Teach me how to find decent tradespeople

[pattihews]

I've asked around locally and I've tried calling the roofers/ plasterers/ general builders/ carpenters recommended by neighbours and friends in the area. Most haven't responded and if they have it's to say they're booked for the next 6-12 months. Even the emergency roofing company I've contacted won't be able to sort out the leaky roof till the new year.

I've tried three general maintenance companies who have a bank of trades and two have come round to look at what's needed. One said there was more work than he'd anticipated and I'd have to find my own carpenter. The other said that there wasn't really enough work and it would be a very bitty process, sorting the roof and then the repairs to the ceiling and then the replastering. He then offered to do the exterior work — a small area of rendering and sorting out guttering and repainting (about 10 sq m) for £12K!

I have a friend who says that because I'm a woman of a certain age male tradespeople will steer clear because of the 'neurotic woman time-waster' stigma. I can't change sex.

I've had awful experiences with Check-a-Trade and similar in the past: horrible memories of having to deal with an angry Hungarian Check-a-trade 'plumber' who turned up without tools and wanted to charge me for fixing a serious leak with a bit of tape. Also still smarting after being taken for a fool by the guy who laid some garden paving for me a few years ago and charged me nearly three times what he charged the people in the next road who'd recommended him.

Women, how do you do it? Where do you look? How do you a) get them to respond to you, b) get them to come and price up, c) check whether they're any good? Prices are so ridiculous at the moment that it's difficult to know for certain at times whether you're being ripped off.

Where are you based.

I'm 50 so a certain age. Dont fave issues getting trades.

In Herts

But I do chase them for quotes

Initially I ask around friends Facebook local etc for recommendations but the best way I've found once you have e a trade in that's decent is ask them for mates numbers.

For example my plasterer recommended my window guy

My builder recommended plumber electrician decorator etc.

Teas coffee regular or a kettle with supplies if your at work And tip well then they will come back

Thank you. I know what you mean: once you find the first good tradesperson they can lead you to other people. It's getting the first good one that's the problem!

I try to be really straightforward and not faffy. I have a reasonable (I think) budget and I'm fairly realistic about what needs doing and how we're going to manage it.

The kitchen was stripped out by the previous owner but I'll do what I can to make sure they can have hot drinks and biscuits. Thinking of installing a key safe so that they can always let themselves in. Had problems in the past with different trades losing/ forgetting keys. I want to make it as easy for them as possible.

Sorry, forgot to say I'm 300 miles away from Herts!

When they say diary is full for the next 6-12 months, what do you say? My OH is genuinely booked up that far in advance so if you want him you have to get your name in the diary. He is booked up because he is good 😊

Shag them! Sorry couldn't resist; my dp is brill at all diy, can turn his hand to anything so he's our maintenance/caretaker/builder/renovator/mechanic etc etc.
We live in a small rural area and facebook seems to be the way people go; no one gets away with being a knob around here! Can you have a male friend with you at the time they visit? It's infuriating isn't it! I'm so glad I don't have to bother with it all. He makes very little income but saves us £thousands - and we know it's done right.

It's harder getting the first one agreed

But once you have, keep them sweet as possible and then get the numbers for others.

Mine have had loads off coffees made today and doughnuts.

I've now used same ones for 4 different jobs and my dh always gives out beer money at the end of the job.

But I'm the one who deals with them day to day I'm firm when It matters but friendly and laid back about times etc. Now I know mine well they have own key and come as they like.

Any of your friends husbands in trade that can recommend ?

Check the job is big enough - you might have to suck up having extra work done. Also check whether what you want done requires more than one trade.

Then it's just a case of getting quotes - but what you're looking for is someone who is keen to do the job (ie not too much tooth sucking), who turns up in a van with tools. They don't need to look perfect, but bonus points for a company shirt and workboots - it's just a bit more professional. Turning up in a car or looking like they're not working that day is never good.

I always try and describe by email or phone, pics as well, before they come to quote so if it's not the job for them, no one's time is wasted.

I listen to their suggestions, and if they don't volunteer them, I ask. Particularly if English is not their second language, the default answer can be 'yes yes yes' but they haven't actually understood what I've said. I ask how long they think it will take, and when they could start (roughly).

