Would LOVE some mumsnet wisdom/advice re builders

[Ihavethisthingwithcolour]

Hello, would really love some advice please 🙏🏼

We have a builder lined up to start on our extension. But not surprisingly we don’t want to spend the full amount this builder has quoted anymore. It seems a lot. South east 84k for a 4m extension. This price includes a 4kish kitchen, flooring and bi folds. We’re waiting for the remortgage to be approved and it looks like we’ll have 75k now anyway due to the current lower value. We couldn’t have an actual person come round and value... so they took average.

My question is. We wanted this builder because he recently did a friends but most importantly he has availability. We’ve been living in a temporary kitchen for nearly 4 years and we have 4 children, it’s effecting my mental health now... more so now than ever!

So my real question is. Do you think more builders might have availability because other people won’t want to start projects on their houses because of impending recession?! Around here there’s a huge wait for building work.

Thanks if you’ve read this far. Feeling overwhelmed and I’d feel bad letting this builder down but he’s starting to seem too expensive... and I’m worried we’ll spend more than the house is worth...

You will of course want it finished for Xmas. But make that Xmas 2021 and take Johnd2's advice and spend some time acquiring 3 written quotes.

Decent, fair builders will always be booked up; sometimes half a year or more in advance and the rule is you must look for value, quality and timing. Unfortunately you usually only get 2 of these.

Sorry MarieG10 , I would not recommend writing your own contract. If you do, where do you go if there is a problem? With FMB and JCT they are tried and tested and have passed the scrutiny of the Unfair Contract Terms Act 1977 many times.

@BurgerOnTheOrientExpress

I didn't look at RIBA. FMB one was a joke. May have passed the test for unfair contracts but gave limited protection for the client. There was no options on withholding payments, especially at the end of the project to cover snagging etc. There was also no mention of preparing an actual specification which is pretty crucial. It seemed to reply on the approved plans which as we know is only part of the picture

Ours is 4 x 8m but 2 storey and quite high spec with aluminium windows, lots of glass and steels for vaulted ceilings. The price incl vat is £115k not including flooring and kitchen. It was the cheapest of 3 quotes and the builder did a neighbours and has been good so far. We are in the SE.

Building materials costs have doubled in the last 10 years with the fall in the £ and other factors so many online calculators are outdated.

@MarieG10, what was that old saying?sometimes your best guarantee is no guarantee. Building works are usually quite stressful for the customer after a week as the novelty wears off.

Better to spend time ensuring your choice of builder is a good choice than analysing the wording of a contract in my opinion. Because both parties need to feel they have been fairly treated at the end of the job. The minute someone reaches for the contract it's not going to be pretty, and it's your house you've invited another party into which will feel very uncomfortable.

You have hit the nail on the head (pun not intended) with regards to the specification. Unless this is 99% watertight and documented then there will be tears before bedtime.