Holding back some of builder's fee until after snagging?

[SootikinAndSweep]

Is this the done thing? I have a snagging list following building work. The builder is coming round tomorrow to look at the things on it, and has said he will bring his bill with him.

We've got on really well through the job, and I don't want to piss him off, and of course I understand that he is standing out of materials and wages, but I'm worried about settling the bill in full in case I'm chasing him forever to get the last things done.

What's the right thing to do? I'm expecting the remaining bill to be about £2000.

[StanHouseMuir]

I think it's standard practise to hold 5-10% back until snagging is complete. I would assume your builder would be expecting this.

[SootikinAndSweep]

OK, so 5 to 10% of the whole job, or of the final invoice?

[Jungfraujoch]

Sorry to hijack but I read that as 'snogging'!!!

Thought you must have a hot builder!!!

And yes normal to hold back some for snagging - personally I'd try 10% and then if he goes a bit lower hopefully you'll meet somewhere between 5 and 10%.

[StanHouseMuir]

5-10% of whole job

[MummytoMog]

I had assumed it would be the final invoice, which on my build is 5% of the total. I am anticipating a LOT of snagging.

No snogging though, he's married.

[nessus]

Had to deal with exactly the same thing last month with my lovely builder. In fact, I thought this was my post I had stumbled upon when I saw the title! He wasn't happy for a few days and I thought our love affair had ended - in a way it did - but I am really pleased that I stood my ground and held back what I deemed fair. We are not yet at final snagging stage because of holiday break but I am even more convinced that I did the right thing as he remains motivated and invested to complete to my satisfaction. And more importantly, I don't feel like I am asking a 'favour' or stretching the job out whenever I bring up something that needs seeing to, which IMHO I would feel had I paid up in full last month upon request.

Main upset btw was that he wanted the 5% held back to be relative to what was outstanding, and I wanted it to be relative to the total quote for the entire job. Just made sense to me

I almost threw his thank-you gift in the bin at one point but reason, distance (and meditation) helped me see the light.

You want to have a good relationship with your builder but you also want to feel able to assert yourself.

[SootikinAndSweep]

Met the builder today, who didn't seem phased by what's on the list, although he did offer a rather hasty solution to one problem that I'm reserving judgement on until it's completed.

He was totally fine about me not paying the complete bill until the work was finished, so our (non snogging) good relationship continues.

[ReastieYuleANBU]

jungfrau that's hilarious!

OP we had a fab builder, did everything really well. We paid him the full amount in July when the kitchen was done and there were a few snags which couldn't be done until our useless kitchen company sorted themselves out. We are STILL blinking waiting for the snags to be done and for them to come back.