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Original poster

Paying a builder upfront

88 replies

Tinkerbellanne · 11/07/2021 22:02

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

OP posts:
PurplePansy05 · 11/07/2021 23:06

Suspiciously cheap.

Cissyandflora · 11/07/2021 23:07

What were the other quotes?

Original poster
Tinkerbellanne · 11/07/2021 23:15

He told me he would rather do the little jobs such as mine for decent prices to build up his business and start getting some good reviews. He said he doesn't really like doing huge jobs because if one thing goes wrong there is your profit gone and other jobs have to be pushed back. He also said and I quote....
" I could easily come in and say that's £1500 to do that wall but I'm not here to rip you off like some builders"

I dont know what to do now X

OP posts:
Eleoura · 11/07/2021 23:20

What were the other quotes and how are their reviews? Anyone you know through word of mouth instead?

Gemma2019 · 11/07/2021 23:20

Builders are in huge demand at the moment because so many people are improving their houses since lockdown. The cost of materials has soared through the roof and a lot of builders haven't been able to keep to their original quotes because of this. About a year ago it was impossible to get hold of any plaster and even now it's not as readily available as it was.

Your builder sounds like he is talking utter bullshit.

Original poster
Tinkerbellanne · 11/07/2021 23:22

£1100 another quote and £850 another and £900 another

OP posts:
Cissyandflora · 11/07/2021 23:23

And what are the materials he’s quoting you for?

Cissyandflora · 11/07/2021 23:25

It wouldn’t cost £150 for materials that I can see from your description. It’s all about the labour though.

Original poster
Tinkerbellanne · 11/07/2021 23:27

All it says on the quotation form is £150 for materials and £300 labour. He is also taking a door off and making it into an arch shape to, included in that price

OP posts:
Cissyandflora · 11/07/2021 23:29

Ok that’s a bit more work then.

Tinkerbellanne · 11/07/2021 23:29

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn as it contains identifying info

MikeHat · 11/07/2021 23:29

I have paid an electrician upfront for materials for ufh and a joiner (who I know and have used before) 50% deposit so I wouldn'tthink that unreasonable.

Cissyandflora · 11/07/2021 23:30

But three men for 300 labour is really cheap. Especially as one will be doing electrical work and one plastering. I trust no one though.

YesClemFandango · 11/07/2021 23:31

Ask for the materials list, you buy that yourself and you'll pay for labour on completion. Best case, it's as they told you and they are fishing for work to build a reputation, worst case it's a con job and after you pay upfront you won't see them again. If you buy the materials, which shouldn't be much, you have some protection.

It sounds cheap though. Here a skilled plasterer would be about £130/day so it depends where you are and what exactly the job involves.

onceuponacar · 11/07/2021 23:33

I just had this exact same job done. Stud wall knocked down, made good. Skirting, coving and architrave put on.
Also a radiator moved.
Plus he plastered the new wall and 3 ceilings while I had him here.
It took 5 days in total and he charged £1400.

onceuponacar · 11/07/2021 23:34

As in a tiny bit of skirting and coving around the new knock through as we made an arch through a stud wall.

Cissyandflora · 11/07/2021 23:34

Yes definitely depends where you are. Here a plasterer would be 200-250 a day.
Materials should be cheap though.

LadyEloise · 11/07/2021 23:37

If it sounds too good to be true, it is.

lollypoppi · 11/07/2021 23:39

Seems too cheap and I'd never want to pay upfront. U don't know him he cld literally be scamming you out of money and not turning up. Heard it happen way too many times.

Ask what materials and you will purchase .

Vetyveriohohoh · 11/07/2021 23:40

No way he’s got a decent plasterer if he thinks he’s getting 6 days of labour for £300. Suspiciously cheap, I wouldn’t go for it.

Cissyandflora · 11/07/2021 23:41

@Vetyveriohohoh

No way he’s got a decent plasterer if he thinks he’s getting 6 days of labour for £300. Suspiciously cheap, I wouldn’t go for it.
No he said the whole job was two days.

But it’s still too cheap.

Vetyveriohohoh · 11/07/2021 23:42

I thought you said 3 people for 2 days? So 6 days.

Gemma2019 · 12/07/2021 01:20

That is not a proper quote, it's just a price for completely unspecified labour and materials. A proper quote should list exactly what work it covers. Also it looks like they have been in business since 2018 so not new at all.

Floralnomad · 12/07/2021 01:48

He sounds like an absolute cowboy , as all your other quotes are in the same ballpark I don’t see how he can be half the price

viques · 12/07/2021 02:20

@Tinkerbellanne

Please see quote attached guys...
This is not a quote! A quote should list the jobs that are going to be done

Remove wall between kitchen and living room

Remove autism togarage

Re route wiring for sky as required

Make good kitchen and living room walls

Replaster as above

Etc etc

What you have is a very vague invoice.

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