Quote from Andura Guard for rendering/pointing

A question about : Quote from Andura Guard for rendering/pointing

Hi,

Hoping someone on here can help, We had a rep from Andura Guard come and quote for exterior rendering / brickwork.
Apparently Andura Guard is a revolutionary protection system applied to rendering and brickwork bla bla bla....

Basically we have been left with the specification which reads:

Make good where necessary on all surfaces to be treated.
Remove all moss and algae.
Patch and repair all surface cracks.
Remove all loose and flaking paint.
Check and repair all rendered surfaces.
Rake out and replace failed pointing as necessary.
Clean down all areas to be treated.
Mask all doors, windows and other areas not to be treated.
Provide all necessary ladders and boards plus all relevant ancillary equipment, including scaffolding, to comply with statutory regulations and having regard to the usage of the property.
Apply Andura Guard protection system to the prescribed areas.
All work to comply with the requirements and specifications as set down for the issue of the Andura Guard Guarentee.
Remove all masking, ladders and materials and leave site in good order.

We have signed a contract which we believed to be subject to receiving other quotes from other companies but I don't think this is the case.

Now the price we have been quoted for 2 sides (front and side) of a 1930's semi is Ј10251.00

Is this a fair price and also does anyone know of this company?

Your replies would be gratefully received.

Best answers:

