Tradesmen turning down work? Isn't there a recession on?

[tek-monkey]

Having spent the last few hours in the garden, I can't help wondering what someone would charge to jet wash some decking. Still, at least I have a good day for it!

 

[Bob]

Having spent the last few hours in the garden, I can't help wondering what someone would charge to jet wash some decking. Still, at least I have a good day for it!

Have you got a jet washer?

Once you get it out and all hooked up - the job's half done

 

[tek-monkey]

The decking hasn't been cleaned in nearly 5 years, its taking longer than I'd like! Completely different colour now, as all the remaining bits of decking paint have been blasted off. Only halfway through though and need to nip out to get some bits for a light fitting

 

[Bob]

I've got a load of kids toys that need jet washing - don't have a jet washer though

 

[tek-monkey]

You are welcome to borrow mine, wont be finished for a few days though at this rate. I actually have 2, but the other has a dodgy on/off switch that I haven't had time to look at

 

[darben]

I've heard bicarbonate of soda is good for cleaning exterior wood up, if you hard brush some in when its wet then jet it off it might be easier to clean your decking.

 

[tek-monkey]

Thanks, I'll try that. I got about half the back done this morning, go the other half then the small bit at the front to go. Its making a difference though!

https://www.dropbox.com/s/tuuulidiq99lvrk/2013-04-06 14.18.27.jpg

 

[darben]

Looking good, if you brush a bit of teak oil on there when your done it will look amazing!

 

[tek-monkey]

Had to leave the rest of it, had more important jobs to do. Got Monday off though so hopefully will get it finished then

 

[Admin]

Admin - Can't be use this data and information in a better format to allow for others to rate local services?

If we had a separate forum area, like we have "For Sale" items, with a strict criteria of company name in title only, and then allow us all to rate them and give our experiences of local tradesmen?

Well, that was the intention of the Local Services forum, but as you say there is no quality control in there so it is perhaps not as easy to use as it could be.

I have started a poll in aforementioned forum to see what direction people would like it to take: http://www.staffordforum.com/xf/ind...rolled-rated-local-services-type-forum.11658/

Please reply to this post in there, and not here, so as not to derail this thread.

Thanks.

 

[tek-monkey]

Today I decided that if someone offered to pay me to jet wash their decking I'd decline! By the time ive finished I will have taken about 15 hours, and it will be clean but won't be perfect. At minimum wage thats nearly £100, if I'd paid that for someone else to do it id want it perfect.

Admittedly I'm doing this with just a lance, if I was doing it professionally I'd have better kit, but even so....

 

[Staceywacey]

http://m.yelp.co.uk/biz/gp-carpentry-stafford
GP carpentry for all your carpentry needs!
I can highly recommend him!

 

[Arcadesteve]

May i put forward another point of view in this conversation. I work for a builders merchant who does kitchens amongst other things. I mention kitchens because thats the side of the business i work in. We find that the client often loses the builders interest in various ways.

Firstly, we get a builder and their clients in and we knock out a kitchen design. They go off with the plan and a few days later we contact the builder and ask whats happening. Increasingly we're told 'they're still deciding.' The builder (and us) get led along for weeks and then suddenly the builder gets a call. 'Hello Mr Builder, that kitchen? We want it tomorrow. What do you mean you've lined up other work? I know i've led you on for weeks but this is an outrage.'

Some customers, and it's not nice but it's true, are just a nightmare. We actually had a builder in our show room begging other builders to take a customer off his hands, got no takers and had to simply cut all lines of communication with her.

Also, some builders in staffordshire are so busy that they can afford to be picky.

Now i'm not saying any of the bad stuff applies to any of you. But keep in mind there is probably a reason for their behaviour.

 

[littleme]

May i put forward another point of view in this conversation. I work for a builders merchant who does kitchens amongst other things. I mention kitchens because thats the side of the business i work in. We find that the client often loses the builders interest in various ways.