I make clear that I'm happy to purchase big things like tiles, lights etc, but they need to tell me the brands they prefer working with (eg many plumbers won't work with cheap taps because they're difficult to connect). I also make clear they will need to purchase all the fittings, adhesives etc, as I don't know what they need.

If they don't provide a quote, I don't chase. I just start a new batch of quotes. Eventually you'll get some good ones.

Then I'm decisive, get them booked in and buy nice chocolate biscuits for when they're here.

The roof can't wait for six months. It's a few slipped tiles that ought to be fixed in less than a day. There will be more work that could wait, but I really do need to stop the water ingress: only then can we get on with the other remedial works.

Thank you, Speedweed, very useful. I've sat around wasting weeks hoping that people will get back to me or follow up a visit with a quote and you're right: I just need to keep casting my net until I hit someone. I do very gently nudge if they've seemed interested and promised an estimate, but it's never got a response.

Do you phone and speak to people — often difficult because they're usually driving/ on a job — or do you message? Or email? One or two good tradespeople I've used in the past (in another area) haven't had much English or have had literacy issues, so I never know what to do for the best.

With everything added up I reckon this is going to end up costing me around £35k (I think I'm being realistic, but who knows) and I do want someone who will provide me with an estimate and bills and receipts.

I'm not living in the property. It's empty and there's no kitchen, but I've made the loo and bathroom clean and pleasant and I can make a space where they can make tea and coffee and have a sit-down. I would hope, once we're up and running, to visit each day and keep an eye on things when someone is working there, but I thought a key safe would mean they could come and go as it suited them and it wouldn't be dependent on me always having to be there.

@pattihews Normally I'd call them first, and have a short but clear description of the work ready, eg I'm looking for someone to 'renovate the bathroom' or 'replace the kitchen tap'. Just something to give them an idea of the scale - if it's not a job they want, they can say they're busy and everyone moves on. If they're interested, they'll then either arrange to come and see you to quote, or they'll ask you to send pics/message first. If at any point they don't get back to you, you don't follow up, you move on.

Another thing is to make sure you're ready for the trade - trades are done in an order, and if you want work done out of order, it will involve messing up another trade, eg plastering then doing electrics = the electrician will need to chase out the wall so the plaster will need redoing. The first trade is electrics, then gas/plumbing, plastering, decorating. If you have a project which needs all of them (like a kitchen renovation), the company must be big enough or will get them in - don't try and juggle yourself or insist they need to use the electrician you already know etc as it makes life difficult.

Don't use anyone who can't speak English well enough - nothing to do with whether they are any good, but if there is a problem, you can't communicate which is a disaster.

Don't bother asking for receipts - it's too fiddly. You just want a total price for the finished work, in writing, with an estimated timeframe. If you've had the conversation about what you're going to buy and what they'll need to buy, everyone is clear.

Don't forget everyone wants work done Quickly, Cheaply and Well, but the reality is you'll only ever get two of those things, so choose carefully!

We found a good roofer because we walked past a nicely done new roof on an old house about the age of ours, with a sign saying who had done it. We phones him, liked his approach when he came to quote, got him to do one roof, and two years down the line, he's just done the rest, which has been a really big job. You could try knocking on doors of places that have been newly done and nicely done and asking who they used.
We needed some groundworks, asked a chap we met who had been a landscape gardener who he would suggest, that firm have now done three jobs for us, and are top class. We'll be getting them to quote for a new drive when we get to that point too.
We always try to be good customers, pay on the nail, lots of teas/coffee/soft drinks/biscuits, and access to the loo (we put down sheets on the carpets because otherwise they feel they have to take their boots off, even if we say, don't bother).

(agree with @Speedweed, make their lives easy by getting rooms, access etc. cleared ready for them, and if they need things like water supply (plasterers do) or whatever, get it laid on before they turn up if you can)

So, one final question as I'm sitting here online trying to work out from their online presence whether I'm dealing with someone reputable or a cowboy — how do you work out the good enough/ excellent ones from the rest? Is it a case of talking to them, getting them round and then assessing when they're there?

