OT annoying tradesmen

You are not alone. My Mother wants two rooms decorated and has had a few people call round to estimate/quote and then after saying they will be in touch are never to be heard of again.

I tend not to do domestic work now, but I have been in that situation before when quoting. I dont always go to look at a job. For smaller ones, I say I'm not quoting, I'll come and do it, but I wont bother quoting for anything less than £100.It just isnt worth travelling to quote for a socket or light change. Many say they want a price before going ahead, I give them an estimate over the phone, but that isnt good enough for many, so I dont get another call from them, which suits me. Other things, you get there, being polite,you dont say anything about the shithole of a house that you are being expected to work in, or the place is falling apart, and they say 'can you just do this' knowing if you touch one thing, 3 other things will need repairing. Another one is I've got a little job, which actually means floorboard up in 2 rooms, chiselling out a wall, and plastering to make good. When you tell them 6 hours to fit an extra socket, they sayits only one extra socket! The homeowner can give off some bad signals, such as asking if you can do it a bit cheaper for cash etc, I need it doing tomorrow, then tells of the tales of woe of other tradesmen who have done work before and have never come back. Those are bad signs. Little jobs, not really worthwhile unless they are close to home and can be fitted in.Some people, say I've got some work for you if you want it, go to look, and what they think is a lot, is an hours work. Sometimes I say a price there and then. Others I need to work out a price, realise I am not going to get the job at the price I will be quoting, so dont bother even letting them know. Others, you know there will be problems when you have finished and done a really good job. You get called back for the slightest thing, then realise they are trying to get a discount for the work done. One I did, all accessories were changed in the hallway for brushed brass/bronze. They had a sample switch to look at beforehand, I ordered the bits, £100ish, then got a call when they were fitted that they didnt like them as they were too dark, and could we have shiny brass. WTF can you do? They werent going to pay, so I replaced them with brass, and still have the bits sat in my garage. Get a big Company in to quote for your work. They'll quote and do the job, but you'll pay double compared to a lone trader, who can be picky as to what jobs are taken on. When subjected to the general public, you get very cynical of people, and assume everyone is out to get one over you, which isnt a good attitude, but dealing with the public drags you down, so sometimes nice people dont get the service they should have.

Unfortunately, this is very common practice. I have asked myself the same question. Some tradesmen are not interested in small jobs. Some have more work than they can cope with and are in a postition to pick and choose, perhaps even holding a reserve list.

I wonder also if asking too many questions puts them off. If you are like me, you are probably very clear what you want and this may come over in discussion, creating an impression you are likely to be a difficult customer. OTOH, if you don't say you risk the response 'You never said that's what you wanted'.

There is also a danger of getting the tradesman's back up by giving the impression you thnk you know more about the job than he does.

I got a painter in to repaint a door that was previously varnished. He did no rubbing down and left a very uneven surface. When I pointed this out, he said I had not specified that I wanted the surface rubbed down first. I said I considered that to be a basic part of painting. He reiterated that I had not said this at the start.

What about the argument that if you do a small job well, it puts you in pole position for a bigger job? I would quite like to see what somebody was like before engaging them for a major project.

A builder said that to me once. I need this job doing quickly, can you do it at a good price, if you do, I've got loads more work for you. He was a liar. It's cynical, but mostly true. I've had customers the same. It is very rare for a small job to lead to something bigger. Price rules for the vast majority of people. The last Company I worked for lost a £30k job by £1.5k to another Company. We had worked for the customer for years, always did a good job, yet that counts for nothing when you quote for a job. Personal recommendation is the best way to get people working for you.

Where to start ?!

So how does that square with the endless parade of tradesmen complaining about "no work because off ..." ????

Very simple answer: they're simply not the person you want doing the job. Suggesting the market is made up of <100% tradesman topped up by "people making money doing <x>" - not quite the same thing.

When we needed a gas pipe fitting in 2011, 3 "tradesmen" insisted that Corgi was the body that was responsible for oversight, not (as was the case since 2009) Gas Safe. I don't think there's any doubt that I knew a bit more than them about something.

A chancer really.

After the cowboys that f***ed my roof up (Checkatrade, list of satisfied customers, etc etc) it was cheaper (and a better job) for me to have therapy to overcome a fear of heights and do it myself.

My bugbear was tradesmen who turn up, quote, and then are only seen again to collect the money - all the real work being done by a bunch of guys who may - or may not - be available when it (almost inevitably) goes wrong.

I take your point but there may be a difference between a company with strict procurement rules to be followed and a private individual who may be more concerned about getting a good job done by someone he/she trusts. Someone who did a small job well for me would certainly be in pole position for a bigger job.

If its too small to do then quiote your minimum rate. (asuming this would cover the job).If this freaks them out you can try explaining the problem but its a waste of time. I NEVER quote at the time of visit. It just causes grief. I DO always quote, by phone, and leave it with them. You don't get all the jobs but you will get work from sensible people with an understanding of the tradesmans lot

I would say you are sending out the wrong signals.

I sometimes don't quote because I get the feeling the customer will be a pain in the arse to work for.

I loved it when a customer tried arguing with my Dad after a quote that "so and so can do it for £x" (where x is invariably stupidly low).

There'd be a bang of the bonnet closing and my Dad would just say "That's a good price" and not take any work from that person ever. But he had the reputation that could afford that.

Sure but if you take that approach you will get plenty who don't bother with small jobs and plenty who show up and who don't bother to quote.

Broadback submitted this idea :

I am still waiting for quotes for an urgent new boiler, from 12 months ago. The one who could actually bothered giving a (good) price, got the job. It must be a terrific waste of their time, visiting and not then bothering to put a quote in.

Alan presented the following explanation :

We have a local and busy solo roofer, happy to do little jobs. I have had him round a few times to quote - never more than £80. He always quotes and says the quote is good if he can do it there and then, I always tell him to get on with it whilst he is here. It works well and I get the jobs done cheap and usually quickly.

I'm getting that way as well, as all my working life I have been able to do over 90% of jobs inside and out. Now it's getting like 40% I can do and 60% I can't do.

I hate it when I have to ask a 'tradesman' to give me quote to do a job I used to be able to do.

Arrrgh! the joys of getting old.

Something that is not helped by the likes of Rogue Traders etc on TV when there really should be a Rouge Customers TV show.

Mind you today's customers were brilliant.

Anyone we know indirectly?

Owain

Then they can f*ck off if there's a big job to be done.

Second customer had three chocolate Labradors.

Then you end up with the OP's problem, no quotes to choose from.