Builders came, saw what needed doing and disappeared!

Needed work done to kitchen including replacing current back door with a full length glass panel, and creating single door on current 6foot wide window. Quotes ranged from £3K to £1600. The builder with the highest quote asked when he can start and the one with the lowest did not return any calls or emails. What's going on?

Highest has great confidence (Or, is a desperado), lowest is desperate, but not that desperate.

Were there any quotes somewhere in the middle?

DH

Obviously a pain in the arse customer, or job.

These were the quotes:
£1600: replace existing door with glass; create door and 2 side windows within the existing window frame, not moving 'soldiers' on top frame.
£1520: same job
£2250: same job
£3000: same job
Does this mean I am an awkard £^%$ or is the job too small?

As I not FENSA registered, I cannot comment. Are any of these guys?

Builder with lowest quote has reliased that it was too low.

Builder with highest quote wants the job to pay for his summer holiday.

Andy

All blokes.
Yes, 3K was clearly fleecing me or have I got "Sucker" written on my forehead.
Guy with the lowest quote called and when we said we were waiting for other quotes to come in, he hung up!
Guy with the highest quote called round to the house and ask when we want to start and when I said we're thinking about it, he did not call round again.
Guy who quoted £1600 did not answer my query about his FENSA status, and did not want to give a written quote.
Someone coming round tomorrow. Watch this space.
BTW, what would you guys charge for a job like that?

They all sound a bit dodgy to me. At least you have plenty of quotes now.
I guess people aren't that keen in knowing they're one person on a long list.

I once gave a quote to someone, they told me they may get back in touch with me once they've had some other quotes. When they phoned me back to tell me I had the job, they found themselves at the back of a ten month cue.

I don't really enjoy getting plenty of quotes but there are so many variations and calibre of so-called builders that it is almost imperative to do 'homework' before asking anybody to do any work. When we moved in, we trusted friends to recommend their friends to do the work and got fleeced; £300 to remove vandalised bay roof and replace with felt roof, (he took the lead roof to the scrap yard and got £200 for it); and the 'friend' replaced the lock for £65. All because we did not shop around and trusted 'friends'.
I agree with you. Nobody likes to be one in a long chain but this is the harsh reality i.e. the best person who can deliver at a reasonable price gets the job.

chi6se said:

I don't really enjoy getting plenty of quotes but there are so many variations and calibre of so-called builders that it is almost imperative to do 'homework' before asking anybody to do any work. When we moved in, we trusted friends to recommend their friends to do the work and got fleeced; £300 to remove vandalised bay roof and replace with felt roof, (he took the lead roof to the scrap yard and got £200 for it); and the 'friend' replaced the lock for £65. All because we did not shop around and trusted 'friends'.
I agree with you. Nobody likes to be one in a long chain but this is the harsh reality i.e. the best person who can deliver at a reasonable price gets the job.

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£300 to remove a lead roof and replace it with a felt roof ? Far too cheap. How much do YOU think it should be ?.
How do you know he got £200 from the scrapyard ? Must have been one hell of a size roof to get that amount--hence- £300 too cheap for the job.
£65 to supply and fit a new lock ?. You mean the guy drove to your house maybe in his van- and used his fuel and also his time -(after picking up and paying for a lock at builders merchants ?)-he then got out the tools he has at one time have to purchase- and then fitting the lock . £65 - far too cheap.
How do you know just 'who' is best person for a job ? Cheapest price ?.

Just imagine getting people out to quote you for the job you require
- the time they take to get to your house- and the time they spend chitty chatting with you etc. It all costs money .Not your money- but theirs.

How many quotes does a person need ? I will tell you . As many as it takes until they hear the price they want to hear.

Nobody turns up to do the job ? only 2 reasons really- They dont trust you- or dont like you- simple as that.
Some People think that tradesmen are liars, theives and dishonest -- but in fact- it is the other way around .
A customer will say anything at all to get the price of a job down . If the price they hear is not what they want to hear- they have not got the strength to say so.
They usually come out with any old rag tag and bobtail story to wiggle out and get someone else out to maybe give them a price they want to hear.

Of course- not every potential customer is like this- some are really genuine honest people .
Tradesmen are generally honest and want the work--but- realise this !!-- whenever you set out to buy something- WHEN is it ever the price you expected ? It is always more .

Yea and always inspect the work with your eyes open before you pay!

freddymercurystwin said:

Yea and always inspect the work with your eyes open before you pay!

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I always do Fred-- it just that my other half- hasn't got into that habit yet.

See Peter, we can agree - that other post was excellent.

Dan_Robinson said:

See Peter, we can agree - that other post was excellent.

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Thanks Dan .

iaith said:

, they found themselves at the back of a ten month cue.

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Sounds like they were snookered!