• After the blahblah, offered 8900 on a middle terrace, 3 bed , built in 1930s in Bristol area. Conservatory is at the back attached, so area is small, basically only front with 2 bay windows considered.
  Then the marketing side: after some hesitation on my side, "final" offer went down to 6300 and offered 10% money back, and so final is around 5800 at this moment. Also offered financial "help": put down only 10% upfront, start payment only in 2010 April, wow! 60months payment, 19% yearly interest.
  Of course I asked if they print money themself - but it seems this branch here is quite desperate to have some business Dealer said call me back if this offer is still valid, I bet it will be
  I think i will still refuse it...just sounds to be too good...Or maybe I am too paranoid now about loans.
  I hope it helps your case.
• As far i as know this is a normal direct selling company.My advice being a builder would be a big DON'T.
  Get a few local plasterers to give you some ideas on materials to be used and prices.There can't be more than 50 to 60 m2 in the job and 5k would be too much i think. But go the route of a friendly builder, they will all be competative because in this climate in the construction industry we all need the work.
  If i were you cancel the contract imm. well before the cooling off period ends.
  If i am wrong about the company and you have complete faith in them i apologise in advance.
• Def ring a plasterer, I get a fair few calls from people saying that a company quoted this, when really the job is half of what they quoted. Makes me laugh when they start banging on with names and products that they use,. when in reality we all use the same stuff lol
• when you hear the words "revolutionary protection system" run for your life.
• Update: as predicted, they came back with the "approved" loan offer. But I still said what I felt - no thanks...After the sales guy left with my answer after the very final offer (telling me that I am stupid not to have the loan), we got a call yesterday from a "manager". So he wants to offer an even better price...asked me to have both me and my wife at home As I like the sales game, of course I will listen the fantastic new price, but he should be better than a Moroccan or Singaporean trader in negotiation. I laughed inside when they played the game "type something in a big screen calculator and show it to the looser, when he refuses, type something again". I really wonder what is next, very excited to meet this guy
  Definitely you can find something cheap - it is up to you if you would like to have a 25 year guarantee (unless they go to administration this winter...). So if you have nerves to negotiate, and like the game like me, try it.
  Also a good idea to ask an address where they actually did the job - the sales guy immediately changed topic when I asked this. So I wonder
  - if they could sell it at all
  - if they sold, why they are so shy to use it as an advertising reference (maybe it is not legal, I am not fully familiar with UK law in this)
  Seems Andura works in a franchise system, so work and price can be different from region to region anyway.
• So now the one of the managers came over. The final offer for the front only (mid terrace, bay window type house) was 2400 only. They still offered interest free loan. If I would have had the money, probably I had given a try - but I refused the offer. The manager asked me the same thing as the first sales guy, if I think I am wise to miss this offer You can guess my answer...
• I took up a door to door offer from a well spoken young lady who said that 'Andura Guard' were conducting free surveys to assess homes for possible future work. A purely ‘PR’ exercise, no pressure and an exercise just to introduce the company in case we wanted to use them in future. I questioned the real motive for this and was reassured that this was simply so that the company would be considered if we needed work done in future. Absolutely no pressure and a totally free survey which of course we could treat as we wish.
  The original 'surveyor' was booked and then moved for another who would have to arrive when it was dark. He was pleasant but spent at least three hours with us. He rightly pointed out some issues with rendering but frankly could not actually do a proper survey, as promised, especially as at 7pm since it was pitch black. (I had previously queried timing with firm who arranged the booking re on practicality of 'survey at night but was told they had ‘specialist lighting’. ...complete nonsense,... in fact had to lend a torch to the 'surveyor').
  Of course told that house needed lots done and eventually given price but had to watch DVD starring Michael Fish, the weatherman, and endure very scripted /structured sales process. More importantly told of 2nd 'special price' for that evening only,...about 50% off! (Not unexpected as was aware of their sales process having read other ‘blogs’).
  I told 'surveyor' that as a salesman myself, I would not expect my customers to make an instant decision and would allow them time to consider. I would expect them to do the same. Not sure this went down well and felt that my refusal to take up the special price there and then was unwelcome. After quite some time the salesman/surveyor left and gave me a poorly photocopied sheet with a quote figure,…certainly not ‘a survey’ as I had expected. This did nothing to gain my confidence and seemed second rate....certainly not creating an image of a company that takes pride in itself. The whole approach made me question them as a business especially the structured sales approach with the ‘special discounts’ etc. After all, with respect there is a cost for labour and materials and a profit is fine (which includes paying salesmen etc), but frankly it’s this ultimate figure that is important,… the bottom line honestly presented and without equivocation. This is not what this firm gives,… the sales patter seems to be start high and then offer discounts.
  I did not call back to get the special discount after the first meeting which I was told could only last a few more days. (It was just prior to Christmas).
  Just had further contact from a manager, on 10th Jan 2009, a David Willis of ‘Europoint’. (Although I thought I was dealing with Andura Guard originally it appears that ‘Andura Guard’ is a product that is generally available, and there are many franchises out there, so don’t expect the be dealing with Andura Guards direct!).
