Accepting a building quote in France

Getting and Accepting Quotes (devis) in France

Introduction : Making a list of artisans : Getting a quote : Accepting a quote : Payments and price changes

Now you have a list you need to get people around to inspect the property and then to give you quotes (if not, see earlier pages in this section)

This is not always easy. You will often need to ring someone two or three times before they will come to your house to take a look. Try flattery - "Madame Vernier suggested I call you because she was so pleased with the work you did for her" or persistence.

After they have been to inspect your property, and taken a copy of your plans away, it will usually be at least two or three weeks before an estimate arrives. And this only after you have phoned once or twice to ask how long it will be and mentioned again how keen you are for them to do the work. It takes a long time to prepare a complicated devis and it isn't always top of the priority list for someone who already has a a backlog of six months work.

You will be pleased to know that this is where your problems with French workers will usually end. Once you have accepted a quote, the very large majority will do a good quality job (they will have served a long apprenticeship) more or less at the time promised, and will work late in the evening if necessary to get the job finished on time.

It will also be necessary for you to go through the quote very carefully. You will need to understand all the items listed, if you are to be sure that the work quoted for is the same as the work you want doing. This is not always straightforward - the quote from your mason will not say 'build house - 100,000 euros. It will be a multi-page document specifying everything from doorway sizes to the colour of the stonework. Or the plumber might charge a reasonable price but be using very expensive taps and other fittings. This is the best stage to get any misunderstandings resolved, not when the roofer is halfway through laying the wrong colour tiles eight months later.

Similarly, if you think something has been left off you will need to discuss it now - do not assume it forms part of one of the other 'hard to understand because they are technical' items on the devis. If you ask why pouring a concrete floor has been left off, and it is already on there, the tradesmen is not going to think 'Ah good, I can add it on again and make a fortune' he will explain to you where on the devis it appears.

Having received the quotes   - and you should allow a minimum of six to eight weeks from start to finish for this process - and checked that you will be able to afford to pay all the bills when the arrive and that you are happy with the work specified, you are now able to accept the quote.