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Original poster

Tradespeople not providing quotes - so frustrating

46 replies

thebellagio · 04/01/2022 13:00

I feel like I need to rant!

I'm really getting fed up of builders/decorators/other tradespeople coming to take a look at my house but then not bothering to give me a quote afterwards. It's such a friggin waste of my time and their time.

I've been trying to find a builder to knock a door through a wall - one gave me an extortionate quote, another took 3 weeks (fair enough) but the other one who we liked the most has now taken nearly 8 weeks and despite me chasing, still hasn't bothered to give me a ballpark figure. I told him at the time, I'm happy to wait for the work to be done, but I just want to get into people's diaries so I'm in the queue so to speak.

We asked a decorator to have a look - we need the entire house done, so we told him to price it up so it's a decent sized job for him. He told me in Mid Nov that he was booking in work for Feb onwards which is absolutely fine with me, yet he hasn't bothered to send over a quote either. Frankly I have no intention of using him now because if he can't be bothered to even give me a quote, then I don't want to work with him. But what really annoys me is why waste my time by coming to have a look if you have no intention of following it up?

I understand that for builders it's harder to quote because they need to consider cost of materials which is fluctuating, and they are booked up months in advance. But for decorators where they just need to get some paint and some drop cloths? WTF its just so annoying!

OP posts:

Warblerinwinter · 04/01/2022 13:06

Yep, have same issue. No solutions I’m afraid
I’m waiting for works on roofs and other essential stuff since I moved into new home in June. Got architect and builder out . Been pestering non stop since then. Planning approval gone in and still no quote 😡. I really have no idea what works are going to cost - and it’s scaring me as it could be £20k or even £40k …I don’t know if I can afford to do everything I’ve asked for. Absolutely bonkers. They won’t even give me a rough ball park figure
I want to stay with builder as he is very good, got lots of good recommendations.
There have been issues with staff absences and both architect and builders absences due to covid. I know they’re booked for months ahead. But in my case they know I’m committed to doing the work as it is essential but it doesn’t seem to speed a quote up
I’ve taken a couple of weeks at Xmas to back off…next week I will start again with the pushing. I’m afraid to piss them off in case they pull out- they’ve got me over a barrel in effect
If you find a way to get through to builders to get progress let me know..please! So frustrating…..

Original poster

thebellagio · 04/01/2022 13:14

@Warblerinwinter

Yep, have same issue. No solutions I’m afraid I’m waiting for works on roofs and other essential stuff since I moved into new home in June. Got architect and builder out . Been pestering non stop since then. Planning approval gone in and still no quote 😡. I really have no idea what works are going to cost - and it’s scaring me as it could be £20k or even £40k …I don’t know if I can afford to do everything I’ve asked for. Absolutely bonkers. They won’t even give me a rough ball park figure I want to stay with builder as he is very good, got lots of good recommendations. There have been issues with staff absences and both architect and builders absences due to covid. I know they’re booked for months ahead. But in my case they know I’m committed to doing the work as it is essential but it doesn’t seem to speed a quote up I’ve taken a couple of weeks at Xmas to back off…next week I will start again with the pushing. I’m afraid to piss them off in case they pull out- they’ve got me over a barrel in effect If you find a way to get through to builders to get progress let me know..please! So frustrating…..

That's the thing, I get that the xmas break results in a 10 day delay, and added to that is the covid complication - so that's not a problem. It's the utter ghosting that I have an issue with.

If you know that you're behind on admin and you still need to do the quote, then a quick email just to say "sorry, I haven't forgotten about you..." is all it needs to maintain and facilitate good will. These businesses are based on word of mouth recommendations. I've got a few friends looking for builders/decorators at the moment, and we're all sharing our experiences so it doesn't take long to get a bad reputation

OP posts:

fingersdoublecrossed · 04/01/2022 13:16

I always used to have this issue but now I have an OH who works in the industry and I find that tradespeople are really quick to help each other out. So, I think it's about who you know - do you know anyone who might work in the sector and be able to source someone reliable for you?

