Negotiating a quote
Discussion
Not really, a quote imo is a quote, that said it cant hurt to ask if theres 'anything better you can do' on it and the builder shouldn't take offence. If he wants the job (or needs) then he may well knock a bit off.
I wouldn't expect it to make a huge difference though, if it does then they are shaving the money from somewhere other than labour rates.....
I wouldn't expect it to make a huge difference though, if it does then they are shaving the money from somewhere other than labour rates.....
That depends how keen a price it is in the first place. We're not out of the recession yet and many builders need work just to keep going. I know of rates being negotiated down by 30 - 40% to secure long contracts (clauses included should things improve mind) but this is a garage conversion so I would expect a keener price to start with.
Ideally you should have 3 quotes. It helps to work out if one is miles out or not and also helps with cherry picking rates. If the quotes are quite similar in value (making sure they have quoted on a like for like specification) and you have a comparable breakdown of the rates/items you can pick the items that look 'expensive' as a way of negotiating down.
i.e. Builder A: Plasterboard & skim £1500
Builder B: Plasterboard & skim £1850
Builder A: Windows £2200
Builder B: Windows £2050
Then go back to each with a list of their items/rates that look a 'little dear' and 'can they look at these again' so that effectively you are trying to negotiate the builder to do the job for the best rates cherry picked from both quotes.
Always agree any revised quote & spec in writing. Oh and ask for their hourly rates for labour, craftsman etc, that way if there's any extras/changes/variations etc, and there will be, you can work out roughly how much they should be paid for them. Alternatively always ask for a quote for any variation before it's done.
I couldn't possibly condone offering cash. *whistles*
Ideally you should have 3 quotes. It helps to work out if one is miles out or not and also helps with cherry picking rates. If the quotes are quite similar in value (making sure they have quoted on a like for like specification) and you have a comparable breakdown of the rates/items you can pick the items that look 'expensive' as a way of negotiating down.
i.e. Builder A: Plasterboard & skim £1500
Builder B: Plasterboard & skim £1850
Builder A: Windows £2200
Builder B: Windows £2050
Then go back to each with a list of their items/rates that look a 'little dear' and 'can they look at these again' so that effectively you are trying to negotiate the builder to do the job for the best rates cherry picked from both quotes.
Always agree any revised quote & spec in writing. Oh and ask for their hourly rates for labour, craftsman etc, that way if there's any extras/changes/variations etc, and there will be, you can work out roughly how much they should be paid for them. Alternatively always ask for a quote for any variation before it's done.
I couldn't possibly condone offering cash. *whistles*
Be very careful. There are 2 potential dangers here.
The first is that having negotiated the price down your builder goes about his work and builds. A few issues arise and you hear those immortal words, "the problem is sir you wanted the price reducing and this is where the saving came. We had originally priced to do things properly but you wanted us to save money.
The second thing likely to happen is that during the project you will almost certainly have a chat and change something in the build. Not necessarily a large change and potentially not a change that is going to take any more time or materials but this change will be charged out as a variation and have a guess how much it comes to? Yep, exactly the same amount as you reduced their quote by. Possibly a little more than the difference just to prove a point.
A good builder is many things rolled into one. A craftsman (or woman), an architect, a planning negotiator, an interior designer a marriage guidance councillor, a psychotherapist, a best mate and many other roles. A bad builder is a sour taste that remains in your mouth for many many years to come. You will enjoy the work of a good builder for as long as you remain in your property.
People on Pistonheads take the view that builders are desperate for the work and all just as bad as each other. Nothing could be further from the truth. We have used the same builder for getting for 10 years now and have employed them for probably 2-3 years of that time. We pay them on a daily rate. Sometimes a job takes less time, other times it takes more time but the end result is a job well done and I'm happy we have paid no more than the going rate. In fact we have saved money on architect’s fees which have been used to spec higher quality materials.
Use your judgement, speak to previous customers - this is absolutely essential, and then decide.
Good luck with the project.
Henry
The first is that having negotiated the price down your builder goes about his work and builds. A few issues arise and you hear those immortal words, "the problem is sir you wanted the price reducing and this is where the saving came. We had originally priced to do things properly but you wanted us to save money.
The second thing likely to happen is that during the project you will almost certainly have a chat and change something in the build. Not necessarily a large change and potentially not a change that is going to take any more time or materials but this change will be charged out as a variation and have a guess how much it comes to? Yep, exactly the same amount as you reduced their quote by. Possibly a little more than the difference just to prove a point.
A good builder is many things rolled into one. A craftsman (or woman), an architect, a planning negotiator, an interior designer a marriage guidance councillor, a psychotherapist, a best mate and many other roles. A bad builder is a sour taste that remains in your mouth for many many years to come. You will enjoy the work of a good builder for as long as you remain in your property.
People on Pistonheads take the view that builders are desperate for the work and all just as bad as each other. Nothing could be further from the truth. We have used the same builder for getting for 10 years now and have employed them for probably 2-3 years of that time. We pay them on a daily rate. Sometimes a job takes less time, other times it takes more time but the end result is a job well done and I'm happy we have paid no more than the going rate. In fact we have saved money on architect’s fees which have been used to spec higher quality materials.
Use your judgement, speak to previous customers - this is absolutely essential, and then decide.
Good luck with the project.
Henry
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