Why are tradesmen so crap at communication?

[CimCardashian]

We need a carpenter to do some jobs for us.

First problem is getting hold of them,and if they come over they don’t get back to me/give a quote and then I don’t hear from them again etc etc.
Even checkatrade ones

So annoying!

If anyone knows a carpenter in SE London let me know 😩

I think it's a combination of different skill sets being required to do the manual work and communicate with customers, plan schedules, deal with quotes, invoicing etc. Also they all seem to be pretty busy at the moment so probably aren't desperate for the work.
But I agree that not turning up when you've said you will is just bad manners.
I've just had some work done by a larger building company and the difference in them was refreshing. They responded to an enquiry through their website within half a day, had phone calls from the guy in the office throughout the work to check I was happy with how they were getting on, he came out himself to check on it one day, they had a defined schedule for invoicing.....it might have cost me a bit more but not having to chase them up or wonder when they'd want money was really nice!

We had an awkward situation when a builder disappeared on us just as the first lockdown started. When tradespeople were again allowed to work we followed up and followed up. Nothing. Then he emailed us saying he'd had Covid. But five months had passed. We had no way of knowing he'd been ill and hadn't liked to keep chasing him, assuming he didn't want the work. We had found someone else. All he had to do was send a quick text and we'd have said, get well soon and let's talk when you're well.

Exactly @oneglassandpuzzled. Communication is key…. In fact that’s all we’re asking for isn’t it?

I think I need a carpentry version of Pimlico Plumbers,pay a bit more but you know they’ll turn up.

There are some fantastic tradespeople out there, but in my experience (we've renovated 3 houses) more seem to be a it rubbish over all than not.

It's mostly the actually turning up to quote and the giving of a quote that's the problem. If you can get past that, you're usually ok!

I'm not really sure why they seem to get a pass because they're not into admin though. Is anyone? Half of my business is admin with the other half being actually fulfilling the job. The admin is dull, but it's part of running a business unfortunately. That naff half facilitates me being able to do the other bit that I actually want to do and enjoy. If I didn't turn up to a client meeting, took 3 weeks to get a quote back to someone and then didn't turn up on the day I said I would, or decided to clock off early because it was a randomly sunny day (all things we've experienced) i'd get my arse handed to me

I think collectively they've all just been so shite for so long that it's accepted/expected

Although just to reiterate, when you get a good one they are fantastic and worth their weight in gold!

We're losing the will with tradesmen at the moment. I know they're busy, I know they prefer the practical parts of their jobs to the admin, I know they have lives outside of work. But stop coming to my house and acting all keen about doing a job for me, then never returning calls or messages because you don't actually want to do the work - be a grown up and be honest when you're standing in front of me!

thanks Hannah I'll take a look at Nextdoor if I hear nothing/he doesn't reply by the end of the week.

I have a list of numbers of people who do tiling, carpentry, electrics...all reliable and good prices....they are polish and lithuanian...always text if running late etc....

We had this when we were trying to get small jobs done. Builders are ridiculously busy at the moment - everyone who would have spent money on holidays or who has saved money in lockdown through not commuting or something is having loft conversions, extensions, new kitchens.

A friend is trying to get a builder to quote for a £30k attic room project and is being told that good builders are booked up FOR A YEAR.

So if you're a jobbing carpenter, electrician, plumber or whatever, you have so much work possibilities, if you can pick up 5 months guaranteed work on a site or large project, you're going to take that rather than try to pick up smaller projects here and there.

My DP is a tradesman. People chasing him left right and centre for quotes currently. Here is the general problems we are finding.

1. Material has been a nightmare to get. He was quoting jobs then the prices sky rocket so accurate quotes have been challenging.

1. He is booked up until October/November time. Can't quote now as prices on materials are unpredictable.

1. Sometimes on the tools till 6/7. Rarely checks his phone in the day of in the middle of the build.

1. Admin on jobs are far more than people realise. Quotes/ordering materials/invoices/Subbie invoices and payments.

1. If he is looking at a job at 5pm and his current job over runs, it's difficult to leave the physical job you are on.

I'm not excusing the behaviour, just giving you reasons why. I get equally frustrated when his trade mates are due to come to our house to look at jobs and don't turn up or call.

