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Original poster

Anyone else called time on the tradies?

23 replies

venys · 30/09/2018 13:30

I had more or less given up on the tradies - after many years I have found only one or two that will reliably turn up and do a good job. I do post one or two minor jobs that needs someone with appropriate tools and expertise but nothing that takes more than a day as I find the trades too stressful. Had been waiting about 5 weeks to repair a fence post and gate. Guy didn't turn up today and clearly hadn't even started thinking about the materials. In the end he told me to find someone else and hung up on me. So that's it I am finished with them (apart from my carpenter). Problem is there is loads of work to do and although we are willing and physically able to do the work, we can't with our children in tow. With SEN and age being a barrier and no family or childcare to help out (as that is another bone of contention). So not really sure what to do - just sell the house as an ongoing project? Live in a field somewhere? We are not in dire straits but I don't feel it's worth my time anymore trying to fix the house. The house can't have visitors or playdates, nor is it ideal for my kids to learn independence so we get stuck in a spiral of doing everything for them 24/7. Can't go to our MPs and say make builders more reliable can you?

OP posts:

LEMtheoriginal · 30/09/2018 13:45

Wtf is a tradie? My DP is a carpeter. He is always in demand but he struggles with time management due to the "homies" always adding jobs to the list so is torn between providing a good service to his current customer and moving on to the next one. So he has been on his job now for a year that was supposed to be changing the doors on a kitchen to building and fitting an entire bespoke oak kitchen from scratch, by hand, install and decorate two bathrooms, plastering etc. Basicslly refirbing an entire period house. Its been a fantastic job for dp but it has delayed a big job he was meant to start in the summer.

Its all the "just" jobs that people want doing that delay things bit he wants to provide a good service - he needs to clone himself!

Your work sounds bitty and difficult to price. My advice would be to find someone who you trust, clump these jobs together and agree an hourly/daily rate as my dp shies away from work that is difficult to price. This works well for him bit he has an established customer base who trust him.

Oh and avoid calling them tradies its demeaning. Unless you are in Australia of course

Original poster

venys · 30/09/2018 14:04

My jobs are not bitty and difficult to price. I get them in for a half day or whole day and have a well defined piece of work and well defined list of materials needed before we start. They just can't be bothered turning up and don't even have the courtesy to say they are overrunning on another job - but much of the time they don't actually want to do the work that day. I know it's the same the world over . if you don't like the term tradie, what should I use? (I am not saying it's every trades person but I find I spend more time trying to find someone than actually do the job myself).

OP posts:

Bombardier25966 · 30/09/2018 14:10

You sound like hard work OP. I can't think why "tradies" don't want to help you.

Herewegoagain01 · 30/09/2018 14:23

I haven’t had any trouble with and tradespeople. We have needed loads recently, and found some very good people to do very good work quickly. I’m not sure what you mean by finding ‘the trades too stressful’. All the guys we’ve had round have been very hard working, working 11 hr days, even showing up on a Sunday. I suspect the issue lies elsewhere as pp have suggested

Original poster

venys · 30/09/2018 14:28

I have reported as I don't want people implying that I am the problem. For example today I haven't even met the guy. Just quoted through his labourer and wife. Confirmed materials to be used on job and booked 5 weeks ago. I only rang him after he hadn't turned up. He hadn't even ordered the materials. If you did this to your boss, do you think he or she would be happy? Would you then tell them to shove it? Not sure how you would construe this as hard work? Anyways thanks for your input. I am not following the thread anymore.

OP posts:

LEMtheoriginal · 30/09/2018 14:30

Well yeah to be fair if my Dp thinks someone is likely to be a bit of a twat he will sack them off. He has plenty of work for people who respect him and his skills.

I was actually trying to help.

Change your attitude and you'll find more "tradies" will actually turn up.

greendale17 · 30/09/2018 14:32

I have had the same problem. Trades people taking weeks to get back with a quote. Never coming when they say they will but don’t let you know

wowfudge · 30/09/2018 14:34

For the kind of job you are talking about, is there not a handyman locally who can do that for you? I find they are better are limiting the jobs they take on although you might have to wait a couple of months for them to be available.

ShesABelter · 30/09/2018 14:37

My husband's a "tradie", to be honest, half day jobs are a pain in the arse because if he's got another big job on for another client he can't just bugger off for half an hour and if he doesn't have another job that's half a days work then he has lost half a days wages for the rest of the day.

With the likes of a fence and a fence post I'd call a maintenance man to be honest. Joiners are far too busy to come just for that.

ShesABelter · 30/09/2018 14:38

Oh and if you haven't already. Download the app called "nextdoor"and put a post on there. Locals will recommend people they have used who are reliable.