  This ‘manager’ queried my previous actions; asked how long the sales guy was with me and also if I saw the DVD. Said I did. Also questioned whether I agreed if I could benefit. Said certainly could do at ‘some stage’. He then said he would like to review it and visit taking Ѕ hour of my time. I said ‘I don’t really want to do that’. This was the end of the call as he put the phone down on me. Very unprofessional. He did not even allow me to qualify why.
  This, in my view, vindicated not using this firm, who, if they had been patient might have got my business and more certainly if they ascribed to the original door to door sales patter that this was purely a marketing exercise and that they just wanted to get their name known if future work was needed. They have certainly achieved that and I would not touch them with a barge pole. Well done ‘David Willis’ if that is really your name, you spoilt it for your further business and you have shown your firm’s real colours. Frankly you don’t deserve business.
• I too am trying to find a decent reputable company to carry out rendering works on my property but am becoming increasing wary due to web forums & complaint sites that infer that certain companies liquidate themselves & change their names to avoid having to be liable for their '15 - 20 yr' guarantees. I have carried out as many back ground checks as i can on companies before deciding not to contact them, like checking them out on Companies House only to find out that 'they have been rendering houses since 1963' but yet they have only been registered for 6 months or so. The web forum
  https://protectorcoatcomplaints.com/f...php?readmore=3
  opened my eyes, it also lists some names of companies and individuals to avoid.
  Can anyone recommend a decent company????????
• is all mainly just a sales pitch.. all of it
• Like i said earlier, why not ring a local plasterer after all it is his trade. Its like double glazing, go with a national company and you will pay through the roof, find a local tradesman and you will probably save hundreds. All these big companys sub the work out mostly to local tradesman anyway. As plasterers we normally use the same materials as them, and a good plasterer will always guarantee his work (i do) and there be none of this finance rip off crap either.
• I too have had a similar experience to Enlishma. The first salesman quoted Ј22,000. Ihave today spent 3 hours with the 'manager' who has agreed to do the work for Ј3565 id I sign up now and have the work done immediately as he has workmen sitting around waiting for work.
  Stupidly I have fallen for this sales pitch and signed up and given my credit card details to pay the deposit. I wonder if this was foolish!
• cancel it imeadiately.
  ps.
  i had to lend him a torchclassic!
• Crickey, how do they get away with these things????? DONT FORGET YOU HAVE 7 DAYS MINIMUM COOLING OFF PEROID FOR ANY ORDERS AND 30 DAYS FOR CREDIT FACILITIES. YOUR CARD COMPANY WILL ALSO STOP THE PAYMENT OR RECLAIM IT IF YOU ARE WITHIN THESE PERIODS.
  Most of these sales methods are standard within the direct marketing game. I could (if it was allowed) offer you a great rendering co, that did 275 sq mtrs for us last year for around 10k, did it in 2 weeks and with 10 year warranty.
• Similar to enlishma:
  Apex Direct Promotions visit our street in Bristol early this month offering a FREE survey to assess house finish surface for possible future remedial work. I point out that I was not interested in a surface coating product but was assured it was just an assessment. As I have some problems with my spar finish I thought what the heck!
  Had a call middle last week and agreed to see representative from Andora Guard, Bob M, on weekend. He pointed out some issues with rendering, some of which I knew about, I did say that as no internal damp or mould and no exterior algae therefore short term there was no urgent remedial work necessary.
  The DVD starring Michael Fish was convincing and asked about addresses of properties in area which he wasn't forcoming and just commented about a woman in part of Bristol being very impressed with finished and recommended to other members of family. Bells started to ring especially when hard sell started and quoted Ј1,500 per square metre for terrace house and early discount with Ј1,150 par sq m then went onto long term payments, which after 3 hours of visit, told him that our circumstances would not allow. I therefore suggest he does not work for Andura Guard.
  Filled in form stating not intended to go ahead but had a call David Willis who wanted to give better survey and special costs but told him not at this time and would contact him if I wanted to go ahead in future. His last comment before putting the phone down was "your wasting my time".
  Funny how a "free survey" can end up with you spending a lot of money. If I do go ahead I might choose a builder of my choice and ask him to apply Andura Guard.
• A young woman just called at my door with a plastic ID card saying she was from Apex. I always ask the same thing "what are you selling" lol! She said they were looking at properties in my street that are older than 1930. I asked if she was representing the council or another local authority. She obviously had a script to stick to, but I just said I wasn't interested as I had heard of them before. She was a bit huffy but walked away. I have learned in the past from these kind of callers. Why do you need to advertise out of your own area? The reason would appear to be that they are cowboys and overpriced at that. Don't even entertain it.
• !!!! Please Dont Use These Guys They Are Cowboys And Will Ruin Your House!!! This Company Was Previously Known As Mosaic Erp Ltd And Appeared On Rouge Traders Thats Why They Got The Name Changed, I See There Work On A Regular Basiss And It Saddens Me Because The Customers Are Elderley And They Have Been Conned Into Buying Something That Is Not Worth A Fraction Of What Is Quoted.. You Have Been Quoted Far Far To Much. Shop Around Find A Local Company That Have Testimonials To Back Up There Work. It Will Save You The Distress And Heartache.. Look Up Mosiac Erp Rouge Traders ...
• They must be on a Sales push, I've had their pitch and the price went from Ј13,500 for a 2up 2down mid terrace in Portsmouth down to Ј4000(ish - I got bored after 2 and a half hours). Didn't sign on the night obviously but unfortunatly still tempted, reckon if they get the price down to a grand I might do it... Any thoughts?
  Edited to ask if anyone has actually had it done?