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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

If you don't actually WANT the work, fine. Just be honest about it.

139 replies

bupcakesandcunting · 15/06/2011 17:03

Right, I have had six men visit my house to quote me on re-building my patio/some steps. Out of the six, how many do you reckon have got back to me with a price?

One.

Bloody one.

I explain to them on the phone what the job is and ask if that's something they'd do. they sy yes so we aarrange for them to come round. They stand in my garden, measuring, umming and ahhhing about how much material they'll need etc, say they'll ring me with a price and NOTHING! Honestly, if they said "I'm sorry but it's more work than I'd realised. I won't be able to help" then it would be different. As it is, I've spent a total of six weeks waiting for these phonecalls that never come (they have all said to give them a week to get back with a cost)

It dos my swede in. So, if you know of/are married to/are employed as someone in this fieldand are in the Midlands, PM me. I am fucking NICE to work for. I dole out tea and biscuits and don't chuck a diva fit when things go wrong. Wink

OP posts:
Original poster
bupcakesandcunting · 15/06/2011 17:33

Ah. I think I failed at the first hurdle then, Hully. Grin I am all "Rrrright, THIS is what needs doing, I've been to the builder's yard so I KNOW how much the blocks cost" Dagnamit.

""

The reality

OP posts:
Spagbolagain · 15/06/2011 17:43
mumblechum1 · 15/06/2011 17:50

it's the same in lots of jobs, though.

I visited a lady the other day to take her will instructions and she had left messages at 5 other will writing firms, and I was the only one who got back to her.

Pumpernickel10 · 15/06/2011 19:27

secretlemonade we are Dawlish in Devon :)

PinotGrigiosKittens · 15/06/2011 19:32

bupcakes We had this problem and it was a massive pita. My advice is to go for a larger company of builders, as the chap quoting will want the work as he's generally the boss and will make his labourers do it as they work for him. If you go for smaller one-man-band type, frankly they cherry pick the easiest jobs for the mest money/less effort.

TheSkiingGardener · 15/06/2011 20:13

Ah, there's your problem right there. If you know how much the blocks cost they can't get the builders merchant to write 2 invoices, one for you to pay (in cash to the builder of course) and one that the builder pays to the merchant. This is where they make most of their money.

I have a great builder, unfortunately not in the midlands who passes on his merchant discount and then charges a per diem rate which is fair but not cheap. You know exactly where you are.

However, he doesn't do patios (more a bathroom and kitchen man) and I am now doing my own patio, having had the same experience as you, except they all admitted on site that they didn't want the job.

cerealqueen · 15/06/2011 20:21

We had somebody quote for trimming a tree in our garden, agreed a price and a date and on the day, he just didn't turn up. I was ringing him constantly on the home and landline and he never answered, I was just leaving messages buy the end saying, just have the courtesy to call back as I want to go out with my daughter and perhaps I've got the day and time wrong and finally saying, has something happened, are you dead??

We know he's not dead as we have seen his van parked outside our house. He just didn't want the work but couldn't be arsed to say so.

MortaIWombat · 15/06/2011 20:30

rofl at Are you dead Grin

Tidey · 15/06/2011 20:31

We've had this with two different companies measuring a bedroom for a new carpet - they came, measured, said they'd ring with a price and then were never heard from again. Another phoned with such an obviously massively overinflated price he may as well have just said 'I really don't want to do it.'

We now have another flooring job needing to be done, where one of the companies' shops is very close to our house and the owner sees us regularly whilst parking etc. He has failed to turn up three times now, despite seeing DP in the street and actually asking if we still wanted him to come and give us a quote!

Still, good to know it's not just us that get treated this crappily...

HowAnnoying · 15/06/2011 20:33

"Ah, there's your problem right there. If you know how much the blocks cost they can't get the builders merchant to write 2 invoices, one for you to pay (in cash to the builder of course) and one that the builder pays to the merchant. This is where they make most of their money."

