Money Moral Dilemma: Should we use the builder who messed us around on the quote?

Agent57

You don't say what the work is or how big the job is.

Get three quotes. Ask to speak to a previous customer of his.

Make sure some building plans are drawn up so you agree what the outcome will look like.

Our builder turned up late for the initial meeting and his quote was one of the highest.  But we went with him as everything else checked out and he did a really good job.

RomanyJ

The very fact that he backtracked over the pricing when you were not prepared to pay over the odds, makes me think he is a bit of a chancer. Did anybody actually suggest you try him as he is good, because if he is then why was he suddenly available? The good ones are often fully booked up throughout the year, so his behaviour is questionable to say the least.

maddogwoman

Definitely not. Sounds well dodgy to me.   I agree with above comment - if he was reputable he would have given you a fair price at start. I would not trust him.  Tell him he had his chance now get lost!

CSI_Yorkshire

RomanyJ said:

The very fact that he backtracked over the pricing when you were not prepared to pay over the odds, makes me think he is a bit of a chancer. Did anybody actually suggest you try him as he is good, because if he is then why was he suddenly available? The good ones are often fully booked up throughout the year, so his behaviour is questionable to say the least.

Because another job cancelled? Postponed? Finished quicker than expected? Scope changed so won't take as much time?

Charging more for priority (for shuffling others around to fit you in or for finding extra labour or working extra hours) and charging less to fill a sudden gap in a schedule are both perfectly normal and acceptable business practices.

ThisIsWeird

We can only speculate on the builder's reasoning. We simply do not know. Is he dodgy or just honest.

Either way, I think you can conclude that, with his first quote, he didn't want the work. Now he does.

Make of that what you will, but don't presume you know what's behind it.

With any builder you plan to use, you know what to do. This one is no different.

clarmstrong

Remember that there is a difference between a quote and an estimate. That said, get some more fresh quotes and DO NOT just go for the cheapest. If he is undercutting others by a big margin then watch out.

JB50MSE

You don't say how detailed your quote was. A builder's quote/estimate is often an inadequate guarantee of costs, quality, or programme (time schedule). A detailed written contract, which is later agreed, signed and dated by both parties, is more reliable although, even then, it is not uncommon to need to add one or more essential additional works, for which you can formally agree details and costs during the contract, and update your costings and programme, so you always know where you stand during your building works. 

You say you have heard good things about the builder. Have you actually seen (in real life) the quality of the work they have done, and talked in any detail to real-life customers? Do you know in person anyone he has worked for, or have you just read about him on the internet? Social media, online reviews or online chats may be unreliable. Sudden big price drops by a builder are even more unreliable. Be careful, and ask lots of questions.

Is it a small one-day job needing only one type of skill, or a bigger job of several days, weeks or months, for various sorts of work e.g. including electrical, gas, plumbing, heating, repairs or replacements of/to new or existing structures or systems? Does the builder have all the necessary qualifications, skills and experience, or do they directly employ suitable people? Who will actually do all the work in your home? Will the builder sub-contract any works to other (unknown) people? Will you have insurance-backed guarantees for completed works? Will you buy any of your own materials or will your builder buy everything e.g. your own particular choices of kitchen or bathroom equipment?

Are you sure that what you thinking of doing will not cause any future problems for your home? Have you had reliable professional advice e.g. from a qualified Building Surveyor and/or qualified Structural Engineer, plus a qualified Architect (if applicable)? Who will check and supervise the work your builder does? 

When will you pay? It's best to pay weekly (for small jobs) or monthly (for larger jobs) for work completed or part-completed, not pay in advance. Make sure your agreement states you own everything (works and materials) you have paid for, and it's in your home, not somewhere else you cannot control.

Your builder needs to be able to rely on you, as well as you relying on them, so do pay on time for work properly done, so your builder can pay their suppliers and workers.

Many builders expect customers not to be knowledgeable, or to be unclear or uncertain about the work they want done, or to change decisions part-way through the work, or they may find essential work which the customer did not anticipate, which gives the builder chances to charge more than expected. Keep your own private and confidential contingency sum (at least 10%), just in case.

Are you sure you are complying with all necessary and applicable legal Building Control and/or Planning requirements, and the Freeholder's approval if you are in a Leasehold property? Are you doing anything e.g. foundations or fixings to/near party walls (adjoining neighbours' walls)? If applicable, you'll need all the final dated approval documents when/if you sell your home. 

Before you start building works, make sure you have complete drawings, written specifications, and you have made and agreed all necessary choices of materials, colours etc. and you have agreed a detailed written programme of all works (i.e. you know when everything will start and finish), and monthly payments for work completed, and short and long-term guarantees for work done, so you can call the builder back, free of charge, if required to replace or repair anything. 

Agree with your builder their hours and days of work e.g. 8.30am to 5.30pm Mon to Fri, and 9am to 1pm Saturday, no work during evenings or Saturday afternoons or Sundays. 
Be a good neighbour, and inform the neighbours that you'll be doing building works, and the dates and hours. That way, even if your neighbours may not be happy about the noise or disruption, at least it's reasonable and they know what's happening. 

Little_Miss_Confused

Absolutely not! I've had someone quote me a sky high price (so didn't use them) and later heard through the grapevine (from trusted sources) that it was because they didn't want to do the job. He obviously doesn't have much integrity. We all know prices have gone up so how has his cost magically gone down because he's available? If he overcharges and gets away with it why is he going to put his full effort into your cheapo job? Always get recommendations  and at least 3 quotes.

SadieO

Little_Miss_Confused said:

how has his cost magically gone down because he's available? 

Maybe someone cancelled on him and now that he's free he's priced the job low to try and get it, as it's preferable to having no work? I don't know why most responses are convinced there's something sketchy about this. As CSI_Yorkshire said:

RomanyJ said:

The very fact that he backtracked over the pricing when you were not prepared to pay over the odds, makes me think he is a bit of a chancer. Did anybody actually suggest you try him as he is good, because if he is then why was he suddenly available? The good ones are often fully booked up throughout the year, so his behaviour is questionable to say the least.

Because another job cancelled? Postponed? Finished quicker than expected? Scope changed so won't take as much time?

Charging more for priority (for shuffling others around to fit you in or for finding extra labour or working extra hours) and charging less to fill a sudden gap in a schedule are both perfectly normal and acceptable business practices.