This is a guest post.
Building work is notoriously associated with a ‘con-man’ culture. Even companies not out to take your money and run will often charge dramatically over the odds if they can. The replacement of your guttering, soffit and fascia is no exception.
It’s common to have salespeople knock at your door or call just as you’re about to sit down to dinner. However, these people are rarely who you should buy from. Their main concern is their commission cheque. It is not the well-being of customers, their homes, or whether they receive the right price and value for money.
There are a few things to consider when replacing your soffit and fascia.
Check the condition of your existing fascias yourself. If you cannot do this yourself, ask a friend or family member if they would kindly do it for you. Replace the entire area if the fascias exhibit rot or early signs of decay. If they are still in good condition, opt for capping the timber to maintain them.
Steer clear of companies that contradict your identified requirements. They may claim the whole area requires replacement to charge more than needed. However, they may claim that capping the timber will suffice to make less work for their workmen.
It’s also worth avoiding the ‘big names’. They should be efficient and provide the service you paid for. However, they tend to demand very high prices for their work – significantly higher than the standard going rates.
Also, avoid anyone who quotes a price that seems too good to be true. The services offered may either fall short, requiring prompt redoing, or they might take your money and vanish.
The average cost of replacing soffits, fascias, and guttering (along with any associated work involved, such as removing rubbish) on an average 3-bedroomed semi-detached house should be approximately £1300 and £2000. Of course, these prices will vary according to the problem’s severity and the building’s exact size. Bungalows will be cheaper since no scaffolding will be required.
A fantastic tip for reducing the cost of replacing your soffit and fascia is to haggle. Salespeople will expect this, so don’t be afraid to let loose. Homeowners who accept the first price will often pay dramatically over the odds, particularly regarding large firms as opposed to local businesses. Aim to pay around 40% to 50% of the original quoted price. While this may seem like a considerable reduction, salespeople will initially inflate the initial price to reduce the quote and appear to offer the homeowner a great deal.
Take control of your soffit and fascia project by conducting thorough research and hiring a small, local firm. This proactive approach ensures not only the right price but also high-quality work.
Talk to friends and neighbors who may have completed similar work, and ask who they would recommend. If this doesn’t yield any results, get online. A quick internet search for a relevant phrase, such as ‘soffit and fascia Nottingham,’ should reveal a list of local businesses and a selection of previous customer reviews. This should ensure you can weed out the trustworthy, reliable, and fair firms and avoid those simply out to make a quick buck at the expense of a homeowner and their home.
Amy Fowler wrote this article on behalf of Stormclad Home Improvements. Amy writes on various topics, including how to reduce the cost of home improvements.
