I had quotes from a builder, an electrician and a plumber .... none of which charged for the quote.

I would say this is the "English surcharge"

Was this for a house you owned or were living in?

I have to say, if I were a builder and was asked for a quote by someone who didn´t own the house, my motivation for doing it would be near zero.

Since we are in a building sort of thread. I had a window put in by a British builder using a Spanish supplier here in Malaga. The window cracked after a couple of weeks from the seams inside and I wasn't actually here when it did it. For months now they have said that there must have been a fault either when they were moving it or in the glass. So I've waited patiently for it, I told the Brit builder that I would replace the glass and invoice him and he could take it out of any work the window man was doing. He replied to me that in Spain only the aluminium was under warranty and not the glass and won't replace it. The builder said it should only cost me 100 euros to replace it (which I then replied well if that is all it costs, why didn't he do it as he wants more work from me)

So do trading standards, warranties on defected glass come into play or not, or should I forget it and move on. I've been pissed around for months, so I'm not happy about it, especially over 100 euros as I would have sorted it out ages ago.

I wouldn't give a builder that wanted to charge me for a quote, the time of day and I don't think you should either Ambre.

Be proactive. Buy a local paper and make a few phone calls.

Best of luck,
Martha

My hubby is spitting feathers at the thought that people would charge for an estimate - if they do tell them to do one.
Sam

God, I´m obviously a real meanie then!

If someone in Ambre´s position had asked me for a free quote, I´d have filed it in the "timewasters" file ages ago!

Maybe it´s because I come from a background where there are a lot of timewasters though. I can remember painstaking spending hours providing detailed quotes for people who had no interest in using my services whatsoever. They were just "curious".

You meany...
I know what you mean Keith, but after a while you can usually give a good guestimate without going into too much detail, then if they are still interested, do it for them then if they need it itemised.

Christ Keithwalters youve got me really worried now - is it that hard to get building work in Spain??? My hubby and partner have never advertised over here and was hoping to carry on the same over there - they have always been recommended by others - oh my god is the dream over before its begun Well he aint spending all day by the pool
Sam

You will find most people who come over are Retired, builders who learnt their trade on the ferry, or bar owners that have never been the other side of a bar, lol

Hi Keith

Thanks for your comments !

If someone in Ambre´s position had asked me for a free quote, I´d have filed it in the "time wasters" file ages ago!

May I ask why you would think I would be a time waster ?

All I am looking for is an estimate/quotation to ascertain the cost of the repairs on a property that we have had surveyed. What other way is there to find this out without me contacting a builder recommended by the Agent for the quote. As the property needs a new roof and underpinning amongst other things we are not talking peanuts.

Regards

AS

The only way you can find out the cost is indeed by asking a builder. I wouldn´t suggest anything else.

I was just looking at things from the other side of the coin. The builder is probably thinking "what are the odds of this person actually contracting me at some point in the future?".

a) you might not buy the house anyway,
b) having got a quote for repairs, you might buy the house and then contract a different builder,
c) you contract the original builder, but as you haven´t got the house yet the job probably won´t even start until after the summer.

As far as potential clients go, he probably thinks you are unlikely to ever call him again whether he is right or not.

"All I am looking for is an estimate/quotation to ascertain the cost of the repairs on a property that we have had surveyed." As a builder this comment would concern me (I know you wouldn´t ever say that to him, but he´s thinking it anyway). Think how that sounds from his point of view. Does it sound like you are seriously considering contracting him?

I´ve never been a builder, but I used to do work on peoples houses and I always hated it when I was asked for quotes from people who were "thinking" about buying a property. I´d lay money on never hearing from them again. I wish I had thought of the refundable charge for estimates but that idea never occured to me. I wasted many hours doing estimates to satisfy people´s curiosity and there was nothing in it for me. In the end I refused to do quotes for "thinking about its".

I have never heard of a builder charging for an estimate or written quotation. It sounds to me as if the estate agent is trying to make a few extra euros.

Get another builder to do the quote.

Hi Ambre
Many of the estate agents I encounter in my line of duty have builders they recommend to potential purchasers and those builders are always happy to provide quotes for works, at no cost. The agent does whatever translations may be required at no cost either. They (both agent and builder) see it as part of the service (a lost leader if you like) they need to provide to seal the deal. There is no obligation whatsoever to actually employ the builder but at least it gives potential purchasers an idea of renovation costs.
I hope this isn't the builder whose name I gave you?! PM me if you need!

Maybe the best thing is to get all the materials yourself and pay the builder on a daily or weekly rate. It's seems to be how my neighbours are doing it. Then you will get a rough idea on how it will cost and be in more control and if they disappear off the job or are crappy, you can get rid and you have the materials then.

Ambre doesn't own the house - she wants an idea of building costs in order to determine if it's an affordable project and to negotiate the purchase price down!