The Builder's Quote Has Doubled: Renovating the Kitchen

Right, I'm afraid there's no easy way to say this.

Oh no. That doesn't sound promising at all.

Once we pulled the units off, we found damp behind them.

And the wiring's decades out of date, frankly.

Hang on... how bad are we actually talking?

Realistically, you're looking at roughly double the original quote.

Double? You can't be serious!

Ugh, we budgeted twelve grand, and that was already a stretch!

I get it. But I won't just plaster over damp.

Okay, look, it'd be back within a year, and you'd blame me.

Well, I'm not convinced he's being entirely straight with us.

Okay, come on, he did show us photos of the wall.

Fair enough, but the rewiring smells like an upsell.

Hmm, I'd rather not cut corners on electrics, though.

So what, we just hand over our savings and smile?

Okay, let's look at this calmly. What's non-negotiable?

The damp, obviously. I'm not having mould behind new cupboards.

Agreed. And safe wiring isn't a luxury, it's essential.

Right... so where could we actually claw some money back?

Well, what if we kept the old worktops for now?

Oh, now that's not a bad idea at all!

We've had a think, and we'd like to push back a little.

Would you mind if we got a second opinion on the wiring?

Not at all. I'd do exactly the same in your position.

And if we keep the worktops, where does that leave us?

Let me see... that knocks off a good three grand.

Really? That's more than I expected!

To be honest, I could phase the work, too.

Damp and wiring now, the fancy bits next spring.

Oh, that would certainly take the sting out of it.

Fine, as long as it's all in writing this time!

Ha, fair point. I'll email you a revised quote tonight.

Well, that went better than I'd feared.

Hmm, still eye-watering... but at least it's honest.

And we get to keep our savings. Partly.

Ha! Partly being the operative word.

Fancy a takeaway? We haven't got a kitchen anyway!