Page 3 | Getting tradespeople to turn up..

NotMyCat · 2021-10-29T22:01:13+00:00

Any tips on this?! So I had someone out to quote for a thermostat, tiling and flooring. All fine. He said the thermostat would be this week and he would quote the flooring. That was 2 weeks ago and he's AWOL I book people and they either don't quote, don't turn up, or vanish. Is it just me?! And no, not since covid, it's always happening [confused] I need work doing on my kitchen - the tiling and floor, it can be done any time, I provide drinks and biscuits and make myself scarce, pay them and that's it Just find it so frustrating if I take a day off work and they just don't bloody turn up [angry]

Badbadbunny · 31/10/2021 08:09

@DismantledKing

Now that the good Eastern European workmen have generally gone home, shit British tradesmen have reverted to type.

That's so funny!

Mumlifedc · 31/10/2021 08:11

I totally sympathise, we want to extend our house, we have plans and planning permission. We can afford it. Call and they don't turn up to quote, turn up no quote, quote(a miracle) won't give a contract or start date without a priced kitchen plan, can't get a kitchen plan to show builder without paying £2k deposit on a kitchen I hate the cupboard and work surfaces on.
I don't want the extension anymore but it would cost double to move to a bigger house. It's been a year all I want is a start date, contract I'm happy to pay a deposit to secure the builders. Might be quicker to re train and build my own extension

Badbadbunny · 31/10/2021 08:13

@Jason118

We don't have enough tradespeople, that's the problem. We don't train enough and Brexit robbed us of too many. Until we (as a country) have a joined up training plan, it'll carry on being this bad.

Made worse with Blair pushing 50% of school leavers to Uni. That's left "the trades" with mostly the less able and feckless youngsters who were mostly incapable of Uni, so with probably poor literacy, poor numeracy, less work ethic, etc.

The trades need a massive boost in terms of reputation, aspiration, proper training courses etc to aim to get more of the better youngsters and attract them away from unis.

bigbluebus · 31/10/2021 08:24

We have a small local builder who has done a number of jobs for us over the last few years. Some of them haven't actually involved much 'building' but needed multiple trades. In a way we just use him to project manage. He has access to lots of local tradesmen who are more honest with him about whether they can do/want to do the work. He does all the ringing around and gets the quotes. He's a reliable chap who hates letting people down. In December last year we had an issue with our kitchen tap which was loose and threatened to fall off and flood the kitchen. Due to a slow leak, the mdf worktop had gone spongy so the tap couldn't be tightened up. We needed it doing before they all shut down for Christmas. It needed a new worktop fitting for the whole kitchen. Available joiners were as rare as hen's teeth last December but our builder eventually managed to get one who could fit us in in 2 week's time ie before Christmas. But it was worth paying him to do the ringing and have the stress.
I think even builders are finding it difficult to pull in trades on time though - there's just not enough decent tradesmen for the work .

RoyKentsHairyBack · 31/10/2021 08:27

I want a small job done - I need a built in wardrobe removed but it's against a supporting wall and will need a lot of making good so dh isn't keen on tackling it (he's pretty handy). Then I need the room replastered including ceiling.

We have a local builder who did a small job before and he keeps saying he'll come round. We were a bit optimistic that he would now as it's a one day indoor job so now the weather is poor he may have a slot. Nope. Whenever I've posted on 'my builder' we get no responses. The family friend builder lives too far away (he does all my mums work but she's 15 miles away). I haven't even started on the plasterer yet.....

We need a new bathroom which I've been putting off a bit (well a lot). We only have one bathroom in the house so can't afford for it to be out of action for ages. We have a well regarded end to end bathroom fitters near us - independent, local been running for donkeys years. I've avoided because you pay a premium but to be honest by the time they could fit us in I'll have saved the difference.

FlamingGoat · 31/10/2021 08:38

My husband is painter and decorator. He always turns up for quotes and gives a realistic time to start work.
He is currently up against the " my man will do it for £50" types online. 🤦🏻‍♀️
Supplies are difficult to get at times due to supply logistics . People want a professional finish cheap so he's finding he'll give advice and they will cancel on him and go and do it themselves.

