Why is it *ALL* so difficult? (builders/architects rant)

[ShortLass]

This is supposed to be a nice, uplifting improvement project for my house that I plan to move back into after a long time renting it out.

Local builder with reputation suggested someone to come round to do drawings for a side extension. It's not very big, but will increase width of kitchen by more than a third and make the world of difference. Anyway, the guy came round and stood at the side of the house and just said "NO". He carried on in his vein, saying things like "you can't put a door there" (door was suggested by an architect and the people who supply/fit doors said no problem). He said extension couldn't run up to boundary because of need for overhanging gutter, but I said there are ways to do that with something called a Boundary Gutter, but he obviously hadn't heard of this quite-common solution. He was basically negative, unhelpful to the point of being rude and IMO didn't know enough about buildings to prepare a set of drawings.

My hope of getting drawings in a couple of weeks, getting a quote from the builder soon after and actually booking in the work have been shattered (that's if I could even trust this builder now that he recommended this unhelpful person). Tenants are moving out in January and I don't want the property to sit empty for month after month.

I rang round architects this morning looking for someone else to do my drawings. First person wasn't in, but assistant said he was busy until January. Left a message with a second and a third said he knew some people locally and would get someone to call me. So I'm sitting by the phone, it's near the end of the day and no phone calls.

This is on top of a previous builder who promised to give me a quote if he could come round to the house. He wasted three hours of my time, we had to go when the tenants were still there and afterwards stopped returning my call, texts or emails. It's fine if he doesn't want the work, but the least he could do was text me back and say he was too busy or something.

If anyone knows of an architect happy to do a domestic project and might be available, please let me know. I'm in the Dunstable area (Beds/ Herts/ Bucks border).

This has stopped being fun, started to be stressful and I've stopped looking forward to the idea of moving back into my house.

Many thanks for reading my probably over-long rant.

(PS: architect mentioned above gave me a free consultation at Grand Designs Live and is based in Birmingham and too far away to employ (big shame, as he was nice))

[ShortLass]

A lovely architect just called me back. We're meeting on Friday.

Thank you Mumsnet for letting me rant, you obviously made it happen.

Fingers crossed for a successful meeting.

[shovetheholly]

I think neither the builder nor the architect you have had out want the job.

This does NOT mean that the job isn't brilliant and well worth doing. It just means you haven't found the right "team" for you yet. A project like this is so personal and so important, it's worth taking some time to get the right people. The last thing you want is an awkward sod of a builder who will raise problems with everything you ask for during the job. So consider it a lucky escape, and a waymarker on your journey to getting someone who will care that it's done well.

[HiDBandSIL]

Sounds painfully familiar. I don't understand why people in the building industry have such a hard time returning a phone call and/or saying they're not interested in the work. Shove has got the right idea. Good luck OP!