Can't find a builder (please hold my hand)

[lamandler]

We are in rented accommodation while paying mortgage on empty new house which needs loads of work. Every week is costing us a fortune, but we are having a real issue finding a builder to start work.

Maybe we've been naive, I don't know, but I thought it would be the least of our worries!

We are in SW London, there are bloody builders everywhere, but anyone recommended to us is either busy until next year or comes round and disappears when we chase for a quote.

Our plans are with council for a loft extension and due for decision in November, so that can wait, but in the meantime we need structural kitchen work and fitting, bathroom and some cosmetic work done. Every builder to a man as turned their nose up at it and says they only want the loft.

So here we are, 6 weeks after getting the keys, still with nothing started except some extreme wallpaper stripping by DH!

Anyone want to hold my hand and tell me that it will all be ok?

[tricot39]

Have you got plans drawn up, engineer's calcs and a schedule for them to price? If not and you want them to price it off your verbal description then you will have a long wait. If you can't get drawings and spec done yourself get an architect or technician to do it for you and then get 3 prices. All the builders that walked might be more interested as otherwise you make yourself look like a nightmare client.

[lamandler]

Yes we already have that in place, they just aren't interested

[annh]

Yes you were naive in thinking that builders would be just sitting around waiting for work to drop into their laps, particularly in your area of London. Lots of extension work going on with the relaxation of the planning laws and all the people who would like to move but can't afford to so extend instead. Most good builders will have wait times ranging from 3-9 months. If you need a kitchen and bathroom fitting as a start, speak to the stores. Often a kitchen shop will have a couple of builders whom they often work with and who may be more willing to look at the job on that basis. Otherwise, is the house uninhabitable? You may have to do what most people do which is move in and live with the state of the place until you can find a builder.

[herethereandeverywhere]

Despite recent issues (see my latest thread!) I can recommend mine if you're interested. We're SW17, SW12 borders. He's just done a whole house renovation for us and (final snag notwithstanding) it's a great job and he's a great person to work with.

We lived in the house in its dreadful original state for 12 months before we got plans, planning permission and builders all lined up and ready to start. You're not Lambeth are you? PP is much easier with Wandsworth, you need 2 flying pigs and a blue moon to get anything past Lambeth!

PM me if you want to know more.