Annabelle69 · 31/10/2021 10:11

@Roselily - no not Anglian, this is a firm that has about 10 offices around my part of the UK. They do a pro guaranteed job and I paid £3,700 vs probably £2,500ish by taking pot luck, assuming I could get anyone at all. That to me is more than worth it.

Pimlico Plumbers (as an example only) have branched out to electrics, roofing and all sorts of trades, and I think this could be the model of the future. A rep turns up, there's a standard price list, you know what you're going to get, with no grief. The tradesmen don't deal with the public at all, which might suit them better too.

Herewearestar · 31/10/2021 10:33

It’s amazing that this area has not been properly regulated or revolutionised by some quick thinking entrepreneur. It’s screaming for change and has been for decades.

Unfortunately wrt Check a trade I know of people who had poor experiences who then had their reviews removed from the site because the trader complained. Apparently it’s paid for by traders so they have control over the reviews left.

nancy75 · 31/10/2021 11:59

@FlamingGoat

My husband is painter and decorator. He always turns up for quotes and gives a realistic time to start work. He is currently up against the " my man will do it for £50" types online. 🤦🏻‍♀️ Supplies are difficult to get at times due to supply logistics . People want a professional finish cheap so he's finding he'll give advice and they will cancel on him and go and do it themselves.

That’s why my dad does very little residential work - he’s decorated Buckingham palace, he’s not going to do your whole house for 50 quid!

Roselilly36 · 31/10/2021 14:08

[quote Annabelle69]@Roselily - no not Anglian, this is a firm that has about 10 offices around my part of the UK. They do a pro guaranteed job and I paid £3,700 vs probably £2,500ish by taking pot luck, assuming I could get anyone at all. That to me is more than worth it.

Pimlico Plumbers (as an example only) have branched out to electrics, roofing and all sorts of trades, and I think this could be the model of the future. A rep turns up, there's a standard price list, you know what you're going to get, with no grief. The tradesmen don't deal with the public at all, which might suit them better too.[/quote]
Thank goodness for that, I hate people being ripped off.

TheGonnagle · 31/10/2021 14:16

My dh is a tradesman, he is currently on his knees with more work than he knows what to do with. Supply chains are shot to pieces, things turn up/don’t turn up with very little rhyme or reason. Clients keep deferring jobs due to Covid in the house so his diary is utterly fucked and all over the shop. The same clients then get cross when he can’t drop everything and start their job when they want it started.
We don’t advertise, everything is word of mouth and he’s booking months ahead on major jobs and into December/January for ‘change a tap washer’ type jobs. If you find a tradesperson you trust to do a decent job for decent money then treat them like gold dust, there’s so much work to do and not enough people to do it all at the moment!

BonnyandPoppy · 31/10/2021 15:02

We wanted a new kitchen fitted and after trying to get anyone to come and quote we ended up going with a designer who also brings in her own trades. Costs a bit more but a lot less hassle!

Original poster

NotMyCat · 31/10/2021 15:07

@TheGonnagle

My dh is a tradesman, he is currently on his knees with more work than he knows what to do with. Supply chains are shot to pieces, things turn up/don’t turn up with very little rhyme or reason. Clients keep deferring jobs due to Covid in the house so his diary is utterly fucked and all over the shop. The same clients then get cross when he can’t drop everything and start their job when they want it started. We don’t advertise, everything is word of mouth and he’s booking months ahead on major jobs and into December/January for ‘change a tap washer’ type jobs. If you find a tradesperson you trust to do a decent job for decent money then treat them like gold dust, there’s so much work to do and not enough people to do it all at the moment!

I have a small garage that are amazing so my car always goes to them! I'm still partially shielding so I'm literally home 99% of the time as WFH, and can even take a short notice appointment

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Chaletschooltriplet · 31/10/2021 15:15

We needed work doing to our chimney, one bloke claimed he could do what we needed for £1k I told him he was the first person to quote. He got really shirty about it.... I must have rang at least 10 other roofers. Eventually managed to get one who charged £400 but didn't actually finish the job we'd asked him to do! He's done the remedial work which was the most important so I gave up! I've found a good door/window person through local f.book group who both times has been £1k cheaper than the nearest quote. He will be getting repeat work if we need it with no quotes. He said he is having to turn down work for the first time in his life as he's to busy! We need some electric work doing. My brothers friend is an electrician, I really can't be arsed with the messing and ringing round so he will get the job.

