We hoped to get an extension to our kitchen back in 2021 (6m x 3m) so went through this whole process then, but costs were so high that we decided to wait and see if prices came down again after the pandemic. Four years later and prices have not come down at all, so here we are back where we started! We have the architect drawings already and have been on the road to get builder quotes for three weeks now, and already I'm absolutely sick of the process. We've made enquiries with six builders (four solo companies, two as part of property development companies... all recommended to us by friends/neighbours so I hoped it would be a smooth journey). All booked a day and time (not a time range) for coming out to quote us.
Builder 1 - I messaged an hour after he was due to be here. (By this point my three year old had already eaten the bribery snack that was meant to entertain her and lost interest in the distraction box aka the TV). Builder 1 eventually replied to say he'd completely forgotten but would come over immediately, he's "10 minutes away". Fifteen minutes later he messages to say he is leaving now, so I replied saying I didn't think he should come anymore as I have to leave the house in 25 minutes time to collect my son from school. Irony being he didn't see that message as he was driving. So he arrived, was there for about 5 minutes. Didn't ask a single Q, just took a photo of the site and then asked me to send him the architect drawings (which I had already done when he originally asked for them a week beforehand so he clearly hadn't looked a them). He then said he'll get a quote out to me in "about 3 weeks".
Builder 2 - Messaged me 30 minutes after he was due to get there saying he was running a little late (at least he messaged!) Was impressed with him when he was here and felt reassured. He said he'd get a quote out to us in "2-3 days". It's now been 2 weeks and he keeps saying a new date we'll get the quote on and then that date passes and he delays by another few days. My confidence is not holding out for this one.
Builder 3 - Finally a positive experience. Arrived on time, had clearly looked at the drawings, researched the area and even came with a suggestion to save us money on the exterior and give a more durable finish. I really liked him and his approach. He got a comprehensive quote to us within 48 hours (as he said he would). His quote total is £72,000. Which I'm genuinely not sure we can afford as we also need to fund the new kitchen, so I'm bloody crestfallen.
Builder 4 - Turned up broadly on time, asked Qs. At the end of the visit I asked roughly when we could expect to get the quote, at which point they said we would get the quote within two weeks of us paying the £300 (yes, £300) fee for a quotation. Nowhere on the website, or in the three email exchanges I had with the company before the visit did anyone mention a fee for quoting. They then tried to justify it by saying they go above and beyond and for that fee provide a 54 page document breaking down the build and costings. I don't want a bloody 54 page document, when do they envisage I'd have time to read it?! I just want a quote! At that point I had a bit of a sense of humour failure and asked (told) them to leave and said they'd completely wasted my time.
We have two more builders booked in over the next 2 weeks but I'm already dreading it. I've currently spent about 6 hours of my life either waiting for builders to show up, having the same conversation and then just waiting for anyone to actually send a quote, all while trying to entertain two young children who are bored. In my job I have appointments every day and if I was routinely late I'd receive an absolute bollocking. Also, if a builder doesn't want the job I'm not going to be mortally offended if they just say that. What drives me nuts is the dance of "yeah sorry will have a quote out to you asap ... in 2 days... by Sunday ... early next week at the latest". By this point I don't even want to consider them for the job but just want the quote amount so that I can benchmark it against any other quotes!
In my dreamland Builder 3 contacts me to say he's realised some fantastic cost savings we can make and can now do the build for 50k, but this seems somewhat unrealistic. And deep down I know that this is just the beginning of the stress that is renovation / extensions! Please someone tell me it gets better!!