Buy tiles cheaper somewhere else?

Hello,

We are building a house with a good construction company. We ourselves know 10 clients who were very satisfied with them.

However, there is one point that really bothers me right now.

The house price includes €17,000 calculated for tiles (145 sqm). Material value €20, bathroom completely tiled up to the ceiling.

The tile we like costs €45 online. From a regional supplier €75, who would sell it to me for €52.

The tile dealer that the construction company uses, also for sampling, charges €95 for the tile. A discount is not possible because our construction company is a partner.

I have the feeling that I am being charged twice here. I pay €95, the company gets them for maybe €50. In the end, this results in additional costs of several thousand euros.

Can I really be told where I have to source the tiles from?

Best regards, Cole

Typical general contractor/general subcontractor trick. At most, you can take out the entire trade and subcontract it yourself. But then you no longer have warranty coverage for everything from a single source. You also have to find a tiler who either installs provided materials (very rare or excluding warranty) or one who offers the tile at a lower price.

I would have had a tiler. Unfortunately, he entered into an employment relationship during Corona (komplett andere Branche). But he was great. At that time, the construction company said that only their own trades would be used.

Well, if you remove the tiles, then you just take over the house earlier. So when accepting it, you simply don’t have a large floor in it. Or is it a developer?

No, it is a small, regional construction company. We have a phone call tomorrow regarding the tiles. Let's see what he wants to tell me. I'm really not concerned about the last euro, everyone should and must earn. I also like to support regional companies. But at 95€ to 52€, my patience ends. Also because I will certainly have to pay a surcharge due to the size anyway. Let the construction service description be 60x60 without surcharge. The floor would be 25x150 and the wall tiles are available in 75x75 and 75x150.

But at €95 compared to €52, that's where the fun ends for me too.

It would for me as well. However, I would first check whether a) it is actually the same quality, b) delivery beyond the curbside is included, and c) it is even available when you want it. It is not uncommon that the "really very cheap" offers don't actually exist upon closer inspection. And then there would be the waste to order with the online offer. The hairdresser often invoices only net.