Many thanks once again for everything, you will see the numbers below in terms of increase in value of the flat and the monthly yield increase although both Zoe and I are still so happy with the way the kitchen looks, I am even more happy at how much it has increased the value of the flat. It has transformed the flat from an ok place with a crap kitchen to a really nice flat in which the kitchen is the best feature. It went on the market on Tuesday afternoon and was rented 14 hours later for the price we wanted (and we had set the price deliberately high in case we needed to negotiate).

Happy for you to give my phone number out if people want a personal recommendation but please protect and do not give out our e-mail addresses or the address of the flat.

Hope you are well and many thanks once again.

Nick
I purchased a flat in Stockbridge in Edinburgh over ten years ago which has earned it's living on the rental market. After ten years continuous rental it had become quite tired and was in need of refurbishment.

For a variety of reasons we withdrew it from the rental market and set to the task of redecorating and refurbishing. After an epic stripping the paint from the beautiful floorboards in the bedroom (very messy), we had another epic restoring the elaborate cornicing in the sitting room (also v messy and time consuming). The flat had a small box room between the kitchen and bedroom and an alcove of wasted space in the dark, cramped kitchen. We had a grand plan to knock the box room through to open the whole room up and fit a new kitchen but this was well beyond our own capabilities and we had a limited budget.

Having watched plenty of episodes of "Grand Designs" we decided to do this small project properly: architect / engineer / builder, etc. We were fortunate that some friends had just completed a major project in their flat in Edinburgh who gave us a very positive recommendation for an architect / builder combination and we followed up on this which how we came across Jack and Frog Bathrooms.

We did a lot of research and secured at least 3 quotes for everything but Jack and FB were the lowest which, knowing the quality of their work form our friends, gave us a lot of confidence. We had consulted estate agents and chartered surveyors to work out how much this building work would increase the value of the flat and were told that creating a large dining kitchen from the old kitchen and the box room would add about 20K to the value of the property, which was then valued at about 155k. We aimed to spend no more than 20K on the work we planned so that the capital outlay would be covered by the increase in value of the property.

Hooking up architect, engineer and builder was only difficult for us as we work away from Edinburgh during the week otherwise it would have been straightforward. Architect and engineer and builder all combined well in the planning and then when it came to the detailed consultation for the building work, Jack was superb. He came to visit personally, at a time convenient to us, which allowed us to talk to him about the vision we had and what kind of finish and quality we required. As we knew we were going to rent it back out we communicated that we wanted a good quality finish but not the highest specification. Jack immediately understood and as well as listening to what we wanted, he was also able to make some excellent suggestions based on his knowledge and experience. We found extra space behind walls which made the room look bigger and were able to ask him to salvage period features like the beautiful wood skirting boards from the box room to use in the new kitchen.

I am so impressed that sometimes I just go and stand in the kitchen and look - the transformation has been amazing and the results are incredible. Most importantly are the financial results. The property was recently valued at 190K (a 45K or 22% increase in capital value) and the monthly rental yield has increased by 36% from 550 to 750 per month. The finish, even though we did not want the best is still truly incredible - really high quality and very tastefully done. It is the small details like the way resin has been discreetly and neatly used to seal the floor/wall interface which is most impressive.

We negotiated a price with Jack and he assured us that no matter how long the job took, the price would remain the same and he was as good as his word. There are inevitably things which you, the architect / engineer / builder cannot forsee which can cause small delays but although the job over ran by a couple of weeks (which we authorized) there was no increase in cost. We had a written contract which listed everything they were going to do and which listed the final price and Frog kept to this.

When there was a minor complaint from the upstairs neighbours about a plaster crack (which they claimed was caused by our building work) Jack asked his site manager to go up and liaise with them. At no extra cost to us, he re-plastered their wall to keep them happy. I have never experienced service like this.

Nothing is ever perfect and this recommendation would be less valuable if it claimed that there were no problems. Two things happened which are, in the large scheme of things a little bit annoying but completely inconsequential. We feel we have been fortunate to have only these two small criticisms and one of those was partly from our own inexperience. 1. Dust sheets: We should have put them over everything ourselves but as this was the first time we have ever had building work done we didn't. It would have been great if the builders could have pointed this out, or even better, covered everything themselves. The clear up has been very time consuming. The second is regarding a clothes pulley in the kitchen which the builders cut the slats to make fit without asking us and then tried to claim that they hadn't.

Communicating with Jack was key to all this. He is prompt to respond (almost always getting back to us the same day) and this means that it is straightforward to find solutions and manage your own expectations.

I have no hesitation in recommending Jack and Frog Bathrooms. Although the work has only been finished for a month nothing has gone wrong and I do not expect it to. Even if it does he has guaranteed the work for a year and I am confident that he would remedy any problems quickly.

I am prepared to speak to anyone who would like a personal recommendation and can be reached on .Contact us for mobile no. to contact this Client

Jack helped us to work out exactly what we wanted from the displays in the showroom. The fixtures and fittings are all of high quality and have been installed very well. Adam worked hard and ensured that the property was kept clean and tidy at all times. Any minor problems were resolved quickly. The finished product is a lovely bathroom that should last us for years to come.
Colin,
Glasgow

This is an old property (1720) and Jack and his team have coped
easily and professionally with the various problems inevitably uncovered as
work progressed.
We would have no hesitation in employing this Company again nor in
recommending Complete Bathroom Build to anyone.
This firm has proved to be highly professional, friendly, affordable, polite
and well-mannered.
Jack has impressed us with his knowledge, honesty and integrity,
and his workforce with their reliability, good humour and standard of
workmanship.
Our new bathroom exceeds the expectations we had for it and we are delighted
with it.
Peter & Margaret McIlvenny
Glasgow

Both rooms look great and I am very pleased with the results: the attention to detail especially is superb and I am particularly pleased with the successful repair/ rebuilding of the window details from where the fireplace was removed, the repainting of the bathroom furniture, and the excellent job done on the cornice/ repairing ceiling cracks; these turned out better than I could have expected. And it was great that I could just have one company doing all the work: much easier for me!
I should also commend your team for their manner of working: they were at all times polite and considerate and were successful in keeping disturbance to an absolute minimum.
Thank you, Jack, for your time spent managing the project and ensuring I was happy with how things were going.
I would certainly have no hesitation in using your company again, or indeed recommending you to friends and family. As you know we've already requested a quote for some external work, and will likely be in touch next year if we decide to go ahead with out next project: the kitchen.
So, thanks again and best wishes,
Paula Nugent