To think I shouldn't rely on this friend?

[Cow90]

Bought a home about 6 months ago and been living in it ever since. There's a bit of repair work that needs doing, I would do it myself but it needs someone qualified/trained in this area as I'll likely make a pigs ear of it and tbh don't have a clue what to do.
My friend is a tradie in this area and when I moved he said oh I'll sort it for you for a reduced price.
It's been 6 months and I'm still waiting. I know he's busy too and I understand but I can't wait indefinitely. The date keeps getting pushed back, it was supposed to be late Feb and that never happened.
I'm saving to get another tradesman in to do it instead. It's quite expensive but in about 2 months I should be able to.
I told the friend yesterday I was just going to do it myself as I understood he was busy but I couldn't wait forever.
He was saying, look, people spend years in homes without getting work done. I get that too, but it will improve the appearance of the home and I don't want to spend years in a half finished home, what's the point.

He's now insisting he'll come in 2 weekends' time, but I'm not holding him to it. Aibu? He offered in the very first place, I never asked him.

Just pay someone else to do it
he sounds flaky and not up for doing it

Get someone in to do the job and pay market rate then. Friends I know have had nightmares with so called pals doing building work.

I always try and avoid having friends doing any kind of professional service for me. It's much better to pay market rate and have the ability to hold the provider to professional standards and timelines.

It's just he kept offering and saying oh ill do it for you you don't need to get anyone in. I'm not saying it had to be done in the very first week but as I say it's been 6 months.
My home feels half done. I get that other people 'spend years' in half finished homes but that doesn't mean I should?

Give him an ultimatum. Ie ‘Love you to come in a fortnights time, but if you can’t make it, I’m going have to get someone else to do it, as I need the work doing now. ‘

You don’t owe him anything, you aren’t obligated to use him because he is a friend. Pay a professional who is willing to book you in their diary.

It’s likely he will stop and start and not give you a proper service because he thinks he can take the piss just because you know him.

Absolutely you shouldn't have to wait for him to take his own sweet time. I have occasionally replied to such offers with "Oh, that's a kind offer, but I am a really picky customer and wouldn't want it to spoil our friendship".

I’d just get someone else in, I’ve had a nightmare before with a friends partner doing some work for me that wasn’t done correctly and it all became a mess to sort out, I avoid having people I know do work for me now.

Just get it sorted by someone else and if they mention it again tell them not to worry about it, it’s all sorted now.

I wouldn't have waited 6 months! Just pay someone else.

Get someone else in to do it, even if it takes a while to save up for.
Actions speak louder than words
There's no rush to finish your house. It's yours

If he’s coming to you on the weekend, he’s obviously having to prioritise full paying customers, as he’s offered you ‘mates rates’.
Maybe if he doesn’t show up then, consider booking someone else if it’s affordable.
At least then you can say it was getting urgent and you’ve had to book so and so, does he know if they’re reliable, sort of thing.

Just keep saving. If he comes in the meantime then fab. If he doesn't, just get someone in and don't bring it up again. It's not worth falling out over.

He said two weekends time. So if he doesn't turn up in two weekends time you just get someone else in. I had this with a tradie who dragged it out and kept putting it off and I just did it myself in the end. It's not at all unreasonable that after 6 months you don't want to wait any longer.

I moved in September. From a relatively small flat, to a significantly larger house. And so was short of furniture.

A very old friend promised me a dining room table and chairs that were just taking up space in her garage. There was quite a bit of talk about it and a back and forth about how we would transport it the approximately 2.5 miles across town.

Then it was never mentioned again and I just went to the local secondhand furniture place and bought one. Sometimes life is just too short for the hassle of dealing with friends.

Just ignore his offer. Get someone else in. Never wait for other people.

Yeah, if he's arguing that people wait years, it seems unlikely he'll suddenly find the time to do it. He's basically telling you you're unreasonable to want it done soon, but YANBU to feel tired of waiting. If he hasn't managed to get started on it by the time you've saved up, I take that as a sign that it's not meant to be and just get someone else. No hard feelings, but life's too short to wait forever when you can afford to hire someone to do it!

It never ends well asking a friend to help, even if all good you’re in their debt which can leave a stain.

If they do it straight away great, but generally better to arrange yourself.