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Deposit for double glazed UPVC before survey
Profile9506
Posts: 13 Forumite
Hi,
We've received a number of quotes for replacing all UPVC windows (12 windows) in our house with modern double glazed UPVC. The quotes we received are in the region of £6,500 - £10,000 (which seems to be quite a big range!).
Some of the providers are independent and they have asked for 50% deposit upfront, even before they visit the property and do a survey. Note that the quotes are based on our own measurements.
Is asking for such a big deposit before the survey reasonable? I understand why they would ask for a deposit once they actually order/manufacture the windows, but asking for so much money before the survey makes me uncomfortable. Is it a standard practice?
We've received a number of quotes for replacing all UPVC windows (12 windows) in our house with modern double glazed UPVC. The quotes we received are in the region of £6,500 - £10,000 (which seems to be quite a big range!).
Some of the providers are independent and they have asked for 50% deposit upfront, even before they visit the property and do a survey. Note that the quotes are based on our own measurements.
Is asking for such a big deposit before the survey reasonable? I understand why they would ask for a deposit once they actually order/manufacture the windows, but asking for so much money before the survey makes me uncomfortable. Is it a standard practice?
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Comments
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I've had a door and windows replaced here, done in three stages. First time, the installer asked for a deposit (10% if I recall), but that was after he had measured up. The next two jobs, no deposit asked for.I would be reluctant to put down a 50% deposit, and would always want the job properly surveyed/measured before committing.Any language construct that forces such insanity in this case should be abandoned without regrets. –
Erik Aronesty, 2014
Treasure the moments that you have. Savour them for as long as you can for they will never come back again.1 -
Makes no sense to me, although I'm no expert. What's the purpose of the deposit? What if the survey shows that the the work is more complex than expected and the price has to be higher? E.g. lintels have to be added?Profile9506 said:
Some of the providers are independent and they have asked for 50% deposit upfront, even before they visit the property and do a survey. Note that the quotes are based on our own measurements.
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Personally I'd steer well clear.
Survey, quote properly, then deposit to secure.2 -
Is asking for such a big deposit before the survey reasonable?
Sounds well dodgy, but seems strange that more one has asked the same.
Anyway pay nothing until everything is surveyed/measured up again and you actually place an order. Then some kind of deposit would be normal.
The quotes we received are in the region of £6,500 - £10,000 (which seems to be quite a big range!).
As with everything in life there are different qualities, and companies have different ideas about what to charge and how busy they are.
The installation quality is probably more important/variable than the windows themselves.
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Sounds dodgy to me too and so is a quote on your own measurements
Get companies out and do their own measurements then quote0 -
That's the way it's always worked for me.HampshireH said:Personally I'd steer well clear.
Survey, quote properly, then deposit to secure.Tall, dark & handsome. Well two out of three ain't bad.0
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