Paying a builder upfront

[Tinkerbellanne]

Hi everyone. I am going to have the wall that divides the kitchen from the living knocked through to make it open plan. I have been in touch with different builders and the cheapest quote I have been given is £450 to knock through the wall, plaster it all and run different cables through such as CCTV and virgin and make it today. I have had the quotation sent via email and they are asking for £150 for materials before the job and £300 after satisfied after completion. I found this builder on rated people. They don't have any reviews on rated people, as they have recently set up this new business after leaving another building firm so I can't even look at reviews.
Is this upfront deposit reasonable?

Thanks

I think so.

I'm getting a bathroom done by a very reputable local builder, highly professional and recommended

They've asked for fifty percent up front once start date is confirmed.

That sounds very cheap to me

That sounds fine with me. He needs to have the money to pay for the materials up front. I’m surprised the deposit isn’t nearer 50%

For something like knocking out a wall I would definitely want to know they were rated.

Yes, it’s pretty normal to pay a deposit up front

But that quote is incredibly cheap. Have the builders got any references from past customers you can check out?

What were the other quotes?

My husband is a builder, he asks for the householder to pay for the goods once they are delivered to your house.
Labour costs paid incrementally if it's a big project. Otherwise upon completion and when all waste/skips etc have been removed from site.

knocking through? wont you need an RSJ they are expensive

Never heard of paying 50% upfront.

I avoid rated people like the plague! I'd be very concerned about WHY they left the previous firm, and if in fact they are rogue builders who have spun up in another name!!!

I agree, it does seem cheap- too cheap IMO! $300 for labour? How many days do they think it will take? Is it a supporting wall you are removing, or just a stud wall?

Hope this isn't a stupid question, but it's not a supporting wall presumably?

Aside from that, i think if it's a new firm, you are on shaky ground to assess what they are like. What's the next lowest quote?

That is super cheap (I’ve just had one done myself) and for the knock through, RSJ,’plastering to make it good etc, it was £1800. That didn’t include electrics.

I’d be more worried about how cheap it was before the payment arrangements!

I paid 25% after the completion of the 1st phase on mine - with the rest on completion

Have you checked that it’s not a load bearing wall?

That sounds far too cheap to me unless it's just a plasterboard wall they are knocking down. If it's a supporting wall they would need to install an RSJ which could easily cost a couple of hundred. I would expect to pay between £1500 and £2k for this job.

This must be a drywall partition that you’re having removed but it’s still too cheap. Paying for the materials upfront is ok but I don’t like the sound of the company you’re using. Also wiring and plastering are normally done by different tradespeople so I’d need to know more. How long will they take? How many people? I’d absolutely need references. Don’t be tempted by the price. It’s your home - get the best person in.

Sounds cheap for home counties, but don't know where you are. Is it a stud wall or structural? If stud wall who is disposing the gypsum plasterboard - it's difficult to get rid of. If structural load bearing wall suggest you get a real life recommendation.

It's eye opening to read the responses above. I've never paid a builder upfront, and never would.

Unskilled labour is at least £150 per person per day
Plasterers, electricians etc are at least £250 per day

What you’re describing is days of work and requires skilled workers

I can’t see how they are doing this for £450 including materials

I would really think carefully about using this builder. They are either going to find lots of hidden problems to change you extra, or they are going to lose money on this job and bodge it

I agree that it's way too cheap though.

Yes sounds cheap. Are they disposing of the rubbish properly or dumping it? Is any electrical work involved?

No no no- sorry but my husband or I have always gone with a builder to buy materials and have them delivered to our home- I never ever give money before a job starts!

Hi everyone. No it is a stud wall about 2 and a half meters wide. I'll be storing the rubbish in my empty garage and getting rid of it myself in the future. They said it would take about 2 days. First day would be knocking it down and clearing it. Second day plastering/skimming and doing electrics. 3 people on the job altogether

3 people x 2 days is 6 man days for £450? Too cheap

It sounds very cheap
But if your going with him I would say that you will pay for the materials when he brings it to your house and it’s on site
However 10 years I had the opposite work done - double internal french doors to my kitchen removed blocked up the area and plastered and that cost around £1500 & the whole kitchen was replastered and my kitchen is a kitchen diner so big .
And That was my BIL and his friend who are builders so it was family rates as well 😂
A decent plaster would easily charge £150 -£200 a day
Unskilled labourers £100 a day

My husband is having a wall plastered next week in a flat he owns and I don’t expect he will get much change out of £250

It doubt it would take a day to take the wall down. A couple of hours maybe. But three people for two days - price is too cheap.

£75 per day per person? That sounds very cheap and I'd be wary of the job they would do.