Invoice much higher than estinate

[user1489228947]

We’ve had a bedroom completely refurbed by a local ‘handyman’. The original estimate was higher than I expected, which was discussed at the time, but we went ahead as the handyman has done work previously and we thought ‘better the devil you know..’. The work was straightforward but took him a long time, which I just put down to the guy being a very leisurely worker and just wanting to be out of his house - he seems quite lonely and his order book doesn’t seem full as he could do our work straight away.

Then the final bill came which was double the estimate. I understand some of the work changed (eg we re wallpapered in the end instead of painting existing paper), but there was no conversation or caution about prices increasing to this extent. I said to him I would never have commissioned the work had I know this was the price. Its cost the same as having our entire bathroom refitted and altered!

I don’t know what to do. Shall I pay the original quote and try and enter discussion/negotiation on the increased amount. Or just pay and be done with him? I don’t like confrontation but neither do I like feeling mugged off. I’ve got the money but it will clear me out. I’m so annoyed at myself for not being tighter on this project, as well as being angry at him for not being more transparent.

What figures are involved?

Surely it was obvious that re wallpapering would cost a lot more than just painting the existing wallpaper?

Was it an estimate or a quote? An estimate is just a guideline ball-park figure, whereas a quote is a legal document.

Yabu to switch to wallpaper and not realise it's a huge difference!

pay up and grimace, this is what happens when you think you are getting something done by a ‘local handyman’ on the cheap, rather than employing a reputable, long established local firm, a 2man job, completed in half the time,
costs adjusted accordingly - they are used to people changing their minds

besides which, why would you have an ‘estimate’ which is exactly what you had,
rather than an abiding quote which you then mention ?

what did you pay for the wallpaper ?

If it's signed on both sides yes, if not then no. But yes there is a difference between an agreed quote and an estimate. If just an estimate then you need a full breakdown to see if there is any space for negotiation.

Wallpaper takes much longer and more skills

It's like asking the price of the apples and then expecting to pay that for filet steak

I’m not at all quibbling with the additional cost for wallpapering, but the additional costs have come in over £2k. It was an ‘estimate’ on the paperwork not ‘quote’. I agree, I think I just need to pay and be done with it as I’ve not controlled this well from the start. Lesson learned.

They should really tell you as they go if things are going to cost more. It is poor practice to just give you an invoice for double.

Long established local firms are not necessarily the best nor reliable nor interested in small domestic jobs a lot of the time. Our handyman is a carpenter who turns his hand to other stuff and is completely reliable. Our plumber is a sole trader amd also fantastic.

They should tell you but you should also ask. It's one of those things and you're going to have to pay and learn from it.

Ask for a discount if you can on the basis that he didn't provide costs but know that his come back will be that you should have asked and it was clearly going to be more.

It's a shit situation and I feel for you but so easily avoided.

You need to pay this time but in future insist on a quotation. If you want to add something always ask for a new quotation before agreeing to the work.

Thank you. I know - I do feel very foolish and rather sore about the whole thing.

Yes, I was foolish for not doing this as I ‘know’ this and would advise someone else to always do the same. Hey ho.

we re wallpapered in the end instead of painting existing paper

This is a lot of extra work!

As soon as you changed your mind about the wallpaper, he should have given you a new estimate. He has let you down very badly, as how are you supposed to know how much more this is going to cost you, you aren't an expert in this field.

I would appeal to his desire to have repeat business from you and recommendations to local friends - ask for a compromise.

Whenever I get a quote or estimate from a trades company, I always ask what is their hourly rate. Then I take note of the hours they were working on my property. Then I have some room to negotiate if they are completely taking the piss.

Sorry this has happened to you OP - it's not on.

I think it affects you more when you know! As long as it's not hugely overpriced then you've got the work done and it's worth it. Years of enjoyment to come from it! Life's too short

My DH is an electrician and we have our own business, he works for a lot of wealthy people, people who'll even tell him not to bother updating the quote and they'll just pay whatever amount it is if they decide to have additional work/extras etc yet he still insists on completing an updated estimate and quote and sending it to them via email so that the company has a trail that all is above board and the customer has a copy.

It was bad practice for him not to tell you roughly how much more this was going to cost but I do agree that you should have also asked for a new estimate once you'd changed your mind.

2k for wallpaper? Is that you Kate??

Thank you - yes I obviously very much regret not doing this. It’s so obvious. We had a straightforward experience with him previously - always known he’s a ‘slow’ worker but just didn’t see this coming. I’ve paid now just to move on from it but won’t use him again. We’re both to blame tbf.

Yes, we’ve both made too many assumptions. Me thinking “it will be a bit more” (I thought around £500) and him thinking I’m fine with not knowing the price - although I am surprised at this seeing as I wasn’t too happy with the original estimate.

But not £2k extra for a bedroom extra work.

Can you break it down a bit more? if he spent an extra week and more on materials then it may be reasonable, if he spent an extra half a day and a couple of hundred quid then it may not.

Stripping and preparing the walls for papering takes a long time. Way longer than just slapping some paint on top. If the paper had already been painted then it takes even longer.

I agree. Depends on the state of the walls, but stripping old wallpaper can often cause bits of plaster to fall off and uncovers cracks, which need to be filled and sanded. Even the stripping can take a stupid amount of time, especially if it's something chunky like wood chip or basket weave which can be an absolute nightmare to strip off. Then when the walls are finally smooth, they sometimes need to be prepared by sugarsoap or similar to provide a good surface for the wallpaper to adhere to. All that's before starting to actually put up the paper which would usually be twice, i.e. lining paper and then the actual wallpaper? Then if the corners aren't true, the wallpapering can be a nightmare to cut/trim around the corners and stay level with skirting and ceiling.

The OP says he took a long time and was slow - perhaps that was actually necessary rather than him just taking his time. It takes time to strip old paper, takes time for filler to dry, takes time to sand, etc. If he appeared to be going slow, it may be because he was waiting and there was no point in rushing. Decorators often have 2 or 3 jobs on the go, and will do a morning then because it has to dry/set or whatever, go elsewhere for the afternoon, or do a first coat of emulsion first thing in the morning, go elsewhere for most of the day, and then return to do another coat of emulsion mid afternoon once the first coat has dried.

The original plan of painting the room is completely different from the revised plan of re-papering it. Depending on the room size, state/condition of the walls, etc., £2k extra may not be too ridiculous. Was that just his time or did it include the extra materials too, i.e. wallpaper stripper mix, sandpaper, filler, sugar soap, wallpaper paste, lining paper, etc. Presumably it didn't include the wallpaper which I assume you bought yourself?

What work has actually been done for the I assume £4k that it cost you?
I feel like I'm in the minority here but having used professional decorators before I feel £4k for a handyman to decorate a bedroom is insane!