“I decided to cut the builder’s services as is – also bearing in mind the lack of progress and whether I’d ever get the job finished,” she says. “An agreement was made with the builder for payment of the work done to date. But I have since regretted paying anything at all for his shoddy tiling handiwork.”
Is paying up the easiest way out, I asked my friend Tony the builder, who says it’s often easier to pay for work done to date if lawyers, arbitration and courts are to be avoided.
Progress payments are usually part of larger jobs, but can be used on smaller jobs. Advantages for the client are in spreading out the payments while it may also entice the builder to stay on the job, knowing that when a stage is completed payment will be made.
Having a regular income is an advantage for the sole builder or small building business.
A renovation goes through a number of stages. This is Tony’s guide:
• Removal of materials, which will hinder the renovation process, and installing new framing timbers. • Plumbing or electrical work, which will be hidden by wall, floor or ceiling linings. • Replacement wall, floor and ceiling linings and units such as bath, shower, cupboards are installed. • Finishing the linings, architraves, skirtings, doors, windows and gib-stopping. • Painting, wall papering, tiling, floor covering. • Plumber, electrician and builder fit all visible parts such as taps, lights, switches, towel rails. • Establish that everything works properly and the work is done to the client’s satisfaction.
“There is no reason why you can’t pay the sub-trades yourself. This way you know the exact cost of each sub-trade and you bypass the builder’s mark-up on each sub-trade account. This is usually charged to cover the extra paperwork the builder has to do to pay the sub-trades.”
Johanna’s last word
“For those people thinking of renovating, be very wary when choosing a trades person and ask for references of proof of workmanship before making the mistake of letting them near your home,” Johanna says. “I have unfortunately found this out the hard way. The bad experience has been most distressing for our family and we feel ripped off.”
Was Johanna ripped off, I asked Tony. “Definitely,” he says. “It would be traumatic for the family, especially if there was only one bathroom in the house.
Tony agrees that you should ask a builder if you can look at their workmanship elsewhere. “If they say no, then say goodbye. There’s no reason why you can’t phone people who have used the builder before and ask them about their job. If the builder won’t give any references, find another builder.”
Cowboy builders will always be there as long as people are prepared to employ them and not check out their credentials, he says. The other reason people use them is because they are “supposedly cheap”.
