On Fri, 11 Jun 2004 09:51:00 +0100,
wrote:

On Fri, 11 Jun 2004 00:07:13 +0100, Andy Hall
wrote:

Thanks for some good feedback here - more or less confirmed what I
thought.

You're welcome. It was all based on experiences and I'm glad I put
the ducks in line at the start of the project.

To be fair, I am quite picky, but not beyond the point of expecting
people to deliver on their commitments.....





Cost of conservatory supplied - £8,837 (a)

Cost of installation - £720 (b)
(paid directly to installer)

Planning approval - £400 (c)
(paid direct to architect)

Cost of building works, including - £1,980 (d)
base, brickwork, electrics etc
(paid direct to tradesmen)

TOTAL -£11,937


The payment terms are as follows:

Deposit with order - 2,837 (1)

Planning fee - £400 (2)

Building works completion - 1,805 (3)

Delivery of conservatory - 6,000 (4)

Completion of electrics - 175 (5)

Installation completion - 720 (6)

TOTAL - 11,937

Although it doesn't specifiy who the actual payments are to be made
to, obviously (1) + (4) + (a), (2) = (c), (6) = (b), and (3) + (5) =
(d)

My problem with this is that by the time the conservatory has been
delivered to site, but not erected, I've paid over £11,000 of the
total bill, with only (5) and (6) outstanding.

Much too much too soon, especially if you are paying some contractors
separately. For example, you can't reasonably withhold on the
electrician because the conservator supplier misbehaved.

As it happens, I received the final quote I'd been waiting for in this
morning's mail. I'd discounted it, because from the way the guy was
talking when he visited, it was shaping up to be a lot more expensive.
Its come in at £12,458, although that doesn't include the two roof
vents, which they quote at £230 each, or the planning fee, which they
do for £295 using their in house surveyor.

I think that these are reasonable figures.

It also doesn't include an
air con unit, although the other one doesn't either, but which the
first company said they would supply and fit for an extra £500 (list
for it is £895), ie pushing the whole thing with them to £12,437

This second quote is using an Ultraframe roof, and with all the
building work carried out by in house builders.

Ultraframe roofs are used by quite a lot of suppliers, even those who
make their own wall components. The reputation is good and I have had
no issues with mine. I suspect that it's an issue of tooling for the
roof components being somewhat different.

The stage payments,
however, are

Deposit 10%
Completion of building work 20%
Final completion 70%

That's a much fairer spread. You may find that they want the
planning fee upfront as well, but that's not so bad.



which, with the added convenience of one point of contact using in-
house personnel, certainly makes it more attractive, even at a higher
cost. I've explained my position to the guy there, and am waiting for
them to get back to me with a price including the roof vents and the
a/c unit, but I'm more inclined to take it even at the higher price. I
told them what the quote was that they were competing with, although
I'll be surprised if they match it for the same spec. Be interesting
to see what they come back with

I would go with this new one, unless any of the others are close.
You may find they will come down a bit, but will know that the single
responsibility aspect is worth something.

I would still spend £10 at Companies House and look at their
financials. Their may be some information of interest.






Brian










..andy

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