I had this this year 12 separate landscaping firms agreed to come out and quote.(not all the same time. I went to one at a time) only 5 of them turned up. I took days off work or stayed up after a night shift waiting for them to arrive.
! agreed to send a quote and brochure for me to pick my stones. That never arrived.
Finally after 4 months of trying I got a firm booked for 3 months in advance. They took 1 month to lay a patio. It doesnt drain, the gaps are uneven and holes appeared in the grouting after the first lot of rain.
I need my roof doing and my front drive. I am dreading it. Got the money there cant bring myself to start looking for the trades again

Infuriating isn’t it. Good communication is now pretty much my main criteria when choosing a trades person. Interestingly, where I live there are many women doing these kinds of jobs (plumbing, sparky, odd-job, carpentry, gardens). They are almost invariably better at communicating.

To all those asking for some sympathy for their overworked DPs, consider getting them on a professional development course to improve their communication and their admin. It is absolutely an essential part of the job (whether they think it is or not).

@umbel

Infuriating isn’t it. Good communication is now pretty much my main criteria when choosing a trades person. Interestingly, where I live there are many women doing these kinds of jobs (plumbing, sparky, odd-job, carpentry, gardens). They are almost invariably better at communicating.

To all those asking for some sympathy for their overworked DPs, consider getting them on a professional development course to improve their communication and their admin. It is absolutely an essential part of the job (whether they think it is or not).

To all those asking for some sympathy for their overworked DPs, consider getting them on a professional development course to improve their communication and their admin. It is absolutely an essential part of the job (whether they think it is or not).

100% agree with this. The administrative and communication side is part and parcel of running a business. If you're only knocking out the physical bit to a good standard, you're still only doing half a job. Running a business isn't for everyone and there's nothing wrong with being employed rather than self employed if you can't manage it all.

Not a carpenter but if anyone needs a fence/patio/hard landscaping I’ve found the holy grail of tradesmen who answers the phone, sends text updates, quotes when he says he will. I mean largely the text updates are “Gah, sorry, weather and materials shortages mean another delay” so you’re no closer to the finish line, but he’s very communicative and fit.

Had a plumber come to sort out plan for a job today. He's having an extension built at home, and even he is going mad trying to get it done due to the antics of some individuals, quite apart from all the supply problems and price increases thanks to brexit.
He and his lads seem to get jobs done and done well in double quick time, thankfully...the job they have already done we were very happy with (and the price was very good too).

@earsup

I have a list of numbers of people who do tiling, carpentry, electrics...all reliable and good prices....they are polish and lithuanian...always text if running late etc....

One of the best tradesmen I ever had was Polish and OMG, the difference. Came when he said he would, quoted a really good price, was efficient and did the bloody job. I was gobsmacked.

Yes ime the Polish are very reliable and tend to communicate quite well. Despite English not being their first language!

If you’ve got the skills and get up and go to gain fluency in another language and move country, good communication is probably a skill you have learned.

Bullshitters, bodgers and braggarts.

We’re in a 1930s semi, literally have the ready cash to get things done and it is like pulling teeth. Horrified at the poor service, dishonesty and downright unprofessional behaviour. We’re a captive audience, and God it’s frustrating.

Poor communication, excuses, bugging themselves up and then not turning up.

@Meredusoleil

Yes ime the Polish are very reliable and tend to communicate quite well. Despite English not being their first language!

As with anything, it depends. We've been caught out twice by dodgy polish workmen. The last time was some decorators who were highly recommended by neighbours. We engaged them to do the outside of the house (all four walls to be painted white). Yes, they turned up on time and they were quick, but they used watered-down cheap paint instead of the quality paint we specified. OH saw inside the back of their van and there were several tins of a cheap brand, but they always used the "proper" brand tins when doing the work. We naturally thought the other tins were for another job. Then we twigged that they were emptying the crap paint into the "quality" tins. We asked them, but they denied it. The paint job lasted less than a year and we had to have "proper" decorators to do the job properly, which has lasted 7 years so far and still looking good.

This is one of my bugbears.
If you can’t do the job just send me a text for fucks sake.
There are no excuses for not letting someone know that you are unable to do a job, particularly when you give the client a date and time and they take the day of work to wait for you

Have a policy of using tradeswomen wherever possible. So far so good...

@MrsRLynde

Have a policy of using tradeswomen wherever possible. So far so good...

I think I would really love to do this too. How does one go about finding these tradeswomen though?!?

@Meredusoleil you can get your female plumbers and heating engineers through a brilliant company called Stop Cocks - stopcocks.uk/

@GreenBiro

It's more admin than you think - make a time to see the job, cost it all out, decide whether you want to do it

I think I speak for the whole of the country here. If they dont want the job please tell us, rather than ignore all contact. We will not be offended and will be pleased for the straight answer.