OT How to find a reliable tradesman

[Jim K]

On Monday, July 15, 2013 10:08:44 AM UTC+1, Mark wrote: Snip

implying??

Jim K

[Tim Watts]

On Monday 15 July 2013 19:24 Bill Wright wrote in uk.d-i-y:

I had to talk to about 10 companies to get my roof done. Half weren't interested. 2 of the rest sounded like bodge merchants when I talked to them, or their quote was unrealistically cheap. 2 were listed building specialists (mine is not) and their quotes were a complete joke.

Of the 2 remaining quotes, both seemed to know their stuff and one could start sooner than the other, so they got it.

In the end it was a good choice. For the amount of money, I would not contemplate employing anyone who would not spend 30 mins on site with me going through everything.

Though I agree this is the next league up from a 500 quid job :_)

[Bill Wright]

Good grief! Because they waste my time, obviously. I don't care why they waste my time, I just care that they do.

Bill

[Bill Wright]

Unless they are in a trade where materials cost almost nothing it implies that they might be on the fiddle, or might be part-timers.

Bill

[PeterC]

Next door had a new aerial and the job looked OK and neat. A log 40 was used as this was just befor DSO (Oxford) and needed wide band (it's C/D now). I was interested, asked who dunnit, got the name and also some spare 'digital' cable left behind. Aluminium screen and foil - I think not!

The way DTTV's going I might not bother with a new aerial, especially as I hardly ever go of Freesat.

[Vir Campestris]

Either they have a very small turnover, or they are dishonest.

In the former case, someone working occasionally as a hobby, fine. In the latter - will they still be there if you have a problem?

Andy

[The Medway Handyman]

I'm constantly amused by people who ring/e-mail and ask "are you available tomorrow"?

If I was, I'd be in big trouble.

[Bob Eager]

Although just occasionally it can be true.

After the saga of British Gas, or old boiler, and their smarmy salesman (and the £3800 quote) I contacted a local guy whom we'd used in the past.

Called him Friday night, he came round Saturday morning, and quoted later that day at £1900.

Amazingly he could start on the Monday! Excellent job, although I've often had to wait a while for him to come round before and since.

[Mark]

But I'm sure there are other factors.

Word of mouth isn't always 100% reliable. I'd want more particularly on a large job. Some friends of my better half recommeded a builder once. When we went to look at his work it was awful. Someone also recommended a decorator who let us down at the last moment too.

The latter is quite reasonable. You want to be paid, don't you?

So you don't always charge up front?

Ah. You're making it up.

[Mark]

You can tell a lot from talking (and listening) when the tradesman visits. If he/she talks bullshit (some do) then you don't employ them.

If you can find one. I often have the conversation like this: Me: "Do you know a good ?" Them: "No, but let me know if you find one".

[Mark]

That's a good way of working. A business like this is more likely to get work from me.

[Nightjar]

You never get last minute cancellations?

Colin Bignell

[Bill Wright]

Often on Dec 23rd.

Bill

[ARW]

Do you have a hospital, school or factory that needs a rewire:-)?. That's mostly what they quote for.

Most of the general public that call for the smaller jobs live in the Doncaster area and so it easy to get someone working nearby to call in and give a quote. And most smaller jobs can be done there and then if the customer agrees to the price - you just juggle the booked in jobs around (you have to remember that the booked in jobs are usually for builders and not the public in this case)

[Mark]

Not at the moment ;-)

[ARW]

Actually, there is more than one way to kill a monkey. The fact that bill has refused to tell you his tactics does not mean that he is making it up. If he does what I do then there is a good reason why he will not tell you.

[Mark]

Because it's illegal.

[ARW]

I have no idea if what Bill does is illegal, I am sure what I do is legal [1] if I am thinking of the same thing that Bill is thinking.

[1] There are always the illegal options. I doubt Bill does that but it would not bother me if he did.

[Bill Wright]

Cheeky bastard! You're naive about business aren't you?

Or as my grandad always said, 'There's more ways to kill a cat than choking it with lard.'

The fact that

As it happens I have dealt with copyright theft very successfully (profitably) without breaking even the most insignificant of laws, and without involving any lawyers. But it's my secret how I've done it, and I have several very good reasons for keeping it that way. I'm not claiming that what I do is unique; in fact I would think the same idea has occurred to many others. But it's not a thing to shout about.

Bill

[Mark]

Obviously no-one can force you to reveal this information. Is the reason for withholding it also secret? ;-)

I was wondering because we sometimes have the same problem and we haven't found a perfect solution yet.