What Is It Like Getting Builders/Tradesmen These Days?
We did an extension before Covid when, looking back it was a great time to do it as labour and materials rates were relatively reasonable compared with Covid times.
I have put off a few jobs around the house post Covid as the whole building game went mental not just on price, but also availability.
I have been hearing recent anecdotals that builders and trades in general are a lot quieter given high interest rates and less people moving.
Anyone have any very recent experience or is it still as mental as Covid times?
Maybe now is a better time to undertake some building/refurbishment work?
What Is It Like Getting Builders/Tradesmen These Days?
Quote:
Originally Posted by
MikeJSmith
I’ve found that getting tradesmen in is easier; I’ve not had any issue with having structural work done - architect, builder, plumbing, electrics, external landscaping etc. But material prices are still high from what I’ve seen.
Overall the extension we wanted to do last year was at least twice as expensive than the extension we did 7 years ago. More like 3 times, although it was more complicated so that would have affected the price.
I’ve put out messages on NextDoor recently as we need some more work done and I’ve had plenty of responses with people available quite quickly.
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Where about are you, or is that experience?
I am NE Surrey / SW London and it feels like the SE is slowing down.
There was a video on instagram or Tik Tok that went viral recently, where a guy on the south coast said the phones of his plastering company have gone completely dead, and no enquiries for any work. This being in contrast to 15 years of being run of their feet and previously more work than they could ever handle.
What Is It Like Getting Builders/Tradesmen These Days?
That’s my experience of having an extension priced up last year and then deciding to not do and do internal structural work instead. Versus doing an extension 7 years (ish) ago.
And then again my experience in the last couple of weeks trying to get plumbers, electricians and general handyman type work for some things we are doing round the house. I’m in Buckinghamshire.
I’ve definitely had no issue getting contractors available to do some work around the house over the last couple of months.
I don’t know about the trade in general, not something I know anything about really; just my experience of getting stuff done around our house.
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What Is It Like Getting Builders/Tradesmen These Days?
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Speedyexplorer
Done his homework and thought he was looking between £20k and £25k.
Guy that gave him the quote got back to him and suggested they see if they could trim the quote a bit, mate told him he’d need to trim it in half if he wanted the job. Lol
When we did our extension back in 2018 we asked the builder to carry on a landscape the garden to my wife’s design.
It included taking a 65x20ft garden back to bare earth (everything you see in the photo) and then we got this done for £6k labour only. And a quality job too. Builder worked below VAT limit back then and guy he knew came in self employed.
Included a 6x5m patio with small retaining wall and steps at the front of the house and a 6x2.5m at the rear, plus path. Less than £10k all in. SW London too.
That was probably 20-25 man days at £200 per day tops (labourer would have been on lot less) plus the builders profit.
For £47k I’d be looking for a swimming pool, lol.
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What Is It Like Getting Builders/Tradesmen These Days?
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Montello
Fake grass ... and crocs ...
Easterly (formerly) very muddy garden made worse by shading of trees. Love my plastic grass.
What Is It Like Getting Builders/Tradesmen These Days?
Quote:
Originally Posted by
MCFastybloke
Intriguing comments on the money here, what do people think that tradies should charge,gross,no holiday pay,sick,van,tools,bad weather, no pension days off,overhead,bad debt, margin etc etc?
What would a brickie/chippy/sparky etc. be paid if the were a salaried employee with a maintenance company, house builder etc.? That sets the salary in a competitive market.
It would seem fair to start with that and add minimum of 50% extra (or more) for all the risks you mention.
Obviously they will get what the customer is willing to pay given the competitiveness of the market.