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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:
viques · 12/07/2021 02:22

Autism auto quote fail! Rubbish !

HasaDigaEebowai · 12/07/2021 06:36

Every single time ive used rated people or an equivalent website someone has tried to rip me off. Either crazy prices or an aggressive hard sell or low prices which then rocket and shoddy work.

I’ve formed the view that Builders don’t need those sites if they’re genuine and good. I go on recommendations only now. We pay a bit more and get a decent job.

Dinosauraddict · 12/07/2021 06:41

I agree, I don't use rated people anymore either, and that quote is really low (and tells you nothing in writing about the work being done). I would go with one of your other quotes OP.

Andthenanothercupoftea · 12/07/2021 07:11

I've always paid for at least some materials either upfront or relatively soon into the job. Either I've bought the stuff myself or paid them for it before they've bought it.

However that quote does seem cheap. Could be that it's not actually two days labour and they're squeezing it between other jobs.

Kitkat151 · 12/07/2021 07:41

Way too cheap....it will end in tears

Oblomov21 · 12/07/2021 07:49

Majorly cheap. And final part after completion is fine.

Oblomov21 · 12/07/2021 07:51

It's a stud wall? No no no. Don't do this. This is way too cheap. A cowboy.

Vetyveriohohoh · 12/07/2021 08:18

That’s not a quote, don’t touch them with a bargepole

SourMilkGhyll · 12/07/2021 08:27

Might just be me not being able to see picture clearly enough, but where does it say on that quote the actual work that will be done?
If it goes wrong you have nothing to prove what the job was.

lifehappened · 12/07/2021 08:33

I had to do this for having aircon installed. Materials I paid first. But you can ask for a receipt if you're nervous

lynsey91 · 12/07/2021 08:35

@lollypoppi

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 .

Or they do the work and don't get paid. DH is a tradesman and always now asks for a deposit up front. Far too many untrustworthy customers who don't pay, give bouncing cheques etc. Had it happen way too many times
lifehappened · 12/07/2021 08:35

Also to those saying it's a cheap quote and takes ages, we knocked a wall down last week and it took an hour! Business premises and not a small wall. It's actually not a big job at all

Cissyandflora · 12/07/2021 08:36

Good builders are really booked up at the moment. For months in advance at the least. I would avoid this one. I would guess he’s squeezing you in around another job. And you want perfection in your home. I would not go ahead. And as others have said- that invoice does not specify the work that you are agreeing to. Don’t do it OP is my advice.

Cissyandflora · 12/07/2021 08:39

@lifehappened

Also to those saying it's a cheap quote and takes ages, we knocked a wall down last week and it took an hour! Business premises and not a small wall. It's actually not a big job at all
Yes the demolition part will take two hours max. It’s the making good that takes time though. And a good plasterer, electrician etc take time and cost money. I just think when it’s your home it’s better to spend more for less stress and a good job.
lastqueenofscotland · 12/07/2021 08:41

That’s not a quote!
And do you really not smell a rat OP at the person who says they can do it for HALF the rate of the others?Cheap quotes tend to lead to them just adding shit on to make it make financial sense
Also he must be paying £37 a day Labour? Unless they are doing 4 hours a day that would be illegal.

theemmadilemma · 12/07/2021 08:44

Material cost up front isn't unusual.

bigbluebus · 12/07/2021 08:49

The only person I've ever paid up front is a guy who does odd little jobs for us in his spare time. He buys materials and I reimburse him immediately.

All major building work gets paid for on completion around here. Reliable builders all have 30 day terms with merchants locally so never need to stump up in advance although sometime I'll order stuff myself from the suppliers so I pay them directly (although sometimes I've even put them on the builder's account).
We've had some major jobs done and never paid until completion of work - and that's using different local trades - including when we had a 2 storey extension built which took 3 months.

I would be very wary if a builder who comes in so much cheaper than everyone else. The only time we used someone who was thousands cheaper was a local roofing firm who came highly recommended by lots of local people (people we knew - not just mates of the roofer!)

lifehappened · 12/07/2021 09:01

@Cissyandflora yeah agreed. I read the post a bit too quickly and hadn't really factored in the rest of the job.

HappydaysArehere · 12/07/2021 09:07

How much were the other quotes? I would wonder if they were hugely different. Also how long do you have to wait for the job to be done?Are they available straight away ? Usually builders with good reputations have other work on so some wait is normal. However, as this is a start up business they might just be going for making less profit but trying to establish a reliable recommendation from you. Also, what feeling did you get about this builder when you met him? You could say as soon as the materials arrive you will pay the £150. Wouldn’t just pay before that.

womanity · 12/07/2021 09:08

It’s not 6 days work to knock down and make good a stud wall.

Electrician is likely moving a socket or light switch so will be popping in and out rather than there all day.

At about £130/day which is the going rate here, that sounds perfectly reasonable. If you’re somewhere more expensive, then no.

londonsaint · 12/07/2021 10:09

AVOID - AVOID - AVOID - AVOID

My DH has made this mistake 3 times, hiring someone in this way. Once to fit carpets, once to lay a patio, once to do some tiling.

Never again.

The quality on all 3 jobs has been at best 'DIY' standard. Nice people trying to make a living, but not professionals and ended up with a job I feel I could have done better myself by looking at YouTube videos as a novice DIYer.

Since then, I've always got a personal recommendations (rather than anonymous internet recommendations) and been prepared to wait.

I've never paid cash up front either. Yes, happy to pay at the end of each day if it's small job, or the stage payments at the end of each week for a big job, but alarm bells would be ringing.

MrsSkylerWhite · 12/07/2021 10:13

Don’t want to teach to suck eggs, but you’ve had an engineer check that it’s not a supporting wall?

Cissyandflora · 12/07/2021 10:17

@londonsaint

AVOID - AVOID - AVOID - AVOID

My DH has made this mistake 3 times, hiring someone in this way. Once to fit carpets, once to lay a patio, once to do some tiling.

Never again.

The quality on all 3 jobs has been at best 'DIY' standard. Nice people trying to make a living, but not professionals and ended up with a job I feel I could have done better myself by looking at YouTube videos as a novice DIYer.

Since then, I've always got a personal recommendations (rather than anonymous internet recommendations) and been prepared to wait.

I've never paid cash up front either. Yes, happy to pay at the end of each day if it's small job, or the stage payments at the end of each week for a big job, but alarm bells would be ringing.

This is the problem. I’ve been there so many times. I now do my own work because I want perfection so I’ve stopped hiring out.
Original poster
Tinkerbellanne · 12/07/2021 16:06

Hi everyone. I messaged him this morning asking if he could do me a break down of everything he will be doing with prices and he said he will get one emailed over to me. I also asked him if he could provide me with 3 references for recent work and he said he will do that also so I'm hoping it's a good sign x

OP posts:
Sewaccidentprone · 12/07/2021 16:18

Just because it’s a stud wall doesn’t mean it’s not load bearing. Hope you’ve checked this out?

If it’s a small building company then you might only have a separate electrician coming in for a couple of hrs to do the electrics, not 2 full days.

I’ve paid builders a day into a project for materials. But only ones who’ve done work for me previously and I was happy with them.