Kitchen fitting woes

[wowfudge]

Hmm - everything was going so well: building work done, kitchen design sorted and all ready to order kitchen from DIY Kitchens. Then the fitter's quote has come in and it's astronomical. Three days' more work than he said when he was here, plus additional costs he hadn't mentioned. What makes this a pain is that DP has been coordinating things around his availability (builder recommended him) so we weren't expecting this.

Argh.

Sorry no real advice, but having just refurbished my house I can sympathise. There seems to be a significantly larger than average contingent of crooks and complete arseholes in the building industry. Moral code and sticking to your word is not something we've experienced

I can't tell from your post if the work has been done or if he's just quoting. If it's just a quote I'd get more in. If not could you speak to your builder? He recommended them so may have some sway re the extras

Thanks minijoey. He's just quoted and the builder has been really reasonable in price. The extras include something he must have known before he even came to look at the job (too identfying to be explicit), but never mentioned so it's rather galling. I've come to the conclusion he doesn't want to do it.

Sometimes a tradesman will give a high quote because they don't want the job.

Get some other quotes to compare, ask around family and friends for recommendations so perhaps you could even visit and view their kitchens.

Oh well that's good that it's just a quote, it's a shame it's more but get a few more and you can see if he's far too much or not. Be wary of going for the cheap option though, we've usually found these are the people who have missed things and add it on later or are just totally incompetent!!

If he's given a really high quote then he doesn't want the job but doesn't want the person who recommended him to be embarrassed by him refusing the job.

Standard practice, really.

That is exactly what I thought. I prefer honesty though.

Hi @wowfudge, sorry I can't figure out how to DM you.... we are struggling to get a kitchen fitter for our DIY Kitchen. I know you live close by to us - I've followed a lot of your kitchen threads and got some great advice. Also know you were happy with your fitter, would you be prepared to pass on his details to us?