SpankyPankhurst · 04/01/2022 13:19

We can't even get anyone to come and have a look! And DH is in the industry. We need plastering and plumbing done, but everyone's booked up from here to eternity.

Somanysocks · 04/01/2022 13:28

As a decorator I take issue with your 'just some paint and dropcloths' comment. There is a lot more equipment needed than that and prices change a lot on some stuff.

However, you are not wrong to be annoyed by no responses after looking at a job. I try to turn around within 2 weeks, but if I can't I let the potential customer know and a timeframe.

Roselilly36 · 04/01/2022 13:31

Just how things are at the moment. I had a lot of trouble getting a plumber to turn up, then if they did, no quote materialised, then I finally got a quote, gave him the job, chased for months, couldn’t give me a start date. So I started the process all again! So I can totally understand your frustration.

Original poster

thebellagio · 04/01/2022 13:42

@Somanysocks

As a decorator I take issue with your 'just some paint and dropcloths' comment. There is a lot more equipment needed than that and prices change a lot on some stuff.

However, you are not wrong to be annoyed by no responses after looking at a job. I try to turn around within 2 weeks, but if I can't I let the potential customer know and a timeframe.

I appreciate there is obviously more stuff than that. But a decorator unlike builders generally won't need to assemble an entire team, nor source timber/bricks/foundations/work with architects/sparkys/joiners etc so it feels a bit ridiculous to have been completely ghosted.

OP posts:

MintJulia · 04/01/2022 13:51

You're doing well to get them out at all.

I rang five roofing companies before Xmas, asking for a quote to replace a roof, two to three weeks work. All agreed dates/times to come and look at it.

Only two bothered to keep their appointments. One was extortionate. The last one was a recommendation so I've gone with him.

I don't get it. If they are too busy, why don't they just say they are too busy?

Original poster

thebellagio · 04/01/2022 13:55

@MintJulia

You're doing well to get them out at all.

I rang five roofing companies before Xmas, asking for a quote to replace a roof, two to three weeks work. All agreed dates/times to come and look at it.

Only two bothered to keep their appointments. One was extortionate. The last one was a recommendation so I've gone with him.

I don't get it. If they are too busy, why don't they just say they are too busy?

Thats what I don't get. If they've got too much work on and are operating at capacity then that's fine, but just say so from the outset.

I've explained to all of them that the work I want doing can wait, I just want to get pencilled into people's diaries. At some point they will run out of work because they aren't lining work up after jobs end!

OP posts:

SpankyPankhurst · 04/01/2022 14:01

some point they will run out of work

They are far more likely to run out of materials before they run out of work

CoolShoeshine · 04/01/2022 17:00

I’m in the same boat too, a number of jobs need doing. I’ve got the money all lined up, ready to spend. I’ve managed to get some visits from tradespeople who seem really decent, then either radio silence or excuses. Are they just chasing the biggest jobs?

Notbluepeter · 04/01/2022 20:41

@MintJulia I think being a trades person and keeping up with admin are two completely different skillsets that these guys are just not interested in doing. It's bizarre.

HyphenCobra · 04/01/2022 21:04

I have found the only way we got a plumber, electrician and decorator was through knowing people who knew them and TOLD them to take us on as clients!!

RufustheFloralmissingreindeer · 04/01/2022 21:07

We are in the same position, been trying to get work done since June!

It’s infuriating

delilahbucket · 04/01/2022 21:15

This has always been a bugbear of mine and it's nothing new. People who run one man band trades companies don't tend to know much about running an actual company. They qualify and off they go thinking it's a doddle.
DH is retraining as a trade next week. I think he'll do remarkably well at it after years working with customers. He has the people, admin and organisational skills and he won't just ignore people.

