builder wants me to supply all materials - cowboy?

TimW wrote in news:o6ci6i$hb7$ snipped-for-privacy@dont-email.me:

I would prefer it if they didn't mince up the ladders and call me "ducky", but that might not be dealbreaker if they can deliver on all the other criteria.

Harry

charles wrote in news: snipped-for-privacy@candehope.me.uk:

One car repair garage up here expected me to call them every morning for about five days in a row to find out whether the parts they had ordered had arrived. If I'd asked them to spend tuppence on calling me when they were ready for me to bring the car in, I might have found that I had become the biggest "English b******" out, treating them as though they were my servants, etc.!

Thanks, Charles. I will ask him.

Harry

If he is trying to keep down his turnover for VAT registration purposes, that also makes sense. You might well need a permit too if it is parked in the street. So less work for him if you have to sort it.

When I had my roof replaced here by quite a large firm, they had a separate guy who came to do the lead work. It can be quite specialised.

But that's not to say a decent general builder couldn't do it well. Just depends on the builder.

The best way to find a decent tradesman is by recommendation from others. And a good one will always be busy - and probably not need to advertise for work.

Could be a sole trader, or partnership, rather than a company

You could really set the cat amongst the pigeons by importing a builder! Assuming that you can put him up in a spare room, it might be a pleasant break for the builder and he might reflect that in his quote.

Is the cost of the skip not included in that estimate? The reality is that the builder will order the skip and you'll pay for it.

Our major rework of the back of the house was done by a pair of builders who were not VAT registered and we sourced all the materials.

Had accounts with several Builders' Merchants.

It came in considerably cheaper than paying VAT on labour and materials. We just paid VAT on the materials.

We took the risk of time over runs and paid a daily/weekly rate.

To their credit they were solid workers and could turn their hand to anything. I spent some of my time as an apprentice builder which was interesting.

So sourcing the materials yourself carries more risk but could save you money. As usual, the simple but difficult advice is "chose a reliable builder".

Even if you get an "all in" quote from a dodgy builder you have no real guarantee if he skips and/or goes bust.

Cheers

Dave R

If I get trades in I want to work that way ... to avoid them buying at trade and selling at retails - I make the savings.

Probably find it suits them for cash flow

You do to a degree if you don't pay in advance.

Do any jobbing builders not require stage payments?

Get another quote(s) & compare them.

No-one here can say, there are endless scams. Only use people your friends have vouched for.

Don't use Poles etc. They will be in Poland if you have any problems.

Ask to see previous jobs. Speak to the people that used him.

Don't use people who only have mobile phone numbers and no home address.

Before I read any other post, I have considered using this method myself.

The one factor, VAT. I want nothing to do with them.

...Ray.

No, of course not. They would be too vulnerable to customers being arses if they didn't get paid as they went along, just as the customer is vulnerable if they pay too much in advance. TW

Been there done that! This was precisely what I had in ming.