Thanks, but no

[OneZero]

We have three quotes on our extension with one obvious stand out not only in price but in detail and professionalism. We need to let the two others know. So how do you let trades people know you won't be going with them.

[Alien8]

Just be honest. Most poeple i have found appreciate honesty. If they get narkey you know you have made the right decision.

[chrisp]

Tell 'em at this stage, you'd be going with someone else, but allow them to revise their quote. :)

[OneZero]

Thanks, my wife spoke to one this afternoon when he called and was honest. He knocked $10k off his quote right away!!

Unfortunatly for him, he was still $10k away from the quote we are going with.

Whilst I am here, there appears to be a difference bewteen how builders quote. One sent a quote within a week, the other took about a month. The month long one had to wait for all the trades he uses to get prices to him and for truss prices to be given etc. Surely the other one couldn't get all that info in 7 days!

[Gaza]

for truss prices !

yea this takes time to come back usual good few weeks,

if you got 1/2 an idea you can price it out of your head / using rates from past jobs and be within a few k, thats if its nothing custom

[commodorenut]

Last time I had to tell a tradie thanks but I'm going with someone else, the reply was that he appreciated the call, as maybe 1 in 20 actually get back to him saying no - the others he has to chase up to get an answer (probably one of the few tradies who follows up his outstanding quotes).

[Bloss]

Quotes take time and effort and mean there is no existing relationship (i.e. from word of mouth references etc). That means that many will simply quote high - if they get the job then they will adjust when the work is being done - either by not charging extra when the inevitable extra work is needed (never seen a reno or extension yet that didn't need more work than it seemed at the start - either because as older work is exposed unseen issues are found or the homeowner in discussion or through observations decides they want something different). Or if the relationship is not good simply charging what was quoted.

I have pretty much never quoted and neither did my Dah - all word of mouth and 'estimates' and the homeowner got the best job at the lowest rate possible. So yes - most will appreciate a quick call or email - simply to say you are going with someone else. A $10K drop after a call means they were high-balling to start with.

Of course if you simply go with lowest quote fair chance you'll have the highest risk - ask for and use references for recent work - and go and look at the work and talk to the referees. Else accept your own judgement once you talk to the builder - but good salespeople aren't necessarily good at doing the job!

[OneZero]

The bloke we are going with comes very highly reccommended and have spoken to people I know who have had him do work. Which is why we were blown away when he gave us very detailed quote.

[Bloss]

The bloke we are going with comes very highly reccommended and have spoken to people I know who have had him do work. Which is why we were blown away when he gave us very detailed quote.

That's the way to go then - sounds like he follows through too.