What Do You Do When The Architects A Dick?

[SimonG]

Have a really good customer, done quite a bit of work for her.
Shes decided on a large kitchen extension, I need to move all the soil and waste pipes from two bathrooms, new down pipe, underfloor heating in kitchen and dining room, all above ground plumbing for new kitchen plus a radiator in the new kitchen.

The problem is the architect, originally sent out an invitation to tender complete with 16 attachments. Full of errors, example 32mm pipe and traps to kitchen sink.

Price had to be in for September 18th.

I put in a price of £4,300 plus change. Very specific on what was included and a very big list of what wasnt, example 100mm celotex supply and install by others etc.

Heard nothing until today.

Email this afternoon, to me copying in the customer.

Now in a position to employ contractors. Main contractor has said a start of 14th December is that achievable?

Will my price change if the main contractor digs up the old concrete floor?

One of the other plumbers has included a new boiler have you?

My first draft response was:-

1. Hahaha hahaha

2. No, I just want a minimum of 100mm celotex on the floor to clip my pipes to.

3. For real. You honestly think your getting a new boiler for that price and that it doesn't say you are in my estimate.

I'm going to save that draft for now and speak to the customer in the morning.

 

[ShaunCorbs]

I would speak to customer and work direct with them as there you point of contact / have been

 

[oz-plumber]

I would just reply that all is detailed in my quote.

I would also add:

New Boiler - No, read my quote.

The Architect could also be project managing - and trying to cream extra money off the project at the contractors expense.
Seen that happen and been involved on numerous occasions.

 

[Last Plumber]

I would only get involved. Only to work direct with the customer if you can be bothered working along side builders, architects and other trades. I have had my fill of that years ago and to be honest it wasn't that often.

 

[townfanjon]

Toooooooooooooooooo bloody cheap that pal , its got nightmare written all over it .

 

[oz-plumber]

I don't have any ill feelings about being a contractor nominated by the customer to the builder.
I feel that it gives me more leverage and working for a price I want to work for.

Recently, I did a job like this under the same circumstances - architect project managing.
All was fine through the job, until the end.
The owners were presented with a final invoice from the architect with all these extra costs.
My work had a substantial extra cost on their invoice.

The customer called me for clarification of the extras - there were none on my behalf.
Later found out that the Architect was just creaming the customer for extra money.