WallaceinAnderland · 04/01/2022 21:29

We got a handyman in to do a fairly simple job. Then asked if he knew anyone who could re-site and fit a gate so he sent his mate round. We asked if he knew any plasterers and sure enough a few days later he's here to give a quote. We asked him if he knew any decorators and he sent his mate round. We needed to re-site some sockets so asked if he knew an electrician and so on... think it definitely must be who you know.

earsup · 04/01/2022 22:48

I think most struggle with the admin side of things...my lodger is a tiler and carpenter but does take ages sometimes to get back to people...also when he is booked solid for a year ahead, he doesnt let people know...i told him to just send a text....at least you not hanging on for a reply....its very irritating....

WutheringHeights66 · 05/01/2022 06:46

Deffo all chasing the bigger jobs, and at the moment they can.

They really don’t want to be bothered with the small stuff as the profit margin is bigger on the large jobs and they can pick and choose at the moment.

It’s infuriating, but there’s an industry wide labour shortage and material shortage on top.

If I had my time again I would be encouraging my kids to get a trade!

WutheringHeights66 · 05/01/2022 06:50

Posted too soon, throw in the backlog of Covid jobs that didn’t get done for the best part of a year and you’ve no chance.

I agree the only way to get tradies is for other trades to put a word in. It’s only because our best friend is a carpenter that we have access to a reliable plumber, decorator and builder.

PoshWatchShitShoes · 05/01/2022 07:07

Agree with the above. The trades we've had in for our renovation are all contacts of contacts.

Also, I think you need to be more forthright on the start date. If you're relaxed about when it's done, you're not a priority. I'm always pushing (politely) to get things done asap "so you'll be here next Monday, I need it tomorrow if possible, I really can't wait till x date, please can you squeeze me in etc" and that seems to work.

Good luck! It's really frustrating, I got ghosted by 2 different builders when we first started getting quotes. It's really rude and gives a very poor impression of those companies and makes it impossible to move forward.

Bionicname · 05/01/2022 07:13

Brexit got rid of many of the best tradespeople and didn’t help with the supply chain/costs/availability of materials either…

UpDownRound · 05/01/2022 07:16

I agree it's frustrating but can't agree with complaints about 'extortionate' quotes. Firstly, how do you know they are extortionate if you have nothing to compare to? And secondly, if they're the only one providing a quote presumably they can pick and choose their work and the people willing to pay that amount will have their jobs completed. People want good builders but want to pay them a pittance. Most building work done well costs vastly more than people imagine it will. My brother is a surveyor and is often called in to look at substandard building work. When he was a builder, people would choose a cheaper builder then go back to him to get him to do the job after all when the cheap builder did a shoddy job.

ANameChangeAgain · 05/01/2022 07:20

If tradesmen don't come with a quote then the work is either problematic, or they are getting a potential pita vibe from the customer, or they know that the price will be so high it isn't worth their time doing the costing calculations and designs. Sometimes they get the impression that its just a pricing exercise and the work will never be done.
The cost of red fuel will be increasing in March, which will hike up prices on materials, and the costs of materials are so volatile that its impossible to cost a job more then 6 weeks ahead.
What I will say is that a good tradesperson will have a long waiting list, even this time of year, so if someone is too available then beware. All I can suggest is that you chase up by phone, but make sure you do it during normal office hours.

Malibuismysecrethome · 05/01/2022 07:22

Well it’s normally because builders/decorators would rather work in a cleared house or room rather that working round family detritus. They don’t have to take on family homes there is plenty of work at the moment.

crossstitchingnana · 05/01/2022 07:32

@UpDownRound

I had a roofer stand there, after looking at my roof for five minutes, and tell me the price would be £7000. The vibe from him was just awful. Another firm (came after weeks of chasing) quoted £1500. I also had a builder quote £5050 and then one, who was totally reliable and turned up to quote promptly, quoted £2250. There are absolute con artists out there.

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