Munchmallow · 30/09/2018 14:39

It depends where you live Herewegoagain01 Where I am it's like the OP says, very, very difficult to get tradespeople to quote for jobs or if they do turn up I never hear from them again.
I've had several bathroom fitters out over the course of a year or so and not one of them has come back to me with a price.
I dread things going wrong with my house and pay out a small fortune in service contracts just so I know I can get a workman when I need one - and even then when my drain was blocked recently I had to wait a week to have it seen to. It's a nightmare.

Plentyoffishnets · 30/09/2018 14:48

I think at the moment tradespeople are snowed under with work. I think it's because the property market is static so lots of people are doing home improvements. I am currently trying to get some work done - quite a lot of work, probably 2 weeks worth. Even trying to get people in to give a quote has been near impossible

EdisonLightBulb · 30/09/2018 14:49

I agree with other posts, you don't need a tradie for those kind of jobs but an odd job man. My DB gave up a professional job nine years ago for a less stressful job as a handy man. He has been consistently in demand. He lives 200 mikes away but I have a handy man. I save jobs up for him then he comes and does them all in a day. Everything from changing to toilet flush to fitting new light fittings and hanging pictures.

RollerJed · 30/09/2018 14:50

I agree OP. I was in London and getting a tradie to quote and then complete the job as per quote, was painful.

And for those giving out about half day jobs, should we just wait until the next coming very soon recession when tradies are falling over themselves for anyone willing to spend money. Pfft

bunintheoven88 · 30/09/2018 15:13

Truth be told, I think it's really rude and demeaning to call them 'tradies'
I understand it must be frustrating if you want work done and aren't getting anywhere with that particular person, but don't lump them all into the same category OP.

serbska · 30/09/2018 15:17

I have found it hit and miss getting tradespeople to quote and turn up. For small jobs (day, half day) I don’t even want a quote I just want someone to come out and do the work.

Some I’ve contacted have been amazing.

Some spin you lines.

If it is such an incredible pain in the next doing half day jobs, just be up front. Say ‘sorry I’m only taking on larger projects at the momwnt’ Don’t say ‘sure love I’ll see you 8am tuesday’ and then just no turn up.

LEMtheoriginal · 30/09/2018 16:49

Roller Jed my dp would happily come and do your half day job but because it would be likely he could find somethingto co ordiate with it for the rest of the day then he would expect a full days pay. So yeah it would be better if you saved a couple of jobs. Or would you be happy to be sent home on a half day and lose the pay? No. Didnt think so

LEMtheoriginal · 30/09/2018 16:50

Serbeska - yes i dont u derstand that either. Thats simply bad manners.

Dickybow321 · 30/09/2018 18:53

OP, try MyBuilder. Since I started using them it's been so much easier getting work done. And on a few occasions after the work had been done and I'd left good feedback and then realised something wasn't done quite right and tried to contact said tradesman to come back but they didn't reply, MyBuilder have been amazing at chasing them and getting them to sort the situation out.

chooooo · 30/09/2018 19:51

Another wife of a 'tradie' (🙄) here.

You might not want to admit that you might just be the problem, but if you are consistently encountering difficulties in engaging reliable tradesmen, then chances are you are a pain in the arse as a client.

My DH is honest to the core (often to his own detriment). He is reliable and always contactable. In his particular trade, he is in high demand for being one of those who turns up when he says he will and does exactly what he says he's going to do, to a high standard.

Over the years, he has become incredibly adept at spotting clients who are likely to be extremely difficult to work for. He can pick them out a mile off. They might as well have a big fucking flashing beacon on their foreheads. People like this quickly make bad names for themselves amongst the 'tradie' community. Please don't underestimate how much 'tradies' speak to each other. If you're a dickhead to tradesmen (I'm not saying you are) then expect to find it difficult to find any who'll work for you.

It comes as a shock to a lot of people that honest and scrupulous tradesmen sometimes get mugged off by dishonest, awkward and downright lying clients.

HumptyNumptyNooNoo · 30/09/2018 19:53

It's not just 'Tradies' that bail at the last min. I've had jobs, booked in for weeks, for up a week's worth of work on site when homeowners have postponed or changed their minds, emailing after hours on a Friday, when my team are due to start on the Monday. Way too late for me to book anyone else in. So we have no work being paid for for that team, and still have the team to pay!

MrsFezziwig · 30/09/2018 21:23

I have reported as I don't want people implying that I am the problem.

April2020mom · 30/09/2018 22:10

I’ve never had any problems with tradesmen. We have a list of questions to ask them and made sure recommendations were worth our time and money. I pay attention to my gut feeling. I’ve decided to supervise their work. They only get nice reviews posted online in exchange for a professionally done job.

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