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Want to save money by supplying your own PC Items such as the floor tiles, flooring, bathroom fittings, kitchen components, kitchen taps,  bathroom taps…or whatever it may be.? It seems like a good way to make savings, but here’s a little insight from the builders perspective as to why it might not always be economical as you think…

Put very, very simply, to a supplier, the builder represents repeat and ongoing business. A consumer on the other hand, is usually a one-off sale. Once they leave they aren’t likely to come back, therefore they are a lower priority.

Comparatively, builders have ongoing relationships developed over time, and they receive competitive pricing which they pass on to you. Most importantly, builders are supplied within deadline and are given specification information required for the installs.

Timely delivery is important

If you’re items aren’t onsite on time, the builder and other contractors such as plumbers, electricians, water-proofers etc can’t complete their stage of the project. It’s like a domino effect. When one trade gets held up and it almost always holds up the rest. It’s not as simple as stalling, you often miss your trades slot entirely, delaying your completion and the moving-in date.
Likewise you can’t have your supplies onsite too early unless there is a dry, secure place to store them.. and, it needs to be out of the way. It’s not feasible to have everything delivered if there is nowhere to store it. They’ll be in the way of trades and will possibly get damaged.

Timely physical delivery isn’t the only thing the builder needs.

Ahead of time they need the exact sizing and specifications to plan-ahead, and to have necessary components ready. They need to have appliance list and specifications and the kitchen sink size for the cabinet maker.  They need to know what type of tiles you are having to get the labour cost and timeframe from the tiler. They need to know what taps and toilets are being installed for framing and rough in stages

Some builders will charge a daily penalty for delays your supplies have caused.

When the builder organises your PC items, it happens seamlessly in the background and exactly when it’s required. If you are going to supply any items yourself, make sure you have all the specifications ready for the builder and organise delivery at the right time to avoid set-backs and delays. And if it needs to be stored, organise a safe, dry place out of the way.

We’re happy to share our knowledge and insights so please feel free to continue reading our blog section.

Or if you would like a consult for a building project please get in touch online