BUILDERS- and their 'reasons' for delays

[Shodan]

I'm on the horns of a dilemma, which is now stressing me out so much I thought I'd ask you lot for advice/stories of builders' delays.

Back in March/April of this year I got quotes for an extension to be built. I settled on this one firm, whose price was reasonable, reviews were good, and with whom I felt comfortable. Works were due to start at the beginning of June. All good.

But then a few days before the proposed start date, I had a phone call- two of their teams (it's quite a big company) had left and they were reluctant to send 'untested' teams out. Would I mind a two month delay.

I wasn't happy, tbh- the build was due to finish in the summer (ish) but agreed- provided they offered something in compensation, and a definite start date. These were both offered and accepted (and the 'freebies' they offered are worth at least £2k, by my estimate.)

However. I have now had emails saying they can't start until the 15th August- which is the day I leave to go on holiday, which is obviously not suitable.

I think they're angling for me to say "Oh don't worry, start in September", but I don't want them to start in September. I want them to start on 1st August, as promised.

Frankly, I don't believe they'll stick to any date they've promised now. My instinct is to demand my money back and look for another builder.

But should I? It could potentially be months before anyone else could start, and I certainly wouldn't get as much for the money as I'm currently in line to get- but that, of course, is only if they do actually start.

Any ideas on what I should do here?

Get used to it. It will happen regularly throughout your build. Tbh I’d be surprised if they honour your quote anyway if time has passed

I run a small, specialist company in the construction sector. I have had orders for several pallets of materials, ordered in March and due for delivery first in May, then delayed till July, then delayed again till August and last week I was told they wouldn't be available until October or November. In the meantime my chief electrician has been tempted away by another company offering him £75 a day more than I can afford to pay him and one of my specialist engineers who hasn't had much work because of the delays to equipment to fit has started working for various other people and can't be guaranteed to be available when I need him.

There's no way on earth that this company will be able to do the work they quoted for in April at the price they quoted then. Material costs have risen anything from 30-100% and pay rates have gone up at least 10%. Their quote will have a time limit on it (mine is 30-60 days depending on the work required). After that you'll need a new quote from them. So check you can still afford to have the extension before you insist they start on 1 August.

What money have you given them if they haven't started yet?

Oh bloody hell I didn't even think about the quote! I didn't even know that would be a 'thing'- and they certainly haven't mentioned it. I'd better check the contract then.

But other than that- this kind of delay isn't uncommon then? At this time?

@GrannyAchingsShepherdsHut I paid them one third of the build cost, with another third due during the build and the remainder after completion. It seemed usual, amongst the various firms I had in to quote.

You paid one third of the build cost before they’d even broken ground?

I think it’s the nature of what’s happening just now.
I started with a builder last July. By January , after huge delays and dodging questions about starting he said “I can’t committ” and need to look for someone else. In meantime prices had gone up massively. I went through 4 other builders before finding someone to actually do the work. At a extortionate price as it was April by then.

at end of May they started. I was told it would be a bit stop start while they finished other jobs. Since end May to last week they’d done a total of 6 days work in 6 weeks in a 8-10week job.
they have sort of started at more of consistent rate last week so we’ll have to see.
However, they are, unlike any of other builders, communicating well. They apologies for delays and give me explicit and honest sounding reasons e.g they don’t use excuses they just tell me why. Right now they’ve got the project manager texting me each evening to say what plan is for next day and I have a copy of critical milestones (I used to be project manager) .

I think you do have to be patient in todays circumstances. You may not easily find another builder who can do it quicker. But, I would be focusing on demanding to see project plans, asking what delays are and why you are being deprioritised. And ensuring they’re responding quickly to you, or telling you proactively week on week what’s going on

if they’re not communicating well, or don’t answer I’d ask to talk to other customers in recent builds and ask them they’re view. If other customers tell you they’ve been messed around etc then only then would I think about it. But be careful, anyone you go with could also be in this same position in terms of delays etc

it is incredibly frustrating and stressful getting building works done just now. Or pretty much any trade work. Another thing that is a brexit benefit as labour shortage of casual contracting labour appears the biggest issue now and has pushed labour prices up. Materials can be issue still in delays, but not the main one, but obviously they did push prices up massively due to ongoing covid pandemic .

