How long does it take a tradesperson to produce a quote?

[FlossieFrog]

I've had a number of tradespeople round recently to quote for some smallish building jobs. It's been over a week since the first one visited, and no sign of a quote yet. They were all pretty quick to respond to my initial email. So at what point do you give up and assume they're not going to bother to provide a quote?

It's frustrating isn't it? I'd ring them all and say you are keen to get going, when do they think they can get their quote to you? Hopefully that will prompt a response. If it doesn't, then back to the drawing board.

Thanks. Every time we need work done it seems like this. Even when you dangle the enticement of planning to build an extension...
At least some of the others have given an indication of when to expect to hear back.

We have had quite a bit of work done over the past year and find it is best to say when you want work doing, when you want it finished by and ask when the trades person is available and when they can get their quote to you. Sometimes people don't want to do awkward or small jobs so they'll make all the right noises then disappear, never to be heard from again.

We had one bloke round, a gas safe plumber, who clearly only wanted to do big, expensive jobs - we have a big, impressive looking period house and he kept regaling me with tales of expensive work he'd done in the village down the road. I found his notes in our bathroom cupboard after he'd been to look at the job and he never got back to me. I didn't bother chasing that one.

Recommendation is the best way to find people, but the good ones are often booked up. Our electrician is a lovely chap who worked Easter bank holiday weekend so the builder could come back and finish off. We had a plumber recommended by a colleague who did the bulk of the work we wanted doing but then disappeared off the face of the earth when I tried to book him in for the next lot of work.

We have used Rated People and My Builder successfully too. DP is pretty savvy, having renovated several houses so we haven't, touch wood, had any bad experiences. Apart from the outside tap being connected to the hot water - that was fun!

Sorry for the essay!

I've had one quote through for a replacement gate this morning, waiting to hear from the competition. Nothing from the first guy yet, but the post hasn't arrived yet, if he's doing it that way.

We should hear back from another builder over the weekend. He talked a good talk - said he likes small jobs as they can fit them around the bigger ones.

We've been using checkatrade, so will look at the other sites you suggested. Thanks!

Some builders do seem unwilling to just say they are not interested in a job and just go silent. I'd much prefer someone to say thanks but no thanks rather than just fail to deliver a quote. Has happened to us loads. We have done loads of building renovations etc over the years and I now just discount someone if they are slow,I give them a deadline, I chase once, then they are off the list. No second chances but if someone wants the work
They will get you a quote. For anything complicated I give them at least 4 weeks. An extension would take at least that to quote properly. Painting job 2 to 3 weeks to quote.