SweetBabyCheeses99 · 31/10/2021 15:22

It’s not just you, it’s pretty much all tradespeople IME. Not just flaky with organisation and timekeeping but also lacking in general diligence and professionalism. None of them seem to take any pride in doing any aspect of their job well, or even care when you point it out their inadequacies. I guess they make enough money and have plenty of business?

A596881B · 31/10/2021 17:33

gonnagle totally agree with your post.

My DH is also a Tradesman and a point I’ll also make is that quotes can take a lot of time to prepare…the customer wants a quote that is accurate and this takes time to do, usually at the end of a working day. Prices are changing rapidly (sometimes daily) and if your job can’t be done for a few months it isn’t practical to do a quote now because it will have changed by the time it’s due to be done.

A596881B · 31/10/2021 18:27

sweetbabycheese99
With an attitude like that no wonder you can’t get anyone to do work for you!

Mistymountain · 31/10/2021 19:05

I think if it's a big job people will turn up to quote, if it's anything small. it's a problem. We had a leak in our bathroom - the plumber fixed it, but the shower area needed retiling- after 10 months I did it myself. I didn't do a bad job, so perhaps I should set up in business

DismantledKing · 31/10/2021 19:18

@A596881B

sweetbabycheese99 With an attitude like that no wonder you can’t get anyone to do work for you!

I just think she’s had multiple experiences with tradesmen. I agree with her.

A596881B · 31/10/2021 22:27

dismantledking so you think it’s every tradesperson who’s flakey,disorganised and has no pride in their work too …. everyone? I think you seriously need to both look at yourselves and you attitudes to them. The days of tugging your forelock to the customer because you’re a mere” tradesperson has long gone.

Original poster

NotMyCat · 31/10/2021 23:44

@A596881B

dismantledking so you think it’s every tradesperson who’s flakey,disorganised and has no pride in their work too …. everyone? I think you seriously need to both look at yourselves and you attitudes to them. The days of tugging your forelock to the customer because you’re a mere” tradesperson has long gone.

I don't expect them to bow to me I just want replies, people to turn up to quote and then to do the work Replies to the thermostat 6 x no replies 1 x quoted and then vanished 1 x told me to get my dad to do it 1 x will only install hive 1 x told me to buy one off eBay

And this is what's its like with every single job, it's exhausting! It takes me longer to get someone to turn up than it takes them to do the job

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RedMarauder · 01/11/2021 00:02

@CheesecakeAddict

The best way of getting people, I have found, is via other tradespeople. So my plasterer knew a roofer who he asked to get in touch with me. My window fitter got a tiler and a plumber in for me. My plumber knew a kitchen fitter. We have tradesmen around here taking bookings for 2023.

Yep.

The plasterer I used introduced me to an electrician, plumber and brickie.

The plasterer only took my job as we have a connection through someone else and he is booked up for months.

RedMarauder · 01/11/2021 00:05

@A596881B

sweetbabycheese99 With an attitude like that no wonder you can’t get anyone to do work for you!

Some people are just unlucky in who they get to work for them.

Myself and a friend used a firm of electrician who was fine. Another friend used the same firm and the electrician screwed up so much the owner had to send someone else to fix the job.

Original poster

NotMyCat · 01/11/2021 12:37

The thermostat guy turned up today which is a miracle, I have paid a small fortune though!! He is coming tomorrow to fit it

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Sugarandtime · 01/11/2021 17:00

I totally agree. What also annoys me is that on local Facebook pages you often get people asking for recommendations for whatever trade as they’ve tried various ones already recommended on the page and they never turn up etc

Now I know that Myself and many others would love to know the names of these tradesman so we can avoid them but the moderators won’t allow it.
I think there should be an element of name and shame, mint actually get some tradesmen to get their act together.

Getting tradespeople to turn up..

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