... to ask how you actually get a tradesperson in????

[Wroxie]

We need, in order of urgency, a roof repair, a stair repair, and a quote to repair/refinish hardwood floors.

I've had five different roofers come to 'quote' for the roof repair in the last two months and absolutely zero of them ever called or texted back with the promised quote. Well, one did call back, to tell me he's decided not to take on any new work for the foreseeable future. I had another guy come to look at it this morning and he was eager to start right away but he also smelled like rotten garbage and made an inappropriate comment about my 20yo daughter based on her photo hanging in the hall so that's a no-go.

For the stair and flooring work I have contacted tens of companies/individuals found through internet searches, recommendations, local social media groups, etc. and cannot get one person to even acknowledge my calls or texts. If they answer they say 'just text me the details' and then I never ever hear back.

I have money, I live in a decent post-code in a fairly large city. I see other people on my street with scaffolding up and people working on their houses (and yes I have asked these workmen to pop over and have a look at my place on their break but they always say call the office and I never hear back).

How does anyone actually get someone in to do work? I am this close to climbing on the fucking roof myself.

Generally I find tradespeople through either asking my neighbours, asking on my village face book page for recommendations or on mybuilder.

@Bluntness100 I have done all of those things repeatedly.

They're all insanely busy ATM as everyone wants an extension etc since they've been trapped in a space they never intended as an office...

I wish I knew. I've had 4 lots out to quote for a patio and only one actually got back to me with a figure. He said he'd come and start on the first week in April, but now appears to have disappeared off the face of the earth.

Bathroom flooring... bloke came and measured in mid-March. We went to his showroom and chose the flooring. He texted me the price. I said yes, fine, any date will do, we are always in (wfh). Never heard from him again.

Honestly. You can't right now. The great/good/excellent ones are booked up right now. Right into next year. I'm looking at a kitchen redesign and wall being removed. The only reason he's doing it is because I've used him for years. And I'm still waiting 6 months. He's declined two requests for quotes for my friends at the moment. They want big jobs doing and are having to wait until next year.
Basically they have their pick of work right now and they are booked up for about 12 months is what I'm finding.

Beats me! I'm trying to find a gardener at the moment and have advertised on Checkatrade and on Next door. I got two companies (not individuals) who wanted to charge at least twice what I paid my previous independent person.

A few years ago, we spent 2 years trying to find a builder who could build our loadbearing deck. Had quite a few people express interest, but hardly anyone followed up. We wanted to give the business to a local firm, but ended up using someone over 100 miles away.

Some tradespeople hold out for larger jobs rather than small ones. Maybe find a handyman who can do everything?

DHs grandad thinks he's unlucky with trades people as they often break down, fall ill or have an accident in their way there. What actually happens is he rings them a dozen times demanding they show on time and to not be late, not to park their van where the neighbours can see and not to have dirty clothes. He is such hard work they all scarper.

The builders much prefer the big jobs rather than the repairs. You might have some luck if you are flexible, and they can slot you in at weekends/early evenings/in between jobs?

Keep going and I'm sure you'll find someone soon. A lot of people that had to put off projects during lockdown are starting them now so I guess they're just really busy.

It took us ages to find a plumber a few years ago when we were renovating. Lots that got my hackles up similar to your bloke with his inappropriate comment- urgh. Eventually we found a lovely man who in turn introduced us to an electrician and gas man so we've used them for our other projects. Once a tradesmen knows you as a client and knows you pay promptly and generally treat them well etc, they will be more likely to put you before new clients.

You have to keep ringing/badgering i'm afraid. It's embarrassing and goes against the grain but that's how it is.

When it's a sellers market (which it is at the moment - everyone and his wife want home repairs after a years lockdown. naturally enough) those who shout loudest will get attention.

We're doing a house rebuild and I have hells delight getting our electrician round. The plumber's ok and DH is the builder (so he's here every morning but the electrician ... we have to literally beg!

Even before this I was sick of tradespeople not turning up. Our front path needed replacing and two companies came and measured up and promised to get back to us with quotes but we never heard from them again. I was very tempted to leave crap reviews for them but didn't in the end.

