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Best way to say thank you to a builder?

13 replies

thegirlwhouk · 27/08/2013 19:05

Opinions needed as I'm not sure of the proper etiquette here.

We've recently had an extension added on to our house. We're almost finished now (hooray!Grin) and I really want to say thank you to the builder and his team for doing such a fab job. I'm a teacher, and I always get thank you gifts and the thought behind them means a lot to me.

The work took the best part of 12 weeks, so we've got to know the builders fairly well. We used a small local contractor, and had the same team in since the start (give or take a few days). For these guys it's been one of their bigger jobs.

They turned our house into a beautiful home. I know how difficult it can be to get good builders and we really lucked out. They worked every Saturday, and pulled a few late nights early on when we hit a problem. They've been really great and I want them to know how much we appreciate their hard work and how much it means to us.

I feel a thank you of sorts is appropriate, the problem is, I don't know what!

I wondered if a bottle of fizz/wine/crate of beer might be a good option?

Alternatively, my husband and I were considering having the team and their families over for a BBQ and some drinks. Would this be to OTT? I like hosting and entertaining, but I don't want them to feel obliged to attend! WineCake

A happy medium is possibly just buying some drinks and nibbles for their last day on site, but I suspect at the end of the day they just want to get home to their families and have a shower.

Have any of you got any alternative suggestions, or have you done anything similar in the past? All opinions gladly received.

Thanks! Smile

OP posts:
valiumredhead · 27/08/2013 19:51

Give them some money for a drink. Not the bbq imo.

Yonihadtoask · 27/08/2013 19:53

I would say that a few extra quid for 'drinks' would be sufficient.

it's great that they did such a good job, but tbh once it's all finished and done, it is just another job to them.

ggirl · 27/08/2013 19:55

We felt the same as you about our builders after they finished our extension. I felt like hosting something for them but decided it was a bit ott.
We gave them big bouquets of flowers for their partners and some booze. We have laso provided great references for them and shown prospective customers of theirs around the house.

Babouche · 27/08/2013 20:06

Wine,and if they've got young families,something they can all enjoy like a family biscuit box/selection pack

Crutchlow35 · 27/08/2013 20:08

A few crates of beer. BBQ is OTT. Or give them all a cash bonus. Just in case some don't drink.

mayihaveaboxofchoculaits · 27/08/2013 20:14

Also tell your friends/neighbours/woman on the bus just how good rthey are. Personal recommendation is worth thousands to them in generating business.

Potterer · 27/08/2013 21:18

I think it depends on the builders, mine have told me they will be back for a BBQ (I didn't offer one) Grin

They have been here for months for the build but we then had to have the garden landscaped and a retaining wall built etc so they went away for a bit and are now back.

As I have been here throughout it all and spoken to them on a daily basis, we are treating them to stuff we know they will like, my builder is a real foodie so we are getting him some items from a deli.

The BBQ was mentioned because they have just laid me a huge patio and they said when the garden was finished they want to come back for a BBQ. They weren't joking either.

I would say treat them to a case of beer/wine depending on their preference and you could then mention a BBQ and see if they are interested.

TheWookiesWife · 27/08/2013 22:38

A letter of recommendation or a positive comment on their web page would be good and maybe a few drinks for them to take home to celebrate a job well done would be nice ! I had a lovely cake baked for me from a client once ! And another put together a collection of before during and after photos with a big thank you note all in a frame ! As you know yourself - the thought behind the gift itself is the most important thing ! I'm sure you have told them how pleased you are ! Now tell them that you will be telling everyone else how pleased you are too !!!

ChazzerChaser · 27/08/2013 22:42

I gave mine some cash to go for a nice meal with his wife.

frostyfingers · 28/08/2013 12:56

We checked ours like beer and bought some crates of local stuff for them. Also the offer to recommend or be used as a reference is useful to them.

MrsTaraPlumbing · 28/08/2013 16:37

IMHO the guys who did the work don't want to come back for a BBQ.

A few £££ or something to drink is appreciated by the workers.

A great thank you letter to the boss is the very best gift - a letter he can show future potential clients. Even better if you are willing to speak to future clients to give personal recommendation or even show them your property.

peggyundercrackers · 28/08/2013 16:47

we had a bbq for ours - they all came back - had an excellent afternoon - they certainly knew how to drink though... would have been cheaper buying beer for them :)

Talkinpeace · 28/08/2013 21:22

At the end of our work I gave each of them a bottle of champagne (from Lidl) wrapped in silver foil
they all looked utterly made up as they left on their last days and a few came back to see how it looked once we had unpacked

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