Browse Forums General Discussion 1 Jan 25, 2011 6:23 pm I need some advice on what we should do... Here's the story........... My Dad recently had a real estate agent come over and value the house and told my dad that if we renovated the kitchen, it would increase the value of the house. After he said that, he recommended a man to renovate our kitchen. The renovator came over and told my dad that he could put in a new and cheap kitchen for $6500 in roughly a weeks time, without showing my dad any pictures or designs (the renovator hand picked everything himself). My dad immediately paid him a $1000 deposit (as he too gullible). The following day, the renovator already comes over with the cabinets and draws and starts working alone with his 7 year old son by his side, and even asks my dad to help him with things. He had also told us the oven is RRP $1000 and that he got it for $800, but we looked it up, and the oven was RRP $650. So far, he has worked on the renovation for 2 days. Below are pictures of what he has done, and the kitchen he will install. The kitchen is missing a few pieces, but you can guess what they are. The renovator is going to replace a few tiles above the cabinets and finish off the top panel with vinyl on top and the sink etc. Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Uploaded with ImageShack.us The renovator also ripped out our old cabinet and oven on this spot, and will fix up the wall and leave it empty. Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Uploaded with ImageShack.us Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Uploaded with ImageShack.us My brother and i think that my dad is being ripped off. Is this renovation worth 6500? any advice as to what we should do? Thanks in advance. Re: I think i am getting ripped off!! Simple kitchen reno 6. 2Jan 25, 2011 7:19 pm I can't really comment if your dad is getting ripped off.... but sounds like a nice little 'business' going between the real estate agent and the renovator. Your dad probably should have got a bit more detail before handing over some $ and going ahead with the arrangement. I hope it all works out and does in fact add value that you will retrieve through the sale of the property. HHCIB Re: I think i am getting ripped off!! Simple kitchen reno 6. 3Jan 25, 2011 7:23 pm Don't pay anymore money. These are flatpacks and there is no way this is 6.5K's worth. He would have to fix the ceiling also. Tiles and everything should be replaced. Get on to the Real Estate bloke and tell him if he doesn't get this fixed properly by a trained kitchen installer that you will report him to the Real Estate Institute. Carolyn Re: I think i am getting ripped off!! Simple kitchen reno 6. 4Jan 25, 2011 8:35 pm It does sound like a bit of pay off between the kitchen and real estate guy. What state are you in? the kitchen installer may have be licensed to do this work and I would be asking for copies of his license or if you have his name you can normally check an online license search. In QLD you would check the BSA website, work over $3300 generally needs to be licensed, but a quick check on the website will confirm if this trade/job needs to be specifically licensed. I would also ring the real estate institute and see if this type of recommendation/referral work is permitted. $6500 isn't alot for a kitchen reno, but that's when other licensed tradespeople are involved like plumbers and electricians. That looks like the same oven we have here in our rental - yep it's not $1000 anywhere, and even $800 is too much. Also it's gas, did the same guy install it, because it should have been done by a licensed gas fitter (as you'll need a compliance certificate and only a licensed gas fitter can provide this). Please look into this as it's sounds ******* and unlicensed therefore uninsured so if he stuffs up there's no back up. Do you have a receipt for the $1000, check him out that way. our dream home in the hands of a nightmare builder Cheers for your help Re: I think i am getting ripped off!! Simple kitchen reno 6. 5Jan 26, 2011 10:55 am Couple of things I'd comment on. How much is this guy doing besides the cabinets? Is he fixing the plaster and doing any painting? Is he tiling? Does this include any other appliances such as a dishwasher? If it insludes EVERYTHING then maybe that price is not so bad. I guess another thing to think about is the fact that not many trades would come around and do the installation immendiately - you can expect some sort of premium for work to be done that quickly. I'd see how the work goes before you start to make any threats about reporting anyone. I'd also just casually ask about the gas fitting and electricals and whether he is licensed. Re: I think i am getting ripped off!! Simple kitchen reno 6. 6Jan 26, 2011 9:43 pm Not sure what everyone else thinks flatpacks cost but just a quick check and the ones in those photos are about $1200-1300 including a regular laminate top. Add the cooker and sink+taps+tiles+paint and I think you might nudge $6k by the time you pay for a gas fitter and electrician. In any case it doesn't sound like this guy did any research. All he did was agree to have someone renovate the kitchen for $6.5k Really should do your homework first. In any case ask the guy to show where the money is going and ask for receipts for all of the fittings and an itemized bill. Don't forget that he'll probably add a margin to the fitting as is his right and there will also be a charge to remove the old kitchen Re: I think i am getting ripped off!! Simple kitchen reno 6. 7Jan 27, 2011 10:16 am it does sound like there is probably a kick back in it for the agent. What does the 6.5k cover? To do it properly he will probably need a plumber and sparky out 2 or 3 times each. Oven, rangehood, sink will chew up about $1k buying new with out any special discounts. Tiles will cost about ~40-50 m^2 laid, paint again will add up. The other thing to consider is that provided this guy gets all appropriate certificates (e.g. gets a licensed plumber/gas fitter out) then it doesn't matter if he is ripping your dad off he gave a quote, your dad accepted. It might not be the best way to do business or exist a human but it probably isn't illegal. Re: I think i am getting ripped off!! Simple kitchen reno 6. 8Jan 27, 2011 12:37 pm sirgoat it does sound like there is probably a kick back in it for the agent. What does the 6.5k cover? To do it properly he will probably need a plumber and sparky out 2 or 3 times each. Oven, rangehood, sink will chew up about $1k buying new with out any special discounts. Tiles will cost about ~40-50 m^2 laid, paint again will add up. The other thing to consider is that provided this guy gets all appropriate certificates (e.g. gets a licensed plumber/gas fitter out) then it doesn't matter if he is ripping your dad off he gave a quote, your dad accepted. It might not be the best way to do business or exist a human but it probably isn't illegal. I'd agree with this. In the end, if he provides what his been paid to do and you both agreed on that at the start, then you're obliged to continue. 6.5k for a kitchen reno is generally on the cheap side, even if he uses cheap materials, you still need to pay for removal, disposal, sourcing the materials and installation. It's kind of like buying a used car sight unscene, very risky. Edit: I should add, I actually like the look of the new kitchen so far, assuming they re-tile, add a benchtop and fix the walls and ceiling. No. It's not original. 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