When you have builders in, do you make them cups of teas ?

[LovelyYellowLabrador]

Or give them snacks ?

I show them where the tea and coffee is but I don't make it for them. Better they help themselves when they want rather than wait for me to be available.

No, I leave them a drinks station.

Because they are not paying me to be a waitress - my attitude is down to the shit builders I've had over the years.

Yes but if they’re in for a few days I’d show them where it is to help themselves.
my fil will make them bacon/sausage sandwiches as his theory is that then they’re less likely to go off for lunch - go to a shop etc and be away longer but I can’t be doing with that

Yeah, I always make them a cup of tea or coffee whenever I make one for myself. Snacks too. And anyone else who is in my home when I put the kettle on.

We had a lot of work done on our house the last few years. So many workers to cater for that we jokingly called it Costa Cottage.

My husband is a builder and I can categorically say he prefers clients that offer to make him a cuppa. Those that don't are seen as rude and snobby.

I offer our cleaner, window cleaner, man that fixes my tyre in the drive, everyone, a drink. It's good manners.

In Austria in the countryside there is actually the tradition of cooking full meals for your builders, at least 2 hot meals a day depending how long they're there. Coffee and cake or beers after work are also very common. Some people even take days off work to cook for their builders. Apparently it stems from the fact that the nearest shops may be very far away, especially in days before cars, or a symbol of status or generosity that the homeowner is capable of providing for their workers. Some also think that it comes (misogynistically) from the days when the wife would be home all day anyway so it was her job to make sure everyone was taken care of.

Either way, be glad it only involves cups of tea! 😂

I offer - but our builder is usually our next door neighbour who tends to just pop back round to his own house for a tea break - or gets his wife to pass cups of tea over the garden fence when he wants one.

Oooh! Good idea!
When I had a big project going on I did get one of those cafe-table style sugar pourer jars [dead cheap in Ikea]
It kept the dust out of the sugar, but did still get a bit bunged up from the steam off the mugs :-)

Why do you ask Op?

I think it's basic social etiquette to offer any visitors to your home a drink or snack don't you?

If employing builders for any length of time plan to provide access to water and toilet facilities too.
Just treat them as normal human beings.

Yes always offer tea and coffee .will offer biscuits if I have any in . If it's a big job that's ongoing for weeks I'll offer bacon sarnies .

Not unless I am making one for myself, and we only have plain biscuits in. I tell them they are welcome to make one, or have cold water/squash but I'm working myself so they don't get more than I do.

Just treat them as normal human beings

Exactly. On MN they sometimes seem to be treated so differently, no refreshments and horror when they want to use the toilet for it's intended purpose.

As a PP has already asked why do you want to know @LovelyYellowLabrador ?

I set up the coffee bar and put out snacks so they can help themselves.

Yes, drinks and snacks - if there is someone at home we'll make the drinks, if we are out I leave the tea/coffee/snacks out in the kitchen with a note to help themselves.

I have someone working in the house at the moment, I have offered him a drink but he's said he is ok. I will offer again in about half an hour.

Always, I always have home made soup on the go in the autumn/winter too, so they always get offered that too.

Always.

My husband is a tradesperson and he would be very upset with me if I didn't offer a cup of tea as soon as they arrived.

He always says that the best customers are those that offer a drink. They tend to be the nicest as well. He also gets very excited when cake or bacon sarnies are offered - it's the first thing he tells me when gets home He was offered a beer the other day as it was hot and after 5pm but obviously politely declined.

It doesn't take much to be kind. Plus you'll get better service. And tradespeople talk - you won't get a good recommendation if you're an arsehole and more likely to end up with the dregs of the trades.

Offering a drink and having some biscuits in is only manners.

dh is a tradesman and I regularly get told of customers who offer a bit more such as rolls in bacon or sausage, nice sandwiches, or cakes.

He gets excited when he is going to customers who are Indian as he often gets to try some homemade Indian food and has been known to bring home bags of spices and a recipe!

Top tip.....sugar cubes so the sugar doesn't suffer from coffee flavoured clumps

I see someone else got in first 😳😬

Yes, my husband also loves this. He's also come home with homemade beer and wine, fruit and and veg from their gardens. People can be so nice.

Yep, make one round, show them where the tea, coffee etc is and let them get on with it. Biscuits etc on the side too.

Not sure I'd go as far as to make a cake, but I might buy one for them. I did take out tea and biscuits to the guys fixing our road's electricity at 2am when we had a power cut. Their generator was keeping me awake but I was just grateful we would have leccy the next day.

It's just manners. I'm surprised you need to ask, OP.