Hi all
Would like to get some views in relation to the following:
My aunty just purchased a place (PPOR), which is undergoing some renovations - paint, tiling, new doors, electricals and some other minor things which go with a tidy up. The great thing is - all the hard work was already done - the property came with a new kitchen and relatively new bathroom.
We had referred a few people, including an electrician, tiler, and a painter. The tiler didn't seem interested in the job for some weird reason (we do hope to use him in the future - he was better to deal with than most tradies we have come across, and did a great job for us). The painter I recommended was only on the basis the finishing of his work was great - even though my job didn't go so well.
Subsequently, my aunty came across a "builder" through the internet - who seemed great - and for the ease of not having to manage all tradesmen as she is a single mother, she decided to accept a higher quote, just so that someone else can project manage the reno.
The work started last week - and now my aunty has had to manage it all by herself... all the builder has done is pretty much send in the tiler and the painter.
The builder wanted my aunty to make a "cash" payment to the tiler for the tiling directly - but she refused and advised she has contracted him, and will transfer the payment to him directly, in the bank account quoted by him earlier (I have just found out - he asked her to send the cash to his personal account instead). It appears to be some sort of tax evasion going on there.
Secondly, as you would expect, the painter has been very defensive! He did not turn up yesterday and today! We visited the place over the weekend, and it appears that the finishing is CRAP as.... it appears the walls and doors haven't been prepared and some gaps are visibile - and I am afraid what if the paint peels off the doors in the near future! Also, the painter has advised that one of the doors he cannot paint, and a new door should be installed as the other one is very old, with sticky tapes stuck on it etc... but the builder has advised that it was not part of the initial quote - which is fair enough, but she was happy to pay more for the door. But he just isn’t willing to cooperate.
I think they all thought she was a single mother, she has never renovated before, so she won't be able to tell whether the job done is good or bad, so long as the place looked different.
I feel so bad for her having so many $$$, it has tainted the whole excitement of her moving into the new place. I am sure she has paid more for a service which has been non-existent, as she has had to deal with the painter and the tiler. For some of the work, the painter pointed fingers at the builder, and builder told her to deal with the painter directly – if they could they would charge for lifting the paint brush!
Apparently the builder was throwing tantrums like a child the other day, and kept hanging up on her.... He told her if she had to renovate a place so well, she should have bought a new place.
Now I don't know if the painter will turn up or not, or whether the builder will demand her to pay for the unfinished work. Fair trading is another option - but that takes time!
What would you do?
I have learnt some lessons - word of mouth is a huge thing, use people recommended by others, always get a written quote - covering 'everything', and pay for a good service.
Would really appreciate your input.
Thanks
Mona
Would like to get some views in relation to the following:
My aunty just purchased a place (PPOR), which is undergoing some renovations - paint, tiling, new doors, electricals and some other minor things which go with a tidy up. The great thing is - all the hard work was already done - the property came with a new kitchen and relatively new bathroom.
We had referred a few people, including an electrician, tiler, and a painter. The tiler didn't seem interested in the job for some weird reason (we do hope to use him in the future - he was better to deal with than most tradies we have come across, and did a great job for us). The painter I recommended was only on the basis the finishing of his work was great - even though my job didn't go so well.
Subsequently, my aunty came across a "builder" through the internet - who seemed great - and for the ease of not having to manage all tradesmen as she is a single mother, she decided to accept a higher quote, just so that someone else can project manage the reno.
The work started last week - and now my aunty has had to manage it all by herself... all the builder has done is pretty much send in the tiler and the painter.
The builder wanted my aunty to make a "cash" payment to the tiler for the tiling directly - but she refused and advised she has contracted him, and will transfer the payment to him directly, in the bank account quoted by him earlier (I have just found out - he asked her to send the cash to his personal account instead). It appears to be some sort of tax evasion going on there.
Secondly, as you would expect, the painter has been very defensive! He did not turn up yesterday and today! We visited the place over the weekend, and it appears that the finishing is CRAP as.... it appears the walls and doors haven't been prepared and some gaps are visibile - and I am afraid what if the paint peels off the doors in the near future! Also, the painter has advised that one of the doors he cannot paint, and a new door should be installed as the other one is very old, with sticky tapes stuck on it etc... but the builder has advised that it was not part of the initial quote - which is fair enough, but she was happy to pay more for the door. But he just isn’t willing to cooperate.
I think they all thought she was a single mother, she has never renovated before, so she won't be able to tell whether the job done is good or bad, so long as the place looked different.
I feel so bad for her having so many $$$, it has tainted the whole excitement of her moving into the new place. I am sure she has paid more for a service which has been non-existent, as she has had to deal with the painter and the tiler. For some of the work, the painter pointed fingers at the builder, and builder told her to deal with the painter directly – if they could they would charge for lifting the paint brush!
Apparently the builder was throwing tantrums like a child the other day, and kept hanging up on her.... He told her if she had to renovate a place so well, she should have bought a new place.
Now I don't know if the painter will turn up or not, or whether the builder will demand her to pay for the unfinished work. Fair trading is another option - but that takes time!
What would you do?
I have learnt some lessons - word of mouth is a huge thing, use people recommended by others, always get a written quote - covering 'everything', and pay for a good service.
Would really appreciate your input.
Thanks
Mona
