To ask how many builders' quotes you got for an extension?

[WeeCharlotte]

Hi there,
We're replacing an old, rotten conservatory with a single storey extension of approximately 6m x 3m.

We've had 4 sets of builders out, and they've taken plans with them. They'll send us a quote after we forward our structural engineer's report to them, which will take a few weeks.

Just wondered, in general, how many builders other people got a quote from?

4

4 should be enough. The usual advice is to get at least 3 proper quotes and also get recommendations from friends.
Having said all that, we chose a builder literally just a few houses away from us after a 5 minute chat, and didn't bother getting quotes from anybody else.

3 or 4. Time-consuming though and they all pretty much came up with the same price. If you have one you know/trust, then no need to get other quotes IMO.

I’d say 4 is a great number. We got zero quotes but we knew who we wanted and trust them completely. We’ve been very lucky.

We're planning to do pretty much the same as you. Can you tell me what you did first please. Did you get plans drawn up? If so did you hire an architect? Or did you go straight to the builder with vague plans? Thanks in advance - we're totally clueless.

1. Wasn't going to get 4th but was recommended and came in 10k less

I ended up trying 8. I tried 3 initially and it was clear that 2 of them were so busy that I was never getting a quote. I carried on.
Eventually I recieved 5 quotes out of 8.

3 is fine 4 if you're not certain.

Polly
Suggest you draw up a basic plan showing dimensions, number of doors, windows etc, and anything special you may be considering. Present them to builders for quotes, but any competent builder will want to come out and measure/check the site.
There is a general guide
The average cost per m2 for an extension outside of London is between £1,200-£1,500. In London and the South East, the average cost per m2 is around £1,500-£2,000+. For two-storey extensions, add 50% to the cost of a single-storey extension. If you want to add a bathroom or kitchen, add £5,000-£10,000.
The builder may do the plans (ours did) but you may have to get them drawn professionally.
Finally - as I'm sure you are aware - it will take twice as long as planned and you would be wise to have a contingency fund. We set £10,000 but ended up spending nearly £15,000 extra.

We've just gone with one who was recommended and who we know. We can't afford to take ten weeks off work and will have teenagers in the house so it neds to be someone we know and trust. we trusted him to recommend other reasonable tradespeople - plumbers, electricial , roofers etc.

I've been chasing one (highly recommended) to quote and he's just ghosted me. Would have happily given him the work. Now I'm waiting for a second (also highly recommended) to come round and quote and as long as he's not astronomical I'll go with him. We "only" want three rooms knocked together so it's not a huge job meaning it's impossible to find anyone who'll do it

Polly - I went to a local architect who'd been recommended. Wasn't cheap. His fee, together with structural engineers who will do site inspection and write report, was 3k.
Good though, because he knew what he was talking about, will liaise with everyone else, project manage and prepare all paperwork. He'll also visit during build and after completion.
We were told (Glasgow) 1500 square metre for basic, 1700 for better.
We don't need planning permission, only a building warrant , so architect has submitted it. I'm using the papers he drew up to get quotes from builders. Most want to wait until the structural engineer has submitted their report too, so I'll have to wait a few weeks. Given workload, most builders are saying it'll be next spring.