To think a 3k difference in a estimate is huge!

[missingmum]

Posting for traffic as I'm stressed and don't know a lot about "trades" now I've got 2 quotes over £3,000 differences! More confused than ever.

My house needs a partial re wire, 3 bed terrace with a kitchen extension, all sockets and pendants need changing, spotlights in our kitchen and a fuse box for the garden, switches replaced.

Thought I'd get 2 quotes from tradesmen who were recommended.

Both self employed and experienced with the correct qualifications

one came in at £4,165 + VAT

The other £1360 inc VAT

Both given exactly the same breakdown of works, now I'm worried as it's such a huge difference in quotes, any suggestions as I'm not sure what to do!

Gosh I'd feel rude to ignore it but as my late darling mum world say I need to get a backbone!

Off to get some sleep now thank you all 😁

I had a 3 bed semi rewired last year I paid £2500.

Check the reviews before you make a decision

@missingmum
Don't feel you have to explain yourself to them. Just tell them you're no longer interested if they contact you

@Bingobongo1 was expecting something around this figure!

@Divebar the recommendations are from Facebook / check a trade and my builder all seem good 4 star plus, other than that I wouldn't have a clue where else to look 😬

@imissthesouth I always over explain, I must try and be more assertive especially when it comes to tradesmen and car mechanics 🤣

The cheaper one sounds suspiciously cheap. In London they hover around the £5k mark.

If someone’s gone out of their way and used their time to provide you with a free quote then it’s common courtesy to just drop them an email and say “thank you for the quote but we’ve decided to go with someone else”. I’m freelance and work in construction and I appreciate this.

Ignoring it would be just plain rude! The person has taken time out to come and look at the job, time quoting and typing up the quote. Could be up to 2 hours of their time, possibly much more depending on size of the job.

Whether you are using them or not, the courtesy of an email thanking them for their time but no thanks (with no need for great detail) is the right thing to do. It then allows them to put a line under that potential work.

I know it works both ways sometimes but agree with OP, rude to ignore!

Low quote is way too cheap. Definitely trying to get their foot in the door. They'll start coming out with "extras" - labour and/or materials... cheap isn't always best so another quote needed.

My DH will quote high for a job he doesn't want, it's not unusual. He has come a cropper when they have accepted though but will go and do it and then invoice them correctly.

Go for a third quote. Expect it to be closer to the higher figure. 1300 quid seems low for that amount of electrical work.

@combatbarbie out of interest, why would he go to the trouble of going out to give a quote if he didn’t want the job?
And why would he not want a job? Is it usually that he’s too busy or just it’s more hassle than it’s worth and there’s easier jobs out there?

Because he's a nice guy mainly. . The jobs are usually the ones he either can't do alone so needs to get a labourer or he doesn't feel confident doing.