£96k quote from builder

79 replies

hollowmind · 13/02/2025 19:35

I recently got a quote from a highly recommended builder and I plan to get a few more quotes but just wanted to see whether people think the price it reasonable as I won't waste my time or other builder time if the quotes come in about the same.

I had budgeted £50k but thought it would be around £35k and we were going to move all the furniture into storage, rip out all the carpets and move out the house to allow the work to be done slightly quickly.

We had a previous quote of £15k for just the electric work.

The quote came in at £96k and was to cover the following:

Install 18 double socket plugs
Reinstate 2 double plugs which currently have blanking plates
Install spot lighting in 9 rooms. Roughly 50 in total.
Remove 11 pendant lights
Replace 1 ceiling fan with new one.
Install 3 outside plugs
Update junction box
Install 2 outside lights
Reskim 4 bedrooms, 1 living room, 2 office spaces and hallway including ceilings
Redecorate reskimmed rooms. White paint and white gloss for woodwork excluding doors.
Replace 13 radiators
Replace hot water heater
Replace skirting board and coving as recommend by builder for reskimmed rooms.
Install 3 air con units.

OP posts:

CellophaneFlower · 16/02/2025 11:02

Cookiesandcandies · 16/02/2025 10:50

No. It’s that I sell my time, and if it’s to do something I really want to do, I might sell my time for less money as the pay off is money and satisfaction. If it’s for something I really don’t want to do, then I have to price it higher to factor in it will actively detract from my satisfaction.

For example, I make skirts. I love making skirts. I charge £10 an hour for making skirts because I love doing it. I can also make trousers, but that involves so much more cutting and I hate cutting. I’m willing to do it, but only if someone pays me £20 an hour. I’ve got enough customers to pay me to make skirts to give me a decent salary, and so I don’t need to accept trouser customers, but I will. John in the next town over loves making trousers and does it for £5 an hour.

I’m not conning the trouser customer, I’m telling them my price for that service. If they want me to do it, £20 an hour makes it worth the stress of the cutting. If they care for a bargain they can shop around and find John, but it’s not for me to direct potential customers to my competitor. I’m still running a business.

Show quote history

Tbh though, your situation is different... as it isn't going to result in a mark up of what could be at least 40k in the OP's case and probably much more.

JessicaRabbit23 · 28/01/2026 15:07

hollowmind · 13/02/2025 19:35

We had a previous quote of £15k for just the electric work.

The quote came in at £96k and was to cover the following:

How much did it cost in the end ??

TheGander · 28/01/2026 17:12

When I read the opening post I thought it was a) for a loft extension and b) in London. He doesn’t want the work, or he’s a cowboy.

Bulbsbulbsbulbs · 28/01/2026 17:15

Christ, I thought you were going to say an extension! That seems a lot.

Flip

1 2 3 4

Swipe left for the next trending thread