Gardeners seem to have quite an effective grapevine. I need some work done, beyond me now, and got a couple of quotes from local people. I then started to receive a stream of people knocking at the door to see if I had any gardening that needed doing I've shown them all the same jobs and had quotes from £1,200 to yesterday's record of £4,800. Today was £3,300 reduced to £2,000 "rock bottom" if they start tomorrow.
It seems to me that decent contractors are booked solid and the cowboys are on the knock.