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Original poster

Quote advise...

2 replies

pinkpedi · 05/11/2025 20:11

Hi, in london, single woman and finally received a quote for a bathroom refurbishment. Several contractors have messed me around, delaying viewing for weeks, not turning up etc. One (trusted friend of family builder who does lots of work for them in their rented property) gave have me an excellent quote, I was very happy but is since ignoring me.
I suppose there a decent amount of work but it's a tiny room 3x2 sqm but have now been quoted 12k more than the other man. I contacted him after seeing him advertise on community socials. I will be buying all tiles, fittings etc.
I can post a pic of breakdown quote if necessary. I expected it to be a lot but at over 17k is this a classic case of I don't want the job?
Please help!

OP posts:
DinoLil · 06/11/2025 00:29

I'm in the SE and am currently losing the will to live over a bathroom refurbishment.

Mine is 3.5m by 2.5m. Swapping out bath for walk in shower, new loo and basin, removing tiles from all walls, new floor. Like you, I've spent £3.5k on all the fixtures and fittings. Builder is someone who has worked on stuff in my house before. 'Move out for five days' he told me. I did. Got back Monday and all I have is a back to brick bathroom, my old loo for convenience and my kitchen sink for washing. And no hot water.

He's supposed to be back tomorrow and he suggested I pay £1 at the local leisure centre to have a shower in the meantime. Plus the £15 ph for my dog sitter, I asked, and parking costs? On top of the alternative accommodation and travel costs I've paid for on the verbal guarantee that I'd have a bathroom when I got home.

Take my story as a cautionary tale. Get everything in writing. I have all of the purchases as receipts from where they were purchased, but nothing from the builder who I paid up front. Because I always have and he's worked on stuff in my house for 7yrs.

Original poster
pinkpedi · 06/11/2025 09:59

DinoLil · 06/11/2025 00:29

I'm in the SE and am currently losing the will to live over a bathroom refurbishment.

Mine is 3.5m by 2.5m. Swapping out bath for walk in shower, new loo and basin, removing tiles from all walls, new floor. Like you, I've spent £3.5k on all the fixtures and fittings. Builder is someone who has worked on stuff in my house before. 'Move out for five days' he told me. I did. Got back Monday and all I have is a back to brick bathroom, my old loo for convenience and my kitchen sink for washing. And no hot water.

He's supposed to be back tomorrow and he suggested I pay £1 at the local leisure centre to have a shower in the meantime. Plus the £15 ph for my dog sitter, I asked, and parking costs? On top of the alternative accommodation and travel costs I've paid for on the verbal guarantee that I'd have a bathroom when I got home.

Take my story as a cautionary tale. Get everything in writing. I have all of the purchases as receipts from where they were purchased, but nothing from the builder who I paid up front. Because I always have and he's worked on stuff in my house for 7yrs.

Oh no that sounds awful. I definitely won't be moving out but I will need the toilet to be useable and I'll shower at the gym.
I do have this written quite and he's busy until February. I just think 17k is a hell if a lot of money!

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