Sending out for builder quotes

smokingman

Hi all,

I've just got planning permission for a 4-bed bungaloe and we're in the middle of getting a letter made to ask for quotes from a few different builders.

I want to put as much info as possible in there to try and get an acurate quote but is there anything any of you can warm me about with regard to things to look for, what to include, what not to etc?

cheers

construct06

you would be better off getting a detailed Bill of Qunatities drawn up for approx. 500-1000. Might seem like a lot now but will allow you to get a more competitive price....

alternatively give plans to a builder and let him spec the various things that u have left out and come to an arrangement that way...

paulocon

One bit of advice...

Go meet them - send them out and you'll most likely not hear back..
In addition to that, you'll learn a lot more by sitting down with the builder with the plans than you will over several phone conversations..

Kashkai

Good advice so far and here's my 2 cents......

Unless you are in an urgent need to get this house built, don't rush into this now that you've got the planning permission. Interest rates are rising, people are getting more hesitant about building houses/extensions and so work will start to dry up for a lot of builders who may then be more inclined to give you a better quote and to keep at the job when they start it.

On the other hand, if you can't wait to get started, take time out to sit down and go through your house plans room by room. Write down exactly what you'd like to have in each room, e.g.,

sitting room - large fireplace, 50 inch LCD tv with surround sound, downlighters, phone point and satellite cable for SKY TV, plugs positioning, where the light switch will go etc. Then decide where you'd like to place all these items. Now write down on your list all the specifications for the sitting room (incl if you want the cabling for the surround sound system to be installed by the builder). Move onto the next room and repeat.

At the end of this, get a mate to go over this list with the plans to hand and see if they can spot any items you've left out or mistakes on positioning of plugs etc.

Draft up a final list and sit down and go through it with your builder. He'll appreciate a detailed list such as this so he can price the job accurately. It'll also benefit you in that you will know exactly what you asked for and you'll see if he's omitted anything.

This is all very time consuming but it'll save you money in the long run as any alterations/additions to the original spec will cost you - I know from bitter experience:mad:

Best of luck

smokingman

Thanks all,

We've gone through what Dave suggested above and we'll be sending a letter asking for a preliminary quote before we sit down with them to go through the details.

I'll let you all know what happens.

Viking House

<SNIP>

Edit by muffler: Viking House, you are around long enough now to know what off topic posting means. There are plenty of other threads dealing with what you posted so please stay on topic. Im not happy at the idea that you post a reply that has nothing to do with the Op's query but appears to be linked to your line of business

Take this as a yellow card