It's nothing to do with being female, there is a lack of trades people. The best ones you are calling are fully booked, because they are good. If you are flexible maybe you could ask for them to contact you if they get any cancellations?
For small jobs, you may find you are being quoted large amounts because the trades people don't want the job when they can get other work elsewhere that pays better or is a long term contract. Who wants a one day job when you can take something on that guarantees work for a month. Not that this is a good thing, but that is why.
You may have luck with someone newly qualified who hasn't started to book up yet, but check their credentials and that they are insured.

Where are you?

Are there any independent builders merchants near you? They should keep a book of people they recommend - no independent will recommend someone they think is shit because it looks bad on them.
Do you know anyone with a trade? My dh has a list of people he is happy to work with - we get calls from customers looking for recommendations all the time - I have the list at home too for when people call the landline!
And even if people have a long lead time - get on the list! Ask to be considered for cancellations too.
And finally, when you do find a decent tradesperson, look after them! My dh will always pop round to long standing customers after his days work is finished to do small emergency jobs, and many a weekend has been trashed by an emergency call out to a long standing customer. He doesn’t do emergency work for anyone he doesn’t already work for.
Good luck!

It's very hard. I don't know how you do it. Let us know the answer
I got my hall stairs and landing done recently and he did an excellent job, came on time, left the place clean, but he over charged me considerably, I know it.
I got it painted mostly 'parchment' but the other colour, he said, ''you can have a few samples, I mean a few, I know what women are like''. I was triggered, but said very calmly ''i envy them that they have more than one idea. It's so sensible not to be pressured in to the first idea you have. I wish I had more than one Idea. I only like this one''. He just looked 'whaaaat'' but I wasn't going to collude with his narrative, women are so fussy. Or say I'm not like the other girls. So annoying. I had to put up with his generalising. I wanted to say, I know what you tradesmen are like! overcharging cos you can!

ps, I would definitely go with a recommendation of somebody local. That way they know that a bad job will reflect on them. The man who did my h,s&l had stationery and his name on the side of his van. So obviously his reputation meant something to him.

Before I just got some geezer off a website and he turned up late, did a shit job, it took too long, he tried to charge me for materials i'd bought. Total asshole.

I have some really good tradesmen but they all seem to be really busy recently which I find surprising given the prices they charge now and that we are being told that everyone is saving their pennies! I am chasing them all the time to come and finish off jobs they have started, I feel your frustration.

Thank you. I've made four calls already this morning. Only one answered and he was clearly on a job and a bit tetchy. I asked when would be a good time to call him regarding a potential job and he gave a long sigh and suggested I try again between 4-5pm. I'll phone him then and be as positive and organised — list of jobs, offer photos etc.

Someone IRL has suggested that when I call I say 'My friend Richard in XX has recommended you', because it makes it sound as if you're connected and he probably won't be bothered about not being able to remember who Richard is. I may try it.

I've tried phoning the guy I spoke to this morning but it wasn't answered. I'm going to send a coupe of images and tell him that Richard from XX recommended him and if I don't hear from him I'll leave it there. I found a roofer who's working in the area and said he'd call in tomorrow, then phoned back and said that as the weather is supposed to be awful tomorrow he won't be working. I guess it's positive that he phoned me to let me know, otherwise I would have driven 40 miles and hung around waiting for him.

One of the carpenters I phoned had a message on his phone saying that he is not currently taking on any more work. There are a lot of people with a lot of money clearly still spending.

If they are good, they will be booked up! Sorry, but you just need to be patient. Get quotes from those who come highly recommended, and a wait of 3 to 6, even 12 months is normal for a good builder.

As pp say, recommendations, and sometimes spotting vans nearby. Then if I use someone recommended, I might ask them if they know someone with a different trade

For plumbers, check Stopcocks women plumbers. Nationwide. I just started using them and they're great, both communication from head office and the plumber who came to me stopcocks.uk/

Not in the UK, but always use an umbrella company who do check-ups on tradies on their books as to returning calls, making quotes, being punctual, etc.

I'm widowed, and always sign off in both my name and my husband's, speak as "we" and refer to having to speak with DH. My late DH is always at work.
It's come to something when I have to do this.