very similar to ours. I also spoke at length to one of his previous clients who had a job about twice the size of ours.

I'd suggest that the joiner attends the site meeting and the three of you go over the plans you discuss what is and is not practical and cost effective.  Also discuss whether the builder needs to supervise more initially
whilst the structure is going up.  You try to salvage the relationship before discussion of an exit plan.  

To be honest this was the kind of response I was expecting from him - to suggest we have a get-together and go over the plans. Not to just fly-off the handle and threaten to throw the towel in. I just really wanted a grown up conversation and a way forward. I don't think the issues are massive and could easily be resolved but I am really alarmed by his response.

Also, don't email with initial concerns or complaints. You can keep a paper trail of meetings etc but you cannot convey your true intentions in an email.  Far better, always to speak directly with people when it can be dealt with there and then. 

Thanks. I was careful not to list any complaints by email, all I said was that I would like to have a chat and see him before work recommences on Monday. I take it on board though, I think you're right its better to wait until a face to face chat.

BlueC

NSG666 said:

Email is great for having things in writing to refer to but can often be read in a completely different manner to that the writer intended. I've seen many a post on here that to me seems a bit abrupt and abrasive but in most cases I doubt that was the intention of the writer who is giving their time up to offer advice.

It seems like you have already decided to terminate the contract and are looking for reassurance which you might struggle to find on here. It will cost you for what they have done so far and you might struggle to find someone to do it for several months.

You can 'have it out' with the builder on Monday or you can try and have a conversation where you hold you hands up and explain that, as a layperson, you don't understand how and why things are being done and not quite as per the plans.

Getting an email from a client on a Friday night telling me 'things were not right' would really have annoyed me. I'm not blaming you as it must be stressful having strangers working in/on your home just trying to give you another perspective.

Thanks this is useful. I am open-minded and can see both sides of this. I haven't made up my mind on anything and I genuinely hope that come Monday we can all just get together and get over this early hiccup. But I am wary of this being a bit of a red-flag that I might severely regret not taking notice of in 3 months time.

stuart45

Situations like this are difficult to give decent advice on a forum, as you really need to hear both sides of the story. 

Doozergirl

BlueC said:

Doozergirl said:

Hmm.  Other people's experiences and reviews? Their local reputation?  Having previously seen the quality of their work? 

Or just friendly, cheap and available? 

What proper due diligence was done? 

I guess their availability was a big factor but we really have got on with him well and had a good relationship. I also went to view a job they were undertaking that was very similar to ours. I also spoke at length to one of his previous clients who had a job about twice the size of ours.

I'd suggest that the joiner attends the site meeting and the three of you go over the plans you discuss what is and is not practical and cost effective.  Also discuss whether the builder needs to supervise more initially
whilst the structure is going up.  You try to salvage the relationship before discussion of an exit plan.  

To be honest this was the kind of response I was expecting from him - to suggest we have a get-together and go over the plans. Not to just fly-off the handle and threaten to throw the towel in. I just really wanted a grown up conversation and a way forward. I don't think the issues are massive and could easily be resolved but I am really alarmed by his response.

Also, don't email with initial concerns or complaints. You can keep a paper trail of meetings etc but you cannot convey your true intentions in an email.  Far better, always to speak directly with people when it can be dealt with there and then. 

Thanks. I was careful not to list any complaints by email, all I said was that I would like to have a chat and see him before work recommences on Monday. I take it on board though, I think you're right its better to wait until a face to face chat.

Okay, so you have done your due diligence, you know that he is capable and that with happy customers you have not employed a cowboy that needs to be shown the door.

I think his reaction was to the email.  He would have read it in a way that probably wasn't intended.  

It sounds like the joiner needs more guidance in terms of how he starts each day.  

BlueC

Doozergirl said:

Okay, so you have done your due diligence, you know that he is capable and that with happy customers you have not employed a cowboy that needs to be shown the door.

I think his reaction was to the email.  He would have read it in a way that probably wasn't intended.  

It sounds like the joiner needs more guidance in terms of how he starts each day.  

I think you're right on both counts. I am happy to learn from this and realise that the email was a bad idea. It has probably stressed him out at the weekend when he wants to be relaxing and so his reaction was a bit over cooked.

The joiner is new to the company and has said that he isn't used to working "this way". He came across from another company along with a site manager and a few other lads. The site manager who I have previously met would go around all the sites and make sure everything was sorted and everyone knew what they were doing and would also check things and help interpret the plans etc. The site manager however has already left the company... which I get the feeling has left this joiner without the guidance and direction that he needs.

I was honestly expecting to have a little chat to the builder (who is a joiner himself) and for us to maybe agree that he would come each morning and provide a bit of guidance and input for the joiner for that day. I didn't really think it was a big deal. I appreciate though that I have probably approached this all wrong!

mjm3346

"I emailed the builder on Friday evening just saying I'd like to meet him before work recommences Monday because some things aren't right"

Not saying your builder is any good but even for a good, always in demand builder something like that really would not sit well, speak when onsite or at worst a phone call but not an e-mail like that. 

prowla

You cannot assume that anybody doing work for you will follow the intentions, designs, do things properly, and to the required standard; they simply won't.

If you are going to manage the build, then you will need to do so actively on a daily or hourly basis.

It doesn't matter if someone's doing a fence, a kitchen, some carpentry, or an extension - they will simply go off-piste.

You have to watch them like a hawk.

BlueC

mjm3346 said:

"I emailed the builder on Friday evening just saying I'd like to meet him before work recommences Monday because some things aren't right"

Not saying your builder is any good but even for a good, always in demand builder something like that really would not sit well, speak when onsite or at worst a phone call but not an e-mail like that. 

Yep, understood. Think I've learned that.