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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU to think this quote is ridiculous?

23 replies

NoPressureNoDiamonds · 01/09/2017 19:38

Kitchen fitted including tiling, flooring and plumbing a dishwasher. New bannister on stairs. Bathroom fitted including tiling and flooring. Kitchen, tiles, bathroom and flooring all supplied by us, so quote just for labour.
£11.5k???
We're in London. The guy comes recommended. We've struggled getting hold of quotes and this is the only complete one we've received even though we started this process over 3 weeks ago.

DH thinks maybe this is just the going rate. He can get it done before Xmas and comes recommended so just swallow it.

AIBU to think this is silly money for the jobs described above?

OP posts:
JeReviens · 01/09/2017 20:25

Seems a bit steep but maybe that's London for you. We paid 2k for kitchen fitting and 1k for bathroom. We are in the south near Gatwick

LaurieFairyCake · 01/09/2017 20:28

How long does he expect the job to take?

That looks like 3 weeks work to me Confused - maybe I'm wrong?

gunsandbanjos · 01/09/2017 20:29

Not wildly over the top I don't think? Maybe 8-10k or so is about what I would think.

Daydreamerbynight · 01/09/2017 20:31

Yeah steep. We are just outside Kingston and paid 2k labour costs for our bathroom. God knows if we had actually been over the Surrey boundary into London!

WillowWeeping · 01/09/2017 20:33

Fitting a kitchen AND a bathroom?

Obviously it depends on the size of both but that sounds like a good deal to me. Must be at least 4 weeks work for 2-3 people.

namechangedtoday15 · 01/09/2017 20:34

I agree that £8-10k would be more realistic so £11.5k is over the odds but don't think it's ridiculous.

JaniceBattersby · 01/09/2017 20:34

Well yes, there will be a lot of profit in it for him. However, it's supply and demand. The reason you're not getting quotes is because the building trade is really busy. If they take your job they could be doing a 100k extension instead so it's got to be worth their while. My husband is in the trade (high end, specialist sector) and has just pit his day rate up to £500 because he's in such demand at the moment. He's making hay while the sun shines!

JeReviens · 01/09/2017 20:34

Our very big kitchen took 4 days and normal size bathroom took 2

dudsville · 01/09/2017 20:36

This quote includes the kitchen cupboard carcasses and all the components? The price will vary based on materials (i.e. what sort of counter top you go for), but if that's all inclusive I'd think it was ok.

BalconyBunting · 01/09/2017 20:38

It does sound expensive. My Mum fitted my kitchen for me thank goodness! I'm in London too. I think £4-5K for bathroom fitting and £3k for the bathroom would be more reasonable. So a total of £8k. Would you want to haggle?

phoolani · 01/09/2017 20:38

I got three quotes just for an averaged-sized bathroom and they ranged from £7-8k. Your quote sounds positively reasonable!

ifink · 01/09/2017 20:43

haggle
it isn't that bad actually ..a bit upper end but you could get down to 10K

honeysucklejasmine · 01/09/2017 20:46

We paid £1k fitting of kitchen (no tiling etc though, just replacing cupboards and replumbing sink and appliances) and about £600 to replace shower including tiling. Home counties.

LaurieFairyCake · 01/09/2017 20:46

dudsville - OP said it was only labour, no kitchen

Original poster
NoPressureNoDiamonds · 01/09/2017 20:51

Thanks all. Maybe not so wildly out then? I think the PP is right that it shows how busy the building trade is and fair enough. I just know people who live near me that have got it done cheaper but not with tiling etc...
I wish just 1 more company would quote us so we can compare!

OP posts:
Ttbb · 01/09/2017 20:52

Plumbing is expensive. So is tiling. Can you get separate quotes for timing, plumbing, flooring? It may be cheaper. John Lewis got dishwashers on delivery for about £50 I think. The rest I couldn't even guess.

dontcallmethatyoucunt · 01/09/2017 21:02

We are desperately trying to get our front door moved out into the storm porch. We can't get anyone to bother with the job. In a way I'd rather someone double their 'reasonable' price and just agreed to do it!

Sounds to me like the guy understands economics...

Oddbutnotodd · 01/09/2017 21:04

The problem with comparing quotes is that you are comparing apples and pears. Not all kitchens and bathrooms are the same size and are being fitted to the same spec. I can't understand how a bathroom could be done in two days! You are definitely paying a premium being in London as housing and living is generally more expensive. I don't think these days it's excessive. Supply and demand. I paid £4K labour for refitting a bathroom not including electrics.South East. If you want it done by Christmas and he is recommended then just do it. I have heard horror stories of people being left with bodged jobs. You will forget the cost in time but have a lovely new bathroom and kitchen to enjoy.

Yorkshiremum17 · 01/09/2017 21:06

We're in sheffield and our quote to have a wall knocked down, beam put in, kitchen fitted, new banister fitted and flooring and painting had come in at just over £8,000.

bangingmyheadoffabrickwall · 01/09/2017 21:09

Youtube, a good DIY book and a lot of the work you want doing is easily done yourself if money is tight.

I was able to build kitchen cupboard carcasses easily and DH fitted them to the walls. The only thing he was unable to do was the joinery work for the worktops. DH did the kitchen fitting, upstands (we don;t like wall tiles) and floor (ceramic tile). He even fitted the bathroom suite as well as fitting new plastic pipes.

If you have the confidence to learn as you go along and take your time, it is feasible to do the majority of the work yourself and thus saving you a fortune.

We're outside of London, far, far away and 11.5k is astronomical for labour alone.

MassDebate · 01/09/2017 21:17

We paid £5k per bathroom for fitting recently (home counties commuter belt) so your quote looks pretty good to me.

Killerqueen2244 · 01/09/2017 21:19

If he's busy and doesn't 'need' the job he'll overprice it to put you off. They often make some money off the kitchen/bathroom they're installing so he's probably increased the labour costs to make up for not supplying the parts. I think there's a lot of work around so builders can be picky, we live in a naice area and I've heard of lots of builders not turning up to quote so I don't think it's a London thing. Is £2k extra worth the work being done by Christmas?

Original poster
NoPressureNoDiamonds · 02/09/2017 15:19

Very tempted now I've slept on it. We can't do it ourselves - neither of us are handy in that way and its look crap. We don't plan on moving again any time soon if ever so want it done well to last. I think I'm talking myself into it.
We're getting buildings in to take a look but then taking ages and ages to quote - he's the only one who's got back to us.
He's also very very good looking and I have a single friend who I want to invite round while the work is being done 😂

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