Disclosure: I'm an older woman who works in the construction sector, though the kind of work we do is specialist and my work normally comes via architects and developers. I always answer enquiries and respond to clients, even if it's clear that we can't help them. I try to communicate and treat all clients as I'd expect to be treated, as you'd expect of any professional.
Nearly a year ago one of my friends bought a house in need of serious renovation a ten-minute walk from where I live. She started trying to find a general builder to do the whole thing — minor structural work, small extension, plastering, electrics, new bathroom and cloakroom, replumb, roof — the lot. She had a realistic budget and wasn't looking to do it on the cheap. She had professional plans, she was flexible and polite. A good client. For months she endured builders failing to respond to calls or emails, refusing to give even a rough estimate for the work, people making arrangements to come and look at the place and not turning up, or turning up and seeming keen and then ghosting her. She asked small local builders and some of the bigger ones. One of the bigger local companies sent a surveyor and a couple of tradespeople round and it all felt professional and positive. She made it clear that she could wait six months for them to start. They said they'd draw up a detailed estimate and a contract. The following week they emailed to say the job was too bitty for them and they couldn't help. Then the surveyor called her and said he had a good roofer who'd do the roof for her for more than twice the price her own architect and surveyor had told he she could expect to pay! She had a joiner who had agreed a start date to build in some cupboards and wardrobes and who pulled out the day before he was due. At least he let her know, I suppose. I assumed she was handling them badly or had magically selected all the dodgy/ unreliable tradespeople in the area.
At the end of last year her mother became seriously ill and she has had to move in with her mum to look after her during Covid. So I said I'd see if I could find a builder for her, or at least get things started. I thought I'd start with the roof — and hell, just getting a roofer, any roofer, let alone one with insurance and satisfied clients, to even come out to price up has been a nightmare. I've had the same treatment she has: stood up, ghosted, ignored. Even my electrician, who I use regularly in my own projects, failed to turn up as arranged.
My friend was worried that because she doesn't know about the more technical side of the work involved builders were nervous of working for her. Or that maybe they worried that she wouldn't pay or would get difficult about things she didn't understand. So she started offering to pay upfront — and still they were 'Meh'. I do understand much of what's involved in the various jobs and I'm now wondering whether the fact that I ask informed questions is frightening them off.
What's the secret? How do you find decent builders/ tradespeople? How do you handle them?