Hello,
We have a downstairs toilet and utility room at the end of our kitchen on our Victorian terrace cottage. We are looking to extend the kitchen in to this area by getting the wall taken out, it's a supporting wall, and moving the soil pipe from the upstairs toilet as this effectively runs through the middle of what would be the extended area, this will mean digging up the floor etc.
We live down a fairly narrow lane with limited access, so you can't get a skip etc up there and would need to bag up the spoil and take it out in van etc.
We've had a few builders in to estimate the job and have had a few replies. The two builders who have responded so far have given greatly varying estimates, £3000 difference in fact. As far as we are able to ascertain (Rated People, My Builder etc) they both seem experienced, qualified and have good reviews.
We are not sure therefore how to account for this very great difference in estimates? Is one over-estimating or over-charging? Is the other under estimating to get the job and we are then going to be stung for a higher amount once the job is in progress? Is there any way to further check their bona fides and/or protect against unexpected additional costs?
Any ideas, advice would be much appreciated as this is the first time we have ever engaged someone to do anything this major / expensive before.
Many thanks
We have a downstairs toilet and utility room at the end of our kitchen on our Victorian terrace cottage. We are looking to extend the kitchen in to this area by getting the wall taken out, it's a supporting wall, and moving the soil pipe from the upstairs toilet as this effectively runs through the middle of what would be the extended area, this will mean digging up the floor etc.
We live down a fairly narrow lane with limited access, so you can't get a skip etc up there and would need to bag up the spoil and take it out in van etc.
We've had a few builders in to estimate the job and have had a few replies. The two builders who have responded so far have given greatly varying estimates, £3000 difference in fact. As far as we are able to ascertain (Rated People, My Builder etc) they both seem experienced, qualified and have good reviews.
We are not sure therefore how to account for this very great difference in estimates? Is one over-estimating or over-charging? Is the other under estimating to get the job and we are then going to be stung for a higher amount once the job is in progress? Is there any way to further check their bona fides and/or protect against unexpected additional costs?
Any ideas, advice would be much appreciated as this is the first time we have ever engaged someone to do anything this major / expensive before.
Many thanks