Builders putting prices up last minute, can I haggle?

[JudyGemstone]

I am about to do a loft conversion with work booked to start next weekend. Was quoted £47k last November.

End of last year got an email saying due to covid/brexit etc materials had increased so costs increasing by £4k or so. Not ideal but understandable. I could just about find this extra but it’s very tight and no contingency funds now.

Last week, so 2 weeks or so before start date I get another email saying due to situation in Ukraine/fuel prices etc costs will
be going up again by a further 15%!

I simply do not have any more money. The builders are coming out tomorrow morning for the pre start meeting. I feel like they’ve got me over a barrel and I have no choice but to try and put the rest on a credit card or something, but my dad reckons I should ask about balance of labour/material costs and haggle.

He sent me an article from a trade mag about how timber and steel prices have fallen for the 4th month running and basically thinks I should call their bluff.

I think that I need them to do this job more than they need to do it and so they have the whip hand.

Has anyone else been in a similar situation? Is it worth trying to negotiate? Don’t want to piss them off, but at the same time it does feel slightly like price gouging.

Its stressing me out!

Seeing as you're usually so keen to quote me, here's one. I said "some". Not all, or even most. There are 100% SOME, who make it harder for the honest ones.

So in OP's case she was told a 15% increase. She has rightfully queried this and they've come back at 6%. Why do you think they're able to do this I wonder? Do you really believe they're now living off baked beans/defaulting on their mortgages/breaking into their life savings? Get real! Your comments are the laughable ones.

From 15 to 6%? You can change the materials that you use, you can contract different labourers on the job, you can hurry your own crew along to make the budget. There's all sorts of ways to save money and you are right, they won't be living on beans when there is a wealth of work around.

Well exactly, which is my point! They didn't need to up their quote by 15% in the first place! But PP said it wasn't about receiving less profit, it was the fact they simply couldn't afford to cover the loss so had to pass it on. They clearly didn't.

Bit using different materials and rushing will compromise the finished result. Most homeowners wouldn't choose to do that.

Well let's hope that's not the case here. I'm assuming they've not downgraded to a bit of ply and blue tack.

Good luck OP, I hope it all goes well. You got a result in the end and I'm sure the extra cost will be worth the extra space in the end. Let the dust commence!

I doubt they reduced the quote on a whim. Something will have been compromised to arrive at the lower figure. Either that will be clear from a revised spec, or the compromise will be hidden somewhere (which may be time taken to do the job).

Yes - I think the 15% was a ball park figure sent to all customers, so would have been higher than 6% for some of them, probably depending on type of build etc.

I’m grateful that it’s not 15% on mine as I would have likely had to cancel.

I’ve taken a few extras out, like a velux window above the stairs and gone for cheaper options where possible.

Ah, ok. You hadn't mentioned any changes to spec, so I assumed like for like and I thought the 15% was for your particular job.

Another person who work in construction here we are still experiencing price increases month on month. On plasterboard alone we are due increases in June and July. Also all our trades are experiencing problems with labour, lots of work out there so labour is company hopping to get more money/closer to home etc

They should have priced in the projected price increases in materials so you could ask, if you have space, if there is a saving to get materials delivered ASAP to avoid the price increases.

Also if you haven’t done so already get a breakdown to the increase in sufficient detail for you to check prices.

They should have priced in the projected price increases in materials so you could ask, if you have space, if there is a saving to get materials delivered ASAP to avoid the price increases.

It's interesting you've said this, as I was wondering earlier if this would be possible. Good to know, thank you.