My house is falling to bits and ...

[chobmon]

I can’t find tradespeople for love nor money. I have called so many, often with no reply, sometimes with a reply saying they will call back but then they don’t. I’ve called so many from different places - friend recommendations, social media recommendations, even people we’ve used before, all with no luck. It’s starting to feel like it’s taking over my life!

We need some repairs on our roof and new guttering - I’ve tried to discuss getting these done together, or separately. I’ve called roofers and gutterers and property maintenance people. I’m polite, I think! And meanwhile, I keep googling the damage dodgy roofs and leaking gutters do to a property and scaring myself!

I know everybody is so busy and it’s nobody’s fault - I suppose I’m just grumbling!

Sorry for my dramatic title - my nerves are clearly frayed

We have had exactly the same problem! I’m presuming lots of people need work doing and the traders are picking the big money jobs over smaller ones! It’s a nightmare though and I don’t really no who to ask when it feels like you have exhausted all avenues!

I'm sorry you're going through this too @gingajewel. It is a nightmare, isn't it? I can relax and forget about it because it needs doing, but I don't know what else I can do!

Go on my builder, you just describe the job and folks will say if they can do the work.

Have you got a local Facebook page/ group? Good place to ask for recommendations.

I've had the same problem numerous times with different jobs (fitting of decorative fireplace, small plumbing jobs).

No response to phone calls/messages. Saying they'll ring you back and they don't.

Bluntness - I got zero replies on mybuilder.com despite posting comprehensive details + pictures etc. This was for two separate jobs.

I then had a gardener come round a few months ago, he gave me a quote which I accepted and then he just didn't turn up!

Like ginga I think it's a case of tradespeople not wanting the small fry jobs. I don't understand what those of us with these kind of jobs that need sorting are meant to do 🙄.

I used my builder and was inundated, maybe it depends on the job and area.

Do you have a local magazine with adverts in. We have a village gazette which is quite good. I would also ask on FB as you will get some recommendations and if they don't turn up you can go back on and complain about them which will either make them turn up or get you requests from people who will do.

It's bad that people don't want what they perceive to be small jobs. For all they know you may be planning bigger things that they will now miss out on.

Maybe you've been blacklisted?

Your gutter may just be blocked. If you have a window cleaner they might be willing to look and unblock it for you. Window cleaners are often willing to do odd little jobs at height.

Same here. I'm on the Nextdoor app and got in touch with an electrician who was advertising his services, only for him to pretty much ignore me then respond to my messages to say he's now tied up with another job. Yet he's still touting for business!

Same thing with a gutter company. Twice failed to show up for an appointment without even having the decency to cancel. 2 weeks later he asked if I still needed someone and I was forced to send a deliciously PA text to say yes, but was looking for someone reliable and wish you all the best etc etc.

I've found MyBuilder to be the best way of guaranteeing a tradesman who is actually willing to come and do the work!

We’re having exactly the same problem with a small electrical job. Had time off work to wait in and they don’t turn up or don’t call back. It’s really put me off doing anything big to a house because it seems tradesman admin/booking side of things is so bad. Are there any bigger national companies you could contact? Normally I’d say go local but the bigger companies seem a bit better with booking and actually turning up!

I use checkatrade and most of the time I've had good responses and good standard of work. It's a worry though I agree.

Another one using checkatrade, got the best carpenter through them, transformed my house

Have you tried local handyman types instead? They sound like small jobs for a retired builder.

What area are you in?

Hire a hubby are good for small jobs, I had about a dozen bitty things needed doing to my old house before selling and got a lovely chap from them.

I know exactly how you feel OP - my heart sinks at the thought of needing any work doing on the house. The first person I ring NEVER turns up - this has been heating engineers, plumbers, decorators and most recently a joiner.

Luckily I had someone recommended to me when the joiner didn't turn up, who is currently working on my house at the moment and is a bit of a jack of all trades and can turn his hand to anything so I'll be getting his phone number tattooed on my wrist!!

Another vote for Checkatrade. We discovered a leak in our roof on Wednesday morning, contacted a couple of roofers through Checkatrade and have just had it fixed this morning.
Also used it for plasterers and decorators in the past couple of months.

If u go on Spotted on facebook in your local area you can ask for local recommendations.

When you find someone, tell them our garage roof is knackered. No one bit when we put it on my builder. At this rate, dh is going to end up replacing it himself (corrugated concrete and full of cracks. The roof, not dh)

I’m exactly the same.....don’t get me started on botched jobs also!