Firstly, we get a builder and their clients in and we knock out a kitchen design. They go off with the plan and a few days later we contact the builder and ask whats happening. Increasingly we're told 'they're still deciding.' The builder (and us) get led along for weeks and then suddenly the builder gets a call. 'Hello Mr Builder, that kitchen? We want it tomorrow. What do you mean you've lined up other work? I know i've led you on for weeks but this is an outrage.'

Some customers, and it's not nice but it's true, are just a nightmare. We actually had a builder in our show room begging other builders to take a customer off his hands, got no takers and had to simply cut all lines of communication with her.

Also, some builders in staffordshire are so busy that they can afford to be picky.

Now i'm not saying any of the bad stuff applies to any of you. But keep in mind there is probably a reason for their behaviour.

I agree, I had half a thought of offering to go cut Bob and DBs grass, asking them to pay what they thought the job was worth (we could certainly use the money right now)....but then would my middle aged lady's grass cutting be up to the standard that they require.... plus you gave to add on the petrol used to get to peoples houses and the fact that you're limited to only work on nice sunny days, and having to day a small child with you in the holidays....so I can sort of see why people don't want the work.

 

[Bob]

I agree, I had half a thought of offering to go cut Bob and DBs grass, asking them to pay what they thought the job was worth (we could certainly use the money right now)....but then would my middle aged lady's grass cutting be up to the standard that they require.... plus you gave to add on the petrol used to get to peoples houses and the fact that you're limited to only work on nice sunny days, and having to day a small child with you in the holidays....so I can sort of see why people don't want the work.

You can come and cut my grass if you want, I will more than likely also have a small child running about in the holidays and as I mostly work form home another child around to keep her amused and wear her out would only be a bonus. Our lawn is far from immaculate, we're not after neat fancy lines, just short grass mainly so we can clearly see where the dog has been.

Just going by your name though - how little are you? We have a huge petrol mower that I struggle to keep hold of on a not very level lawn - which is why I refuse to cut the grass myself.

 

[1JKz]

I've mentioned this in other threads before, my utter frustration at dealing with tradesmen and their lack of, well, anything...!
It almost drives me to drink ...too much.

My latest offering is, out of the 3 people Plumbits recommended to fit out my bathroom:
1) first chap turned up on time and seems like a nice fella (he got the job, but i'll report back after the event)
2) another turned up 30 minutes late and when i said 'you're late!!' he looked at me as if i was asking him something in a foreign language, stunk of fags and was generally a person i couldn't speak to.
3) and finally the classic, i left a message and didn't hear anything.

The job is worth £1800, so a nice little earner and you can put tax issues, travel and other things Franklin Delano Roosevelt mentions in his little run-down post, aside.

I would urge you all to create a 'black' list of people that don't deserve your money, i have plenty on my list and it can be as simple as not answering the phone with their trade name/company name, that way they'll learn the hard way ...hopefully.

 

[Bob]

I've mentioned this in other threads before, my utter frustration at dealing with tradesmen and their lack of, well, anything...!


I would urge you all to create a 'black' list of people that don't deserve your money, i have plenty on my list and it can be as simple as not answering the phone with their trade name/company name, that way they'll learn the hard way ...hopefully.

Share!

 

[User Name Pending]

I would urge you all to create a 'black' list of people that don't deserve your money, i have plenty on my list and it can be as simple as not answering the phone with their trade name/company name, that way they'll learn the hard way ...hopefully.

Black listed for not answering the phone with the business name seems a little harsh. What about smaller businesses run from home who dont have a separate phone line?

 

[1JKz]

Black listed for not answering the phone with the business name seems a little harsh. What about smaller businesses run from home who dont have a separate phone line?

Who doesn't have a mobile phone nowadays? ...which can be dedicated to a business? ...more so if you are running a business, no?

I feel it's too easy to be professional when you have a business, so to become lapse in professionalism is always shocking to a potential customer/client/money spender, that's all i'm saying, from what i gather that's all this thread is trying to say.

 

[1JKz]

Share!

Share what, problems or the list?