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Original poster

Rant for those needing work done

46 replies

Allhailkingcharlie · 09/07/2023 14:35

I'm needing a few jobs done around the house. They've needed doing for ages and ages but I cannot get any trades people interested. It's a small job. Probably not even a days work. So no one wants to take it on. Do I just keep looking?

OP posts:
SquashPenguin · 09/07/2023 14:38

No one wants the small jobs anymore, we’ve had the same problem. Unless you’re building a two storey extension no one’s interested. We eventually found someone through a friend of a friend, but it’s really tough going at the moment so you have my sympathy!

ComtesseDeSpair · 09/07/2023 14:59

There’s a lot of competition for trades and, understandably, they’d rather take the big jobs lasting several days - a couple of weeks. I sympathise - we have the same needing done: basically a handyperson to come in for a day and do things ranging from tiling and fitting a bath panel to filling and sanding some cracks to fitting a new pane of glass in a front door.

Does your area have a Next Door group or similar? We’ve previously found there really handy. It sounds left field but previously we also found trades through (unintentionally, but very helpfully) finding a pub which happened to be popular with lots of regular tradies after hours and asking around. Quite a few guys who worked for companies but were happy to come and do freelance stuff on a weekend. DH is excellent at making new friends in any situation, which helped, admittedly, but worth keeping an eye out for!

RidingMyBike · 09/07/2023 15:11

Have you tried looking for a handy person type role rather than trades themselves? We found trades would only do stuff if we already had a relationship with them - so builder who had done loads of big stuff for our old house was also happy to do small jobs as he'd had a lot of work off us.
Look on Next Door or local FB sites and there's usually a couple of handyperson around on there - often with some feedback from people who've used them.

Original poster
Allhailkingcharlie · 09/07/2023 15:12

@SquashPenguin @ComtesseDeSpair I honestly understand but I can't do these jobs myself.
I think I am better off finding someone who will just do a foreigner on a weekend. I did find someone who came round but said that I could totally change what I originally wanted and priced it up at £5k!

OP posts:
Original poster
Allhailkingcharlie · 09/07/2023 15:12

@RidingMyBike I did find a handyman on Facebook but he said he didnt think he was capable of doing it.

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LadyVictoriaSponge · 09/07/2023 15:34

What do you need doing? A 5k quote is ridiculous for a very small job, have you underestimated the work involved?

mrsbyers · 09/07/2023 15:35

Look for a handyman rather than a trades specialist like joiner etc , they’re more likely to want a days work

RidingMyBike · 09/07/2023 15:39

What exactly do you need doing? There's a big difference between a few small jobs for a handyman (we've done this, it was stuff like putting a shelf up, painting fence and shed, replacing some door handles, levelling oven) and something that's too much for a handyman and costs £5k!

The handyman we've used charged either per hour or a half or day rate so we used to make a list once a year and get him in to do half or a full day.

Original poster
Allhailkingcharlie · 09/07/2023 18:00

I need two non load bearing walls knocked down

OP posts:
Original poster
Allhailkingcharlie · 09/07/2023 18:02

@LadyVictoriaSponge I hadn't underestimated but the only person I could find was someone who transformed areas. So he told me that it would look better if he did something else to certain areas instead.

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Slowlivingiwish · 09/07/2023 18:09

We have the same problem. We need new plumbing sorted for a dishwasher (not a DIY job, have checked) and we also need a new outdoor tap fitted.

It's part of the same job as the plumbing is under the floor and needs updating.

We've had 4 tradies in. 3 of them suggested a brand new kitchen instead. The 4th didn't even show up. (Kitchen is 3 years old but apparently this is deemed "old" these days!)

We cannot find any plasterers to plaster all our ceilings. Apparently this is a job thats too small too. Our house is 80sqm.

CCSS15 · 09/07/2023 19:16

Would it be worth stating what part of the country you are as we don't have that much of an issue around where I am - are you near East anglia?

Original poster
Allhailkingcharlie · 09/07/2023 20:08

I am West Midlands. Ive asked people for recommendations but so many didn't get back to me. Maybe I need to wait until I need something major doing then get everything done at once?

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RidingMyBike · 09/07/2023 20:20

Allhailkingcharlie · 09/07/2023 18:00

I need two non load bearing walls knocked down

That's not a handyman job. And it could be quite involved - we've had similar done as part of a much bigger project. I can dig out the figures for what we were charged for it if you want? Would this person also be taking the waste away too?

Original poster
Allhailkingcharlie · 09/07/2023 21:17

@RidingMyBike omg that would be great if you don't mind? I said we'd get rid of the waste.

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CasperGutman · 09/07/2023 22:03

Knocking down two load bearing walls - and presumably also sizing, procuring and installing suitable beams/lintels to support the opening and making good with boxing in the beams, plastering etc. - is most definitely not a "small job" and is DEFINITELY more than a day's work!!

Depending on exactly what was included, the £5k quote might not be in the realms of crazily overpriced.

NicLondon1 · 09/07/2023 22:16

I was going to suggest taskrabbit.com until you said it was knocking down two walls!! That is a big job OP! Not for a handyman at all…

Original poster
Allhailkingcharlie · 10/07/2023 06:51

@CasperGutman they are non load bearing

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C4tastrophe · 10/07/2023 07:07

@Allhailkingcharlie no one is going to start knocking down walls for beer money, and be on the hook for the making good.
People who knock down walls generally aren’t plasterers.
Are there any electrics or plumbing involved? How will the floor/ceiling be repaired?
You’d do better to get a local builder, or advertise it on a day rate, and you take all responsibility.

GoodChat · 10/07/2023 07:07

Stick it on your community facebook page. Easy job for a labourer.

C4tastrophe · 10/07/2023 07:25

Are the walls stud, block or brick?

BackT · 10/07/2023 07:27

Load bearing or not - that is a BIG job. It may not need steels but it still needs something to support the ceiling above.

Be realistic about the job and you might get more takers.

C4tastrophe · 10/07/2023 09:15

BackT · 10/07/2023 07:27

Load bearing or not - that is a BIG job. It may not need steels but it still needs something to support the ceiling above.

Be realistic about the job and you might get more takers.

Exactly. And people get confused with load bearing. Just because the wall doesn’t go up through the first floor, doesn’t mean it’s not supporting the floor joists.

Handymen don’t knock down walls, the liability is too high and they are generally not insured.
eg, they scrape a wheelbarrow down the wall paper in the hallway, or take a chunk out of the door frame, or damage the flooring.

GingerFoxInAT0phat · 10/07/2023 10:07

Search for your local tradesman group on fb and put a post what needs doing. On ours multiple people comment on posts or tag other companies.

CasperGutman · 10/07/2023 12:28

Allhailkingcharlie · 10/07/2023 06:51

@CasperGutman they are non load bearing

Oh, sorry. I need to read more carefully! Still not that small a job though, as others have said - particularly not if the quote includes all the inevitable faffing about to make good afterwards.