Is this the done thing? (Planning, site visits etc)

[Bobbybear10]

I’m looking to get some building work done. It’s separate from our house.
It would require planning, loads of groundwork and we need advice as to where best to site it and drainage etc. It will cost the best part of £20k I reckon although not been quoted yet.

I have found a company I like and have viewed the actual buildings at their site/showroom. The person that would be leading it all seemed nice and knowledgeable.

All sounding great! The problem is I’m not sure how comfortable I feel about the fact they are charging £180 for a site visit. This cost is literally just for the guy to come out look at the site and give a bit of advice as to where they would put it. I presume he would then go back, price up and give us a quote. So effectively charging me £180 for a quote.

I can understand that it must be so frustrating if people get you out, get some advice, waste your time and never buy from you but surely that should be factored into your business?

When we spoke the guy said it was £150 for the visit, I thought ok I like the building, like the guy, fine I’ll pay it. So I paid that over yesterday but got an email this morning saying actually it is £180 due to vat. Somehow it all just feels a bit unreasonable especially as it’s a reasonable size project?

I’m not really sure about it all and if I should just cancel, get a refund and go elsewhere but I did really like the building and the guy was really knowledgeable albeit about his own products.

So does anyone have any experience with this? Is it normal? Aibu?

You are paying for the advice its not like a simple builder coming to do a job to give you a quote as builders wont necessarily give you advice as you will know what you want.

Aka you want a conservatory built these are pretty much the same so they give free quotes since you do not need advice.

Yes you think quotes should be free but advice giving should NOT be free.

Dont want to pay for advice keep looking i am sure you will eventually find a mug that will give out advice for free (might not be the best builder ethier) but if you are going to pay £20k is 180 really that much for detailed advice were to put it? If you liked the company (its pretty standard around here near brimgham if you want building advice on top of simple quote you pay for it)

A builder will give you a free quote, but only if you have plans for them to consult. They won’t draw up the plans /design for free!

You are paying (a pittance) for the advice and experience of someone looking at a site and knowing what needs to be done. You WANT their experience about groundwork and drainage - of course you should expect to pay for it. From their point of view, they could come out for free, give you the quote and advice, only for you to go somewhere else now that you have the answers.

As said above - you may get freebie quotes when it's a standard project requiring no advice.

Yeah I can totally see that point and honestly if I was the guy I would be wanting to get paid! In the scheme of things the money is nothing compared to the actual work costs.

I don’t know I just felt a bit funny about it and kind of thought if I’m using them for £20k worth of building work a quote/advice would at least be knocked off the end bill but obviously it’s just me being unreasonable.

I did also say I was getting other quotes and I haven’t told him that actually I saw the building, liked him and decided not to bother with the other quotes so as not to waste the other people’s time (especially as they are not charging for a quote)

Thank you for the perspective and the grip.

It doesn't sound like a builders quote, it sounds like a (stupidly cheap) site survey/assessment. Is the person coming out a professional?

You need to be clear on what it is you're paying for before commenting on reasonable Ness..

Ok so please ignore my absolute ignorance but what would a site survey/assessment include?

As you can tell I have never done anything like this before and have no idea what is reasonable or not and what is the done thing.

Is there anywhere only be that could give me some advice on the whole process, what I need to look ok for or do and what to expect?

If that is a ridiculously cheap price for a site visit what should the price be like?

*only = online

My husband's a civil engineer and that's pretty standard with the builders that he consults for - all sites will need different things taken in to consideration (flood risk, drainage, access etc) It's not a case of saying 'yep, we can build there'. The builder may/may not also take advice from an engineer at the initial stage, to get advice on factors that would heed a build on that land, so may incur costs himself, even at this early stage.

Please ignore the really bad typos my fat fingers do not mix well with my phone!

For a full detailed assessment of everything i would be looking at around 1000 to 1200 so if he is giving you the full works you are getting a bargain.

Now I’m concerned it’s cheap!