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Original poster

To haggle on price or not - loft conversion

11 replies

Notmyselftoday · 30/03/2009 11:26

We are planning a loft conversion. We live in a 2 bed flat and the work will add another bedroom, bigger kitchen, extra shower room and bigger main bathroom. Have a quote of £48k. DH says it is v. reasonable and is too embarrassed to haggle, but I think we should at least try to get the price down because if we don't I'd always wonder if I'd got the best deal. What do the Mnet jury think?

OP posts:
KatyMac · 30/03/2009 11:27

I would get at least 3 quotes

Actually on that price I'd want maybe 4 & I would want to see some of the other conversions they had done

Original poster
Notmyselftoday · 30/03/2009 11:32

Have had quotes from 3 others which were in a similar vein, but this company has the best reputation, and we knocked on somebody's door who had also used them and asked them to give us the low down on their work. We are happy with the company and the other quotes were in a similar vein, however this company have drawn up proper plans for us and we have only been able to get a proper final quote for the work now the plans have been drawn.

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ILikeToMoveItMoveIt · 30/03/2009 11:41

It depends really. You may be able to get a better price if you haggle, but to cover the cost the builder may scrimp in other areas that aren't so obvious (quality of materials, less insulations etc).

If the price is haggled too low you may put the builder out of business and you may have a unfinished conversion on your hands, you will then have to pay another firm to finish the job and the total cost will be more than the original price quoted by the company who started the work.

If you want the price reduced then maybe there are things within the conversion that can be altered?

At the end of the day, the company have to make money to be able to exist.

Original poster
Notmyselftoday · 30/03/2009 11:47

You're right ILTMIMI. I work in the antiques trade, and for people to pay ticket price for something is unheard of. I guess this is what is behind my reasoning.

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TracyK · 30/03/2009 11:47

I wouldn't haggle. If all the other quotes were of the same price - then they aren't taking the piss.

You don't want to start off on the wrong foot with a builder - you need to stay on v. good terms with them. I would say they would take offence if you question their price.

Niecie · 30/03/2009 11:49

I think if you have other quotes I would only try and get them down to match the next best quote. If they are all really much of a muchness then I would tend to assume it was the best price I was going to get.

I agree with ILTMIMI that they may end up cutting corners if you haggle too much.

We had a plain loft conversion on our house about 5 yrs ago. It cost £35k and that was just adding 2 beds and a bathroom. It sounds like you are having your entire flat remodelled so fwiw, £48k sounds reasonable to me. I don't know if you live down south or in London but that would make it even more reasonable.

Roastchicken · 30/03/2009 11:59

I wouldn't haggle. We did once on some building work and got a fab price. However, the builder pulled out a week or so before he was due to start as he found another job which paid better. We ended up paying more than he'd initially quoted, and have never haggled on building work since!

Original poster
Notmyselftoday · 30/03/2009 12:01

Yes Niecie, am in London. Thanks for the advice. It is a good price considering what we'll gain, and that we'll have a dormer running for most of the roof length.

Thank you everyone for your posts.

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Original poster
Notmyselftoday · 30/03/2009 12:01

Oh Roastchicken, thanks for the words of warning.

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jeanjeannie · 30/03/2009 16:17

I'm not sure it's fair to haggle. We run a small building company - do most of everything ourselves and we quote a fair price that gives us a decent - not extravagent, living. Trouble is that builders/carpenter...in fact most trades people are in a profession that has been abused by cowboys.

People wouldn't think about haggling with a solicitor...

One word of warning....check and double check (see a certificate - please) that they have insurance. It costs us over £2,000 per year to make sure we have full insurance and never had to use it. We know lots of 'reputable' builders who say they do and laugh at the fact they have none. It's not worth it...just incase.

BTW Quote sounds about right - you'll get a lot for your ££

Original poster
Notmyselftoday · 30/03/2009 17:01

Yes, will be very careful about insurance, and will notify my insurers too.

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