Why totally different quotes??

[waynefeltham]

Hi all

I'm currently getting quotes for a tarmac driveway which meassures 85 square Metres.

I've speced the work as follows (as per the advice on this site)

excavate and dispose 175mm

fill:
100mm type 1
50mm 20mm base course
25mm 6mm wearing course

Also required is the disposal of a neighbouring wall which is made from insulation blocks! - this will be replaced by 8.5M of 6x3 panel fencing (also included in quote).

The current land is the front garden and side of house (basic L-shaped driveway). The front garden has a semi-mature tree which will need removal (also included in quotes) and the rest is 70% grass and 30% concrete path.

So far I've had 1 official quote of £4800 + VAT and another verbal guesstimate of £2000.

Now, the first is a reputable company and the other is a self-employed builder.

I can't believe that the same job can be quoted with so much difference though???

Is this normal when getting quotes and should I "assume" that either the self employed builder is just goinng to "bodge it" or should I assume that the company are just overly expensive because they have overheads that the builder doesn't?

Also, anyone care to offer their suggestions for the cost of the job as a rough guidline (area of work is 20miles south of Bath).

Note to forum Admin: I couldn't find any forum rules saying that specific job details or costings weren't allowed but if they're not appologies in advance and obviously just remove the post.

Cheers


Wayne

[slickboy]

£2000 sounds very cheap but It's impossible to give accurate costings for a project involving several jobs without seeing the site.

[bobhughes]

I think this is a pretty common experience. It happened to me too.

The cheap quote might just be a lead in (especially if it's just an estimate) with any variation or problem encountered adding to the final price. And of course, there's the gent with the wide brimmed hat.

There can be all sorts of reasons why quotes can vary - some honest, some not so. Many firms will quote high if they don't really want the job but don't like to say so. Others consider themselves to be a cut above and price accordingly. (Presumably they dress all in white with a silver maul).


Don't just look at the price - look at previous work and talk to the people who paid for it before you make up your mind.

Now you know why so many of us go the DIY route.

[Tony McC]

Two grand is way too cheap. A reasonable bitmac driveway, including excavation, costs at least 30 quid per square metre, and that's without kerbs/edgings, drainage or a fence!