Worried about bathroom costs

[mrsdaz]

Bathroom fitter been in 5 days so far - we have paid 75% upfront of the cost.

However today he is asking for money as it’s “Friday pay day”

I’m confused as assumed the balance would be paid on completion? Especially as going from the price quoted he has received at least the first weeks pay in advance already along with all costs etc?

I’m getting twitchy that more monies are going to be added on. We never had a written quote just verbal but all costs etc were broken down. How do we determine what to pay him?

It will take another 3 weeks so do I divide the 25% remaining costs over 3?

Don’t even contemplate paying any more until the work is complete. He sorts “Pay Day” out of the cash you’ve paid upfront.

Why is it taking a month, btw?

I wouldn't pay anything more upfront. Once the job is completed then pay him.

Why don’t you prepare a schedule showing what you expect him to do & the costs, then he can look over it with you & you can create a contract.

Sorry meant to say another 2 weeks. He’s doing bathroom and en suite.

Only pay up to the work he has done so far plus materials on site. Do you have a broken down quote?

Well then, just tell him he's already had 75% of the money but only completed 33.3% of the work if his original time scale was accurate.
Tell him you will pay the remaining 25% of the cost once the work is completed - to your satisfaction.

I agree with other posters, had ours done last year. Didn't pay anything until it was all done, would have paid for fixtures/fittings with receipts but the installer was happy to leave until the end - as like most contractors bought on his business account at local builder's merchant and bathroom supplier. Very unusual in my experience to pay before the job is done. But we had a written quote, references and checked with the insurance company that his insurance was up to date, to ensure he was bona fide. Is his company registered? May be he has cash flow problems so essentially taking money from you because of that, if registered can find his accounts online and get a sense of his assets/liabilities. You're over a barrel though as now could pull out and leave work half finished, unless you're sure he checked out prior to doing the work. Also need to keep back some money as no leverage if any snagging/issues with work.

Is your bathroom very complicated and/or very large? The average for a standard bathroom going on ours/friends'/neighbours' is around 10 days. Ours took 9, as had all the plumbing in the same places as before. So even with an en suite seems a long job.