Arguing With The Neighbours.

[Rich Midge]

I posted a couple of weeks back about a job for my neighbours who were getting consistently done over by Topps. Job is now 99% complete and the arguments have begun! Basically I sent them my estimate to lay the floor at a reduced rate which I actually pointed out to them (thought they might like to know they were getting a bargain). Whilst there, I've needed to supply and lay SLC, supply extra addy, cut down and fit the kitchen plinths and 2 doors, make a new timber threshold, supply trims for a bit of wall tiling they wanted doing, move a marble table twice, disconnect and reconnect washing machine, dishwasher, and American fridge freezer and dismantle then rebuild the back gate so the massive fridge could be delivered into the house. Guess what?...............yep, you got it. They only want to pay me my original estimate for laying the floor. 45 minutes on the phone this evening would have been better spent banging my head against the wall. Soz for the rant, needed to vent!

 

[Qwerty]

Not nice. Hope you get it sorted

 

[On one]

And they spent 45mins on the phone with you trying to justify their case for not paying you was?

 

[Andy Allen]

Why they phone you when you live next door...lol

 

[Rich Midge]

Because everyone that came out to quote for the job didn't mention anything about needing leveller, everyone that came out said the doors and plinths would need to come off. So in my neighbours head that was them saying they'd do all the refitting as well. Maybe it was in their estimate, mine was clearly to fix and grout the floor tiles supplied. My biggest issue is just the expectation that I'd do it all for them f.o.c. She had genuine shock in her voice when I said I'd have to charge them a day rate for the extras.

 

[Rich Midge]

Why they phone you when you live next door...lol

A little down the road, but I get your point!

 

[John Benton]

Just ask them how many days they work for free for their employers.

Was it a quote or an estimate? Two different things entirely.

Did you put in writing that all the extras were chargeable? If not and your original quote/estimate didn't include that work then they should pay. They agreed a price for the list of works in your original paperwork. Anything outside the four corners of that piece of paper require paying for. I would generally let the customer have mats at cost and then charge for labour.

 

[Andy Allen]

Personally I do what I have quoted for any extras are all ways agreed before I start doing them.....saves any hassle at the end of the job.

 

[Andy Allen]

I've fell out with both my neighbours. ....haven't spoken to them for years..

 

[John Benton]

Personally I do what I have quoted for any extras are all ways agreed before I start doing them.....saves any hassle at the end of the job.

As Andy says, 'The spoken word flies and the written word remains' In other words if it's in black and white, it can't lie!!!

 

[John Benton]

I've fell out with both my neighbours. ....haven't spoken to them for years..

But you've never done any work for them Andy

 

[White Room]

Friends, family's and now neighbours are ones not to work for anymore....

 

[Andy Allen]

But you've never done any work for them Andy

No, never worked for them.....can't understand why they don't like such a happy go lucky chap like me..lol

 

[John Benton]

No, never worked for them.....can't understand why they don't like such a happy go lucky chap like me..lol

Throwing dog $h1t over the fence doesn't help

 

[Rich Midge]

Definitely an estimate, I rarely supply a quote. Estimate states, prime subfloor, fix and grout the tiles supplied. Generally speaking I also supply materials at cost. In some ways I'm kicking myself for not making it crystal clear that I'd be charging for extras, but as neighbours and to some degree friends I figured they'd be happy to sort me out rather than pay someone else to come in.