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Original poster

Builder wants me to pay whole amount but work far from complete

31 replies

33goingon64 · 27/09/2022 17:32

Build started mid May. Not a huge job:
taking down conservatory
Foundations
Kitchen extension
Some internal alterations to 1 room
Kitchen installation (by a third party but they need to work around them)
Finish, decorate

They are still at stage of finishing external roof on extension, so still got tons to do. Not even done first fix. I think it will be easily 8 weeks more given the speed they work.

He didn't give me a time estimate at the start - we've used him before and he does a good job so we trust him even if we know he's not the fastest.

I paid a deposit upfront and have been paying a chunk weekly since mid May.

We are now 5.5 months on, I've paid him 82% of the total cost. I pointed this out today and basically asked if I should stop paying until they've caught up a bit and he said no, it's best to keep on paying. When I pointed out that there's only about 4 weeks left til I'll have paid the whole amount he said it's normal nowadays to pay up before the job is finished.

I think this is unreasonable and am planning to withhold further payments (or at best reduce them significantly) until some more jobs are ticked off.

What do you all think?

OP posts:

SlipperyLizard · 27/09/2022 18:01

No way would I be paying any more - once he has the full amount he has no motivation to finish!

ILoveMyBlanket · 27/09/2022 18:06

You shouldn't have paid that amount upfront tbh.
Don't pay him anymore, that's why he's taking his time because he's getting paid regularly

Owlcat42 · 27/09/2022 18:11

Agree with the others, you've already paid the majority of the cost, he really shouldn't expect the rest til it's 100% done. I had my kitchen refurbed recently and paid 50% in advance, 50% on completion, which I thought was fair enough.

Topseyt123 · 27/09/2022 18:13

Surely you don't pay so much upfront?? I wouldn't. Surely you pay a deposit and then pay the balance on completion of the work?

AgentProvocateur · 27/09/2022 18:15

It depends what the payment schedule in the contract is.

NothingIsWrong · 27/09/2022 18:19

do you have a contract?

LimboLass · 27/09/2022 18:25

He wants you to pay for his poor cashflow management
If you pay up in full he has no incentive to finish the work

TheYearOfSmallThings · 27/09/2022 18:28

Don't pay more. He should have given you a schedule of works with payments at certain points of completion - not just a list of payments not linked to progress.

Once he has the money his mind will not be focused on finishing the job to a high standard. He will be tempted to do the minimum when it suits him.

Imtoowettowoo · 27/09/2022 18:32

OP,
This - When I pointed out that there's only about 4 weeks left til I'll have paid the whole amount he said it's normal nowadays to pay up before the job is finished.

Is a load of fooey.
As others have said it's not up to you to solve his cash-flow problem.

Having said that, what agreement did you make before work started and have you got a contract?

Surtsey · 27/09/2022 18:46

When was the agreed finish date for the works? If I were you, I'd say they've now had more than 80% of the money but haven't completed 80% of the work yet, so payments will be paused for the time being until you are satisfied that the work you have already paid for has actually been carried out.

BlueMongoose · 27/09/2022 19:58

I'd always hold back a fair chunk on that sort of job until it is finished- say,- 20-25% . More earlier on in the job. Once they're paid in full, some individuals just clear off. And you need something to hold back for snagging. We are having a lot of roofing work done. That's several weeks' work for between one and four roofers , depending on which bit of the job they're doing. The boss hasn't asked for a penny yet, despite buying in all the timbers, and it's over a month since they started. As it's a big job, I'd be more than happy to pay stage payments, but he prefers to wait until the job's done. I paid for the scaff (but only once it was up) because he got someone in for that, of course, and that's it. But then he's worked for us before, and he knows, as everyone that has worked for us knows, that once he presents his bill, I always pay immediately. Our plumber once handed me a bill and found the payment in his account was already there when he got home...😊I like to keep up with things. But not before the job is done.

Paperdolly · 27/09/2022 20:04

If a builder hadn’t got any money in his business account to buy resources to start the work in the first place it would worry me. If he made a mistake or fell out with you would you be able to sue him to get someone else to finish the job? I cancelled a builder once because he asked for money up front. Turns out he was as dodgy as I’d suspected.

BonjourPetitPois · 27/09/2022 20:05

We had what sounds like a fairly similar job done to you, started in April and they finished last month. We were fairly naive going into it and asked our builder when we were getting quotes if we would need to pay a deposit up front - he refused and said if anyone does ask for this then we should run a mile. We paid weekly instalments for the precise work done that week, so it went up and down on a weekly basis. I would definitely be holding out on the next payment until you are further through the build.

lunar1 · 27/09/2022 20:09

No way would I pay more until it's done. We did a big project, no deposit. 1/3 after they started, 1/3 about 70% done and the rest after snagging. The only thing we paid at the beginning was the scaffolding cost.

Bobbybobbins · 27/09/2022 20:21

Definitely don't pay any more!!!!!

Original poster

33goingon64 · 27/09/2022 20:33

OK thanks. I think it's a case of spreading the cash between several jobs aka poor cash management, rather than anything dodgy. As I say he's done a big job for us before and a similar job for a friend who was pleased with him. But you're right, I'll say no more til the job is done. Thanks for answering!

OP posts:

Willowswave · 27/09/2022 21:59

We sid a bg extensin last year and paid nothing up front. Nothing. The contract had stages in and each time a stage was finished, we paid for the completed stage. That is normal I think.

Sounds to memlike you’ve giving the guy way too much control. Asking how much and when he wants to be paid?! Do less asking more telling.

allboysherebutme · 27/09/2022 22:28

No way 100% not. X

NCFT0922 · 27/09/2022 22:29

Jesus why is it taking so long?? Definitely do not give him anymore money.

FiveMins · 27/09/2022 22:31

No. Industry standard to hold back a bit until all snags done (let alone a big chunk of work).
It will help focus his mind!

MarmiteCoriander · 27/09/2022 22:41

We are renovating a derelict property. Started with a new roof and worked our way down. Complete re-wire, new plumbing, windows, replaced a dodgy extension and so much more. We have had at least 8 different trades working on it- and not one asked for any money up front!!!

None got full payment till their bit was completed. The only thing we paid 50% for was to order the kitchen, then 50% after delivery. Don't pay a penny more till its complete!

Kocduw · 27/09/2022 22:48

Tell the builder that you would like a quantity surveyor to oversee the remaining work so payments are dealt with fairly and without bias from either side!!

I suspect you have already are well past the point of being in 'debt' to them and at first fix, woukd estimate about 60% complete ( dependant on the type of work ).

LindemannConstructions · 31/10/2022 08:39

This reply has been deleted

This has been deleted by MNHQ for breaking our Talk Guidelines.

MayMoveMayNot · 31/10/2022 08:45

No fucking way.
I'll pay instalments, with a deposit, but never for the full job before it is finished.
I'd even do 50% deposit and 50% upon completion but that is it.

I'm from a family of builders and other family members are working in the associated trades, their terms all reflect my attitude to it. All of them ask for a deposit (except if under a minimum amount) but never payment in full before you finished!

CleopatrasBeautifulNose · 31/10/2022 17:33

Him saying no one holds anything back anymore is a lie, which is concerning. Good job you've used him before but absolutely no way full payment especially when they're dragging their heels already.

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