Yes they mark up materials, same as if you were buying something in a shop, it's normal and exceptable. Also they don't get two different invoices, the tradesperson will buy material on his/her own account and invoices will go to them, not the customer.

D0G · 15/06/2011 20:34

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

bster84 · 15/06/2011 20:35

Bupcakes

Where exactly in the midlands are you? My uncle has a landscape / gardening firm and does this sort of stuff. Obviously i would say hes very reasonable :)

D0G · 15/06/2011 20:37

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

OpusProSerenus · 15/06/2011 20:40

I am in the North West and have been waiting ages for someone to take a tree out and build a pergola (not even a very big one!). Can't believe it's this hard to find someone.

Trouvle is there is a culture of cowboys round these parts which makes me very wary

runningonmt · 15/06/2011 20:41

You are all FOOLS - the builders have all gone to the nice lady up the road that does them all Bacon Sandwiches - they are not gonna turn up for tea and biscuits

OvO · 15/06/2011 20:45

Dog, if you were near me I'd be around to steal your children! Gorgeous! Had a snoop at your profile. Grin

D0G · 15/06/2011 20:48

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

mummy777 · 15/06/2011 20:50

Hi

Read all the messages and know how annoying it can be. My Husband is a tradesman - the most annoying thing from the "other side" point of view is when he takes time out his day/evening to go and look at a job, sits at home perhaps spending a hour (sometimes longer!) preparing a detailed estimate and then the people don't even have the courtesy to send an email or give him a quick call to say thanks but no thanks. Do the rude so-and-so's not realise that yes, he has to go and look at jobs to get them but time is money and the courtesy of a response would be nice! Fortunately this doesn't happen very often as he is usually successful with his quotes but still....AARRRGH!

ScaredOfCows · 15/06/2011 21:08

Wow, thought it was just me this happened to.

Bupcakes we use a great builder, reliable (fairly), good work, reasonable prices. We are east mids - let me know if you want his number...

TheSkiingGardener · 15/06/2011 21:29

Howannoying I spent time with an electrician. I saw this happen! It's not honest but it does happen.

LadyOfTheCuntryManor · 15/06/2011 21:34

We're refurbishing our farm house around the back of the main house to move in to as it's cheaper to run and the main house is up for sale.

I live in a laid back countryside area....14 companies have been out to do about 8k of work (plastering walls, hanging radiators and fitting a new kitchen).

2 got back with quotes. One was a family of gypsies, who quoted 36k Hmm which leaves me with the 72 year old who has already retired.

I mean, really. Surely these people NEED work in times as dire as they are?

TeaAndToast68 · 15/06/2011 22:56

best advice I know is to ask round friends and neighbours for someone they recommend. Have a look at their house to see what you think of the standard of work.

Another tip is to drive round looking for builders vans, look at the work being done and form an opinion. Write the details down of the builder and the customer. A couple of months later, ask the householder what they think of the builder.

It never hurts to phone someone and say "your were recommended by Mr Bloggins of Sycamore Street where you laid the patio in April"

If you find a good tradesman, ask who he would recommend. e.g. a decorator wil know several plasterers, or a joiner will know a bricklayer, and will know who is good and who's rubbish. They won't want to recommend a cowboy as it reflects badly on them. Oddly plumbers and electricians get along, even though they don't overlap much.

Kitchen fitters are notorious for poor quality electrical and plumbing bodges.

crystalglasses · 15/06/2011 23:15

This is all so familiar to me. So many builders have either not kept appointments made for estimates, or haven't followed through with a quote, or won't state when they can start the work. This all rings alarm bells for me that they will be unreliable so I have a rule to never chase them up.

I also won't engage builders who don't supply me with a proper address and a landline as I was once stung by a cowboy builder who I couldn't trace when I found he hadn't done the work - a guttering job - he had given me one of those postal accomodation addresses.

Ishani · 15/06/2011 23:20

Kitchen fitters are not allowed to do the electrical work any more, don't accept somebody with a part P having s fiddle with it you want a proper 17th edition sparky or you'll regret it IMO

StayFrosty · 15/06/2011 23:23

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

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