Earlier this year we had contacted someone to clear the gutters. We'd used him before and he agreed a date to do the work but never turned up. DH couldn't get hold of him so in the end left him a message saying don't bother coming. We didn't have the decency to reply.

If you don't want the job, just say so!

"Small" jobs are a nightmare. Basically there are nowhere enough tradespeople and so the ones there are have their pick if work, and they want whole houses, large extension projects, huge refurbs.

The only thing you can really do is try going to where you can tradespeople working and avoiding the main guy on the job and asking younger guys who are maybe only recently finished training if they would be interested. They may take it as those smaller jobs can be how you build reputation.

I hate this so much. Its really, really basic customer service (or just plain human manners) to reply - even if just to say you're busy. Tbh I'm getting close to leaving appropriate reviews online of tradespeople who lie / never deliver on promises / completely ignore someone they promised to get back to. If you dont want the work, fine. Stringing me along - not fine.

Fairly common situation where I live (SE), especially the coming round to quote and then not following through, but lately I've had most success through Rated People.

Not foolproof, but the last 4 jobs I've listed got done.

In the East Mids we must be lucky, my neighbour is extending, my DH is a joiner (but he is booked up for months) and I know of plumbers that actually come round when they say they will. Really cheeky not to quote when they've actually bothered to go to your house to have a look!

You can't get scaffolding or skips around here at the moment without a massive wait!

We struggle with this as well. Always ready to pay cash as we save for jobs upfront. Lots of work to be done so likely would be a repeat customer. Still they are often a no show!
I have started choosing slightly bigger companies with office staff now where possible as they tend to be a lot more reliable.

I've had similar experiences in the past. When we bought our house I honestly thought we'd call 3 companies, get 3 quotes and then pick the best one. We've had lots of work done in batches over the years from tiling to plastering to Landscaping to carpentry - at one point, straight after xmas, I did get 3 whole quotes from carpenters!! But other times my experience has been similar to yours. I just keep blanket messaging every company I can find on checkatrade until I end up with a quote, and have learned when you get a quote - book it in. Another good place to try is Facebook: I set up a profile for this reason. Post the job on local pages and it's more likely the people who respond will actually want the work. Good luck!

I recently got quotes for fitting a new loft trap and a loft ladder and the work is provisionally booked for 10 weeks time (provisional because they sometimes struggle to get timber, which is apparently due to post-Brexit delays as the ports are prioritising food shipments).

My builder BIL is booked up for 16 weeks and is now only giving quotes for existing/previous customers, and not quoting for any new ones.

It took me 18 months to find a bathroom fitter to take on a shower room project for me. He came, started the job, ripped out the old toilet then left and said he couldn't finish the job. That was February and I cannot get anyone else in to even quote. We only have one toilet now. For 6 of us. It's awful.

I am actually relieved to hear about everyone's experiences! I went through this pre-covid and it seemed impossible to get work done (minor and major). The good builders cherry pick the lucrative jobs and are booked up for months. Then you're left with the medium and dodgy ones but end up paying them a premium. At the moment, it's just bad timing so it's definitely not you. I used to be so polite and patient with tradesman but now I'm quite ruthless and try and pin them down to a quote and date then and there in person...as I'll never get them again on phone /email.

I had six people put to quote for work doing in the garden early last year. Not one got back to us. Partner ended up doing it him self on the end

We use a local FB page or Checkatrade.

Tell me about it. We have waited 18months for our bathrooms to be done and it's painfully slow. The flooring can't be done until June. Round here it's because they're all flat out. Tree surgeons though? They never turn up!! Waited three months for one who told me three weeks. That fucks me off. If I am going to wait that long just be honest.

Feeling your pain OP, so bloody frustrating, it took us two months to get a plumber to fit a tap & shower. Plumbers either not turning up, or than turn up but you never get a quote, or us accepting a quote but, and a big but, they can’t give a date that they can do the job! We got there in the end, and you will too.