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Builder

derek kelly

The Deli lama
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Builder turned up with the contract for the extension, he wanted us to transfer £10,000 up front tomorrow, the contract states “refurbish” & not extension, we smelled a rat so we told them we’d think about it, meantime I contacted an old friend who is a trusted builder of many years, he has just started a massive extension but he’s told us when he’s finished he’ll come & do ours.
 

Squag1

Can't remember....
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NEVER pay anything up front.

Agree a schedule of stage payments before job starts even if it's you best friend or brother.
eg: dpc level, wall plate level, roof finished, 1st fix plumbing, 1st fix generally included windows.........
 

Me!

Utterly retired
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Crikey I’ve never paid for any work until the jobs done. Unless a specific request by us for something we want added, then I may source the material / element but that’s it. Do the job, do it properly and I’ll pay you in full.
 

Squag1

Can't remember....
Club Sponsor
That's just a suggested list.
In a contract with quantity surveyor it's easy to organise payments and there's usually a % withheld on each payment to give a "retention" at the end held for 6 months or so to cover defects. In normal language "to hold the builder's interest.

A friend of mine usually tried to keep retention period over a winter.

On a small job about 25 years ago we were holding about €700, builder never came back. He never paid the window guy either, which wasn't the client's responsibility.
 
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slim63

Never surrender
Club Sponsor
Ok ...
As a builder for many years I also smell a rat, for most jobs payment on completion is the norm or in rare cases if its a large job by small trusted builder material costs AFTER their delivery is not uncommon (a few grand on materials can break a small builder)

But you never ever pay for work upfront only when it is completed to your satisfaction, any builder worth his salt will write this into the contract and will include a description of an acceptable quality of workmanship for each stage of the works (which you will sign) if he needs payment at any stage it should be in the contract, anything other than the above is a con !

Re acceptable quality don't forget his definition and yours may differ so pin it down at each stage and dont bloody moan when you get what you asked for and the quote is higher than you expected (dealt with those sort of tossers more than half my life and it really isnt any fun) on the other hand don't accept anything less than is in the contract but make sure you know what it means (and if not ask)

A typical cockup is plastering .... extention built and you are expecting bonding and plaster on the brick while the builder has quoted for dabbed board and skim ............. and if you change your mind on a detail half way through its probably going to cost you Eg that rad moved from < there to there > can cost in fittings pipe and half a days extra work
 
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Pow-Lo

Make civil the mind, make savage the body.
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We've had a builder back and forth here since December doing various bits. No contracts, but the work has been small, and we've paid for materials up front or he's told Mrs P what to go and get. The only problem we've had is getting him back here to do indoor jobs because he's busy doing outside stuff on other jobs while the weather's good; he did warn us about this when he first started, so it's no drama.
 

Squag1

Can't remember....
Club Sponsor
I just read the first post again.
£10,000 :risas3::risas3:

You'd want to be totally insane.
 

Squag1

Can't remember....
Club Sponsor
Another custom is to get the builder to put in provisional sums for some items.
Say bathroom ware.
He will allow for fitting items then you are free to select yourself, no issues of "oh I thought they were going to be gold taps"
The figures are adjusted later.
 

johnboy

rather fond of a cream bun
Club Sponsor
Also, and hopefully you wont need it, see a copy of their liability insurance and make sure the dates cover when they will be working on your property.
 
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