What I did today.

Aw Soop, I`ve only just seen this. I`m so sorry, how disappointed you and Mr. Soop must be, probably devastated. Living where you live though, the trouble with getting several quotes is that there probably aren`t too many building firms in the immediate area. I do hope that something can be sorted, your dream can`t come crashing down, not now! All my love and best wishes xxx

What a disappointment mr and mrs soop, we are in the midst of alterations and construction work at home, we had 3 tenders with £30,000 difference between them! We have gone with the most reasonable and also trimmed our original plans to make it affordable. The building firm carrying out the work are known to us (they did work next door) and also recommended by out architect.

I do hope you manage to see a way to realising your dream "wee hoose"

There's something strange happening by the chicken coop. It's too dark to see what's happening and I can't get into that field without walking miles but I'm worried that one of the chickens hasn't been put in for the night. Have had a really tiring day at work so need to crash out on the sofa for an hour or so before doing some housework, but I'm worried about that bloomin' chicken. Even with binoculars I can't see what's what and the fence is too high to look over the top of.

Poor you soop and Mr soop. I hate seeing anyone disappointed and especially my nice friends on G'net. I hope the builder can prune his quote though £35K seems a lot to cut off. Better to get different quotes and tell the builder that's what you intend to do.

You lot never fail to come to the rescue in an hour of need. If ever the £1 weekly lottery ticket wins the jackpot, prepare yourselves for a very special treat.

soop I feel quite on your behalf! What do this firm think they're doing, giving an estimate then coming in with a quote 35 grand over - ridiculous.
Hope you can find some other firms out there that will be able to provide you with some sensible and balanced estimates.

Don't give up! [hug]

More deserving thank-yous for being the kindest of pals. Bags
The house is spotless! I'm well-worn-out with the effort. My spirits will have lifted by the time I join you all tomorrow.

So sorry I wasn't there to answer your call soop

I'm having a very rare "Domestic Goddess" moment. The hall smells of lavender furniture polish, the kitchen smells of venison casserole and I've even hoovered the duvet cover!

soop take some more (((hugs))). Let I s know what is happening.

Oh, soop (((hugs))). Don't have anything else to offer. Do keep us posted after you'be kicked some bottom.

Get out there soop and kick some bottom!

My brother has just had three estimates for a house he intends to gut and rebuild. They differed amazingly. I know you get what you pay for but some builders do try it on. I may be teaching granny to suck eggs, as I think you've experience in own build (?) but never pay anything up front. A reputable builder will have accounts with his suppliers. We paid ours at different stages for work completed.

soop I think nanad is right, get more estimates if you haven't already. MrA was a civil engineer and whenever we need anything always gets at least 3, unless it's someone he knows really well and trusts.
Your first builder's explanation of why there is such a big discrepancy between the final quote and the back-of -the-envelope figure should make interesting reading.

He's on the phone to the builder. Our man is unavailable. Will call back tomorrow.

soop and mr soop

Thank you

Mr soop is home. The car needs costly repairs to the chassis.

I gave him the builder's estimate. Mr soop rarely gets "ruffled". However, he is bitterly disappointed, and not afraid to show it. Making some coffee. Will report back when he's less flustered. xx

Awww Soop that's just rotten. Don't be too downhearted, I bet there are savings to be made. I only wish I had some useful skills that I could offer you but here's a big {{{hug}}} &

soop I have everything crossed that this will not ruin your plans! I feel confident that Mr soop will come to the rescue with a solution. He looks like a hero to me! xx

soop that's ridiculous. I could understand a couple of thousand either way but not £35,000. Have you got other estimates from different firms?
Disapointment is a horrible emotion to deal with

Thank you for the many kind messages. I looked for my original post on which to bring you up to date. I couldn't find it.

I am stunned by a private message of support regarding our plans. To be perfectly honest, I have never before met with such generosity of spirit. I wish that I could share with you.

When Mr soop returns, we'll go through the estimate with a fine tooth comb. A little nip and tuck could make all the difference to whether or not the project is feasible.

In the meantime, the house is having a thoroughly good clean. I find it a good way to burn off disappointment.

soop you are not being silly! That is such a let-down, after your hopes were high. How on earth could they have got the verbal estimate so wrong? I do hope it can be sorted out...I feel quite sad now.

Mr P is coming home today, instead of Friday, so I have put together a delicious smelling venison casserole. Just waiting for him to ring as he's leaving, so that I can turn the slow cooker on.

I have also spent a lot of time with a dustpan & brush, due to the nice man in the shop putting a sack of the wrong sort of cat litter in the car for me, and me not noticing until I went to use it. (Well, not actually use it myself, but I'm sure you know what I mean).

Soop perhaps they have over-estimated to cover their backs or as part of the negotiations? It may be possible to go through the estimate with a fine tooth comb and shave bits off here and there? £35k soon mounts up and they may have quoted for more expensive materials than necessary? Look at your original spec and see if you could do anything cheaper?
Do hope you can sort it out

thank you grannyactiv better night, but we fell into gloom watching downton I know we are very behind, just last one to see now!! Made me think of my daughter with sybil dying, and we started having bit of a spat over it, things can get fragile when you feel unwell! h ope your little grandsons earache soon settles is horrid pain.

Cancelled Rosie checkup or rather postponed, but am going to shower now and try tidy up poor OH got painful bursa and saw nurse, waste time, has to make doctor appt tom, one who can treat it not in til then, and now they wont give you appt only on day!! grrrrrrrrrrrrr

Soop that is such a shame, these estimates always seem more thanyou think, do hope it is still dooable for you and that car passed mot ok