Finding a building contractor (South Yorkshire)

[cowsgomoo]

Hello! ? We're undertaking a full house remodel and internal/external renovation with extensions for our forever home. We received our planning permission bloody ages ago and once waiting the several months for SEs and building control information we then unsuccessfully went out to tender via the architect and detailed tender diagrams. We are having no luck with getting detailed cost estimates from building contractors, they're all so busy and seem to take on other projects whilst we await their quote, which will take weeks each time they give up. I appreciate quoting is time consuming and the difficulties with the current climate. We had no idea how long it would all take and how volatile the industry would get when we merrily took this project on a year ago. Also is it too much to expect a breakdown of labour and materials in a project of this size, all we have is a single figure which is 6-figures over budget. We don't even expect material cost guarantees. Any tips on just how to get our project off the ground welcome..... ?

[Bitpipe]

Have you considered project managing it yourself and pulling in individual trades?

 

Many here (including us)have done it, more out of necessity and to save the 10-20% overhead of using a single contractor.

 

We had zero prior experience and felt we did a decent job - puts you in full control of the cost model also. Requires plenty of leg work in evenings and weekends and ability to take a few calls during the day, plus being on site at start and close of working day is advantageous but not needed every day.

 

 

 

[Dave Jones]

44 minutes ago, cowsgomoo said:

Hello! ? We're undertaking a full house remodel and internal/external renovation with extensions for our forever home. We received our planning permission bloody ages ago and once waiting the several months for SEs and building control information we then unsuccessfully went out to tender via the architect and detailed tender diagrams. We are having no luck with getting detailed cost estimates from building contractors, they're all so busy and seem to take on other projects whilst we await their quote, which will take weeks each time they give up. I appreciate quoting is time consuming and the difficulties with the current climate. We had no idea how long it would all take and how volatile the industry would get when we merrily took this project on a year ago. Also is it too much to expect a breakdown of labour and materials in a project of this size, all we have is a single figure which is 6-figures over budget. We don't even expect material cost guarantees. Any tips on just how to get our project off the ground welcome..... ?

 

get your project QS'd so you know what you should be paying. Send it to the builders and see what they want to add on to take on your job. 

 

The hassle factors for the builder are:

 

you

getting paid when/how

materials

your design.

[PeterW]

Ok so has the architect give you a budgetary figure, or did you give them one..?

 

Next off, use one of the online estimator services, pay the £120 and see what you get back. That’s what a lot of the contractors use so you’ll be playing the same game. 
 

Lastly … you need to get started. Even if it is just digging the hole for checking the foundation depth and getting Building Control to agree to it, you can issue a commencement notice. That locks in your planning for ever and you can then carry on at whatever pace you want. 

[nod]

As you say Everyone is so busy 

All The estimating tools are useless at the moment Prices even with individual contractors will be based on how much work they have on at the moment 

Especially for a one off job 

You may find that offering a contractor to quote Labour only May be more attractive 

As many are sticking with The work they have whole material prices settle down 

 

There is some light at the end of the tunnel The governments handout scheme ends later this months 

So contractors won’t be getting paid to stay at hone So there should be more labour available 

[cowsgomoo]

1 hour ago, Dave Jones said:

get your project QS'd so you know what you should be paying. Send it to the builders and see what they want to add on to take on your job. 

 

Is there likely to be a big difference in figure to using our own QS compared with that the contractors use to quote? 

 

1 hour ago, Bitpipe said:

Have you considered project managing it yourself and pulling in individual trades?

 

Many here (including us)have done it, more out of necessity and to save the 10-20% overhead of using a single contractor.

 

We had zero prior experience and felt we did a decent job - puts you in full control of the cost model also. Requires plenty of leg work in evenings and weekends and ability to take a few calls during the day, plus being on site at start and close of working day is advantageous but not needed every day.

 

 

 

Thanks for this confidence in us! We have considered it now although initially were skeptical. If we knew how to get these individual trades to show up and do it then we would be fine with managing it. How do we get the builders on site with the gear that they need....? hmm

 

35 minutes ago, nod said:

 

You may find that offering a contractor to quote Labour only May be more attractive 

As many are sticking with The work they have whole material prices settle down 

 

There is some light at the end of the tunnel The governments handout scheme ends later this months 

So contractors won’t be getting paid to stay at hone So there should be more labour available 

We are looking forward to the government to please stop paying people to do eff all. 

I have now asked for labour only to watertight shell stage following your suggestion, ta ?

 

1 hour ago, PeterW said:

Ok so has the architect give you a budgetary figure, or did you give them one..?

 

Next off, use one of the online estimator services, pay the £120 and see what you get back. That’s what a lot of the contractors use so you’ll be playing the same game. 

The architect was given our budget last November, designed something a wee bit fancy, then 2021, surprise surprise we're looking at spending double. We only need one kidney each though, right?

£120 for an online estimator sounds too good to be true, are there any caveats to this surely.... do you know how long they take and which one?

 

(Really happy to have joined, already feel better to have some suggestions! Thanks all! )

[PeterW]

48 minutes ago, cowsgomoo said:

 

£120 for an online estimator sounds too good to be true, are there any caveats to this surely.... do you know how long they take and which one?

gone up a little but give them a call. 
 

https://www.estimators-online.com/pricelist#.YUeKpCV4UWM

 

They do a 24 hour turnaround. 

[cowsgomoo]

12 hours ago, PeterW said:

gone up a little but give them a call. 
 

https://www.estimators-online.com/pricelist#.YUeKpCV4UWM

 

They do a 24 hour turnaround. 

ok so it's POA for us, i've sent an email to find out more. 

 

in the meantime we've asked for watertight shell quote (complete external envelope)... this isn't what we initially thought we'd ask for so architect drawings contain everything for afterwards too. Is there anything we need to be particularly careful about? TIA

Edited September 20, 2021 by cowsgomoo

[PeterW]

Any chance you can post up your plans @cowsgomoo..? Just remove / redact the personal info. This will help people give you ideas on what is needed and potential pitfalls.