Quotes For Works

[barry1010]

I helped my neighbour get quotes for work she wants doing.  I have been there during two visits, the third and final one tomorrow.

The first was for £1400 inc VAT; the second £450 plus VAT.  A ridiculous difference in prices.  Both are insured, well established, seem decent. 
Now she is thinking one is ripping her off; the other not up to the job.

It will be interesting to see what sort of quote she gets tomorrow.

Have you had such varying quotes? I've told her to keep an open mind until tomorrow but she is fretting

[Hymie]

Yes, some builders who are snowed under with work will quote a very inflated price because they don’t need the work – if they get it, all well and good (for them).

[barry1010]

Don't know why he pitched for the work if that's the case.  He knew exactly what was involved before he contacted me.

[douglas9401]

Accept a quote or don't, it's not difficult.

[barry1010]

That hasn't answered the question, douglas, but thanks for your input

[smurfchops]

Can your Neighbour get some recommendations instead of using someone she doesn't know, and just relying on the price?  Maybe another neighbour has had some work done recently? 

[The Builder]

I do wish they wouldn't quote like this. It distorts the whole process.  If no.2 really is insured/competent/decent etc, then no.1's figure is a nonsense.

The third quote will tell us a lot.

[barry1010]

She's not relying on price, she doesn't want to ripped off by overpaying nor get scammed by a cowboy doing a poor job.

She has asked friends and neighbours but no joy there.

She's had the third quote, £450.  He took time to explain exactly what would be done, how long it would take, wrote it all down. He is a 'trusted trader' on our council website.

So either the first quote wasn't interested in the job or wanted to rip her off.

All sorted now, we were just shocked at the huge difference.

Thanks all

 

[Prudie]

We recently had 3 quotes for adding lead flashing and fixing a leaky car port roof. £1400, £1700 and £5,100 + VAT....................

I know we have the Builder to consult who I consider a god amongst builders but over the last couple of years having to deal with a variety of plumbers (particularly) and tradesmen I find most of them are rip-off merchants, some are not very competent and none of them really need the work...

[The Builder]

Barry, that's excellent news. I can never understand the psychology of over-quoting. Your £1400 fella now goes away with everyone thinking of  him as a bandit and an untrustworthy chancer with no opportunity of ever being considered in the future...........   and he hasn't even had to do anything 🤣

Builders are spoilt rotten at the moment, but leaner times can creep up at any time. When that comes, they'll probably have either gone bust.... or re-trained as tyre-fitters.

Prudie......  mwahhhh..... 😍  You're very kind. 

[barry1010]

Which one did you go with, Prudie?

 

[Prudie]

We went with the 1400 one (which had good reviews on mybuilder) but that was after saying yes to the 1700 one first and despite several voicemails and texts trying to proceed we never heard from them again. The 5K one was told to forget it.

[Prudie]

I think they were probably moonlighting, 2 guys did an excellent job over 3 days but all on a weekend and the next Saturday...