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Waiting for builders to start....all gone quiet, does that sound ok?

9 replies

sugarhoops · 07/04/2015 17:19

We're having an extension to our house (I hope!), which our chosen builders said they'd aim to start end of March / beginning of April (same thing in my opinion, but there you go!). We formally appointed them at beginning of the year, and since then we've spoken probably 3 times max....once when builder called to say he was sending someone round to brick match, once to discuss gas meter move and, most recently (2 weeks ago) to bring the ground works crew round to look at the work required to dig foundations.

Builder did say that the job he's currently working on has overrun so we wouldn't start end March as hoped, but he still hasnt given us a formal start date....is this usual, plus the lack of communication etc? We did originally tell them that we were in no rush, and he did reassure us last time we met (when groundworks came round) that we are his next job. It all just seems so vague, I just want a definite start date! Friends I've spoken to who've had recent building work say that everything sounds positive & builders can't always set dates in stone Due to weather etc. I'm just getting impatient....

Anyone with similar experience? Ps no money been handed over - they don't want 1st payment until the build is above ground.

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Apatite1 · 07/04/2015 17:40

I've only got my limited experience, but our builders were good communicators, our build coincided nicely with them finishing off another build and so they're starting with us mid April. Ground works crew have been and gone and we have a set start date (we are squeezing in a holiday before they start and I'm stuck for months). I think we just got lucky with the timings though and we want to complete asap so I'm pleased. However, I was expecting it to go a bit more like your builders have described.

cece · 07/04/2015 18:28

why don't you just phone them and ask?

Marmitelover55 · 07/04/2015 19:58

Ours was very vague about start date until he showed up one Saturday last April to bring his tools. Work then started on the Monday and all was well Smile

MadameJulienBaptiste · 07/04/2015 20:18

Just phone and ask if he can update you on estimated start date yet.
building jobs often run over due to all sorts of circumstances beyond the builders control. some of them are great at keeping you updated, others think there's no point updating you until they have a firm date. He sounds like the latter, just ring him.

sugarhoops · 08/04/2015 07:23

Ok, will call today. Just don't want to sound like a nag Grin

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ThunderboltKid · 08/04/2015 07:25

This reply has been withdrawn

This has been withdrawn at poster's request

bilbodog · 08/04/2015 14:38

I'd keep in touch regularly as builders are notorious for this type of thing - jobs over-running, extra things getting added on, and your work can get put back and back. We had builders doing this to us all last year - work had been agreed in the first quarter expecting it to start and be finished before June when I had to have a major op - end result was they finished putting our windows in 2 days BEFORE CHRISTMAS!!!!! Don't let them faff about too long - get a date fixed and make them stick to it (if you can!). Good luck with the work.

TheOneWiththeNicestSmile · 08/04/2015 14:45

This happened to us last year with a roofing job - was meant to start Aug/Sep, missed the whole of (dry Sad) Sep due to overrun, started beginning of (wet Sad) Oct

Previous job was a "while you're here, could you just..." Angry

Anyway it got done - just took longer to begin with. I kept in touch with him by text (sort of paper trail) & I knew he would be coming. Eventually...

sugarhoops · 09/04/2015 08:18

Thanks all, am feeling slightly better that other builders are equally as lax with communications. I don't mind if he doesn't start 3 months late, I'd just like to know roughly when. Main worry is he's decided he doesn't want the job and we are back to square 1 interviewing builders & looking at previous projects etc.

DH left a voicemail for builder yesterday, so hopefully he will get back to us soon Hmm

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