Builders, Decorators etc in short supply?

[roses2]

We've been planning (and saving for) some work for quite some time now. Now that we have enough money we are trying to get quotes from builders to have our roof re done and our bathroom re done. Before it was pretty hard tongwt quotes but now it seems impossible! Ive called so many. either the quote is exorbitant or the waiting list is six months long. Every other house round here seem to have bags of rubble outside. I guess now everyone is home they are getting work done.

Anyone else facing the same issue? We're in London.

Generally, if a builder can start straight away he is a rubbish builder.

You will always have to wait for a good one.

Get a recommendation, preferably from someone you know, and then wait. Otherwise you will regret it.

Good luck.

I am messaging to ask for quotes and not even getting contact back. Driving my husband bad as he thinks I’m not doing it.

Totally agree with Skiing. We waited 6 months for our beyond brilliant builders. We hope to have more work done in the next couple of years and will ask them to do it again - and fully expect to wait around 6 months this time (we were a bit surprised by the long wait the first time). In contrast, a friend who lives locally was having work done at the same time as we were and found a builder who was available within 6 weeks. They were dreadful.

We’ve found it impossible to get quotes or any interest from builders other than a regular one, so we use him and if he’s busy we have to wait. He’s had some work delayed this week due to not being able to obtain plaster, so was able to fit us in today, otherwise we’d be waiting 4/5 weeks until he finished his next project. My friend is having a nightmare getting people in to finish her extension, people either don’t turn up or cancel on her.

@AuditAngel - tell your husband to organise it himself, then he'll get the picture with contractors. Bloody nightmare, all of them.