This is normal to pay something up front just now. I paid about 25% of costs. You try finding anyone that will build without that given material costs.

I didn’t pay until they had begun the foundations. Lots of people having issues with their builder at the moment.

I really wouldn't go on holiday during the building works. We had an extension and the builders needed us available to answer lots of questions. If you're not there of course they'll carry on, making their own decisions as to how things should look/be done/be fitted. I wouldn't risk that, a September start sounds preferable if you're going away.

@Headbandheart They do communicate well, tbh- generally there are two blokes that get in contact; one is obviously the designated 'bad cop' and the other is 'good cop', and I can always get hold of at least one of them at any given time.

They did say that the two teams they lost were from somewhere overseas (I can't remember where exactly now), and the current delay is due to some workers falling ill with Covid.

I actually feel a bit better now- I was worried that they were mucking me about, although I did know that builders were infamous for their delays.

I will have to ask them about the possibility of a cost increase though. That's troubling.

In our case whenever we went away, even if just for a couple of days, the builders were pulled off and onto other jobs and it was then hard to get them back!

@PragmaticWench I know, it's not ideal. But this is a big holiday- my Mum died and left me an inheritance, which is what's paying for the build and the holiday- and it's impossible to cancel at this stage. However, my partner isn't coming away with us due to work, so he will be staying here to answer questions if needed. The builders can email me too, or even ring if necessary. Tbh they won't have done much more than tear down the old conservatory and begin digging anyway.

@Shodan if your partner is there I don't see the problem in them starting on 15th August

@User952539 Yes I suspected this might happen, which is why I made sure to tell them that there would not only be my partner here, but both of my neighbours would be 'keeping an eye' on things too😁

You never, ever pay up front until they start work! Massive red flag. You're being scammed. That's what the good cop, bad cop thing is. Ask for your money back.

Never put a downpayment on a job. Reputable companies will ask for staged payments once the work has started.

@chopc Sheer logistics really. We'd be schlepping our suitcases out of the door just as the Portaloo was being installed. I kinda wanted them here at least a few days before to meet them properly, I guess.

Check the small print of any contract you've entered into. I've seen a contract doing the rounds with one of the local scam builders here that says that if for any reason at all the client cancels the contract, they will be entitled to keep any monies paid in advance.

For the first week or two, you might be ok not being around. We’ve just started an extension - we’re ten days in and nobody has needed to come in the house yet. Clearing ground out the back, digging out and pouring the foundations - no decisions to be made on site so far.

The amount they wanted in advance sounds alarming. Our builder took a 10% deposit and then it’s staged payments through the project. The other builder we looked into using didn’t ask for a deposit up front.

It would seem then, that currently, there’s little point in getting quotes for anything, because the cost and delay to the sourcing of materials will mean that it’s not definite that the price you agreed to is the price you’ll pay.

I checked the various warranties and guarantees before I paid the deposit, and also their company background. Some of the deposit was paid on my credit card too. I'm ok with the deposit- it seemed that opinions are mixed on these, with strong feelings on both sides!

I regularly buy equipment valued at £20k+ without asking clients for a deposit. They pay when it's delivered to site, which may be a week before work commences but not months in advance. There's nothing to say this company won't go broke before they get around to doing OP's job. If a company insists on a deposit well before a job is due to start you have to wonder how solvent it is.

I've no idea what you're talking about. I supply and install expensive pieces of kit but I don't issues warrantees or guarantees until the job is finished and the client has paid.

We had an extension built earlier in the year. Our builder didn't ask for a penny upfront, we were about 4 weeks in before he asked for the first payment.