Is it just me?

It’s comforting to know that so many others have experiencing the problems that we are struggling with. We purchased a house in March 2019 and asked a neighbour for recommendations for tradesmen for a few jobs. One task was to replace an outside gate. The chap gave us a quote which we accepted but he has never arrived to do the job! We have had similar issues trying to find someone to install an integral dishwasher. Out of the several we have tried to contact most have not responded. One chap has spoken to us on the phone several times and promised to arrive to provide a quote but so far has failed to do so and we have yet to have gate, dishwasher and other jobs completed. I honestly started to think that I was doing or saying something wrong!

Where I live second homes / holiday lets get immediate attention when it comes to maintenance /repairs /garden jobs.
The rest of us have to wait.

Oh my god, I thought it was me.
Over a year trying to get someone to pave the area in front of my house. Had people not turning up to quote. Coming and quoting ridiculous prices because they don't want the job. One quoted then disappeared, then phoned to say he had lost phone and he arranged to come again, then confirmed he would start the next week, then disappeared again. One came took several weeks to send quote agreed to do the job then arrived with materials and a child and told us his 19 year old helper would be doing the job and that he would get out of bed at some point. He was told to go away in stronger language.
Fed up with them all now, if I was a few years younger would try and do it myself.

It definitely isn't just you! We need an extension reroofing, and started looking for a suitable tradesman in May. We have contacted nine different people. A couple didn't respond to our call. Two more failed to turn up to give estimates, and others came and measured but didn't provide estimates. We've finally found one who we hope is starting tomorrow. Fingers crossed as rain is forecast for Thursday!

We have had problems like this over the years with various tradesmen, most recently we had terrible issues trying to get a plasterer to come round, quote and then do the job - it took me ages but the job has finally been done. Now we are having issues with getting a decorator round - the one we usually use is being evasive. What is wrong with these people?

Had similar issues with tradesmen ☹️

Trades are really busy and seem to be cherry picking their jobs. I have been really lucky having found a fantastic reliable plumber (busy but gives a date and sticks to it), a great group of young lads that look a tad intimidating but work hard and do a fab job who have done two lots of work so far and I have just found a lovely chap, from chatting to a neighbour who was having work done, and he and his gang have worked 7 days straight sorting roof and extension issues. I have asked them to quote for other jobs and he was honest and said would be 1-2 weeks for quote and couple months before could start job if I go ahead. Also found a painter and decorator through recommendations on the local "nextdoor" website (very useful). A local well established company quoted me for a job end of last year, I accepted quote and am still waiting hence getting someone else in. I do wonder how some trades will fair once folks start spending their money on holidays etc again and jobs are not as easy to find ?

We also have the same problems in France. My DDs house renovations were supposed to have been finished last year but it is still being dragged out. As it ‘just’ the ground floor, so the job was thought to be too small by several companies which the architect had contacted. The job is being done because of 2 houses, further up the road, are having the full ‘works’ so they are being put under the same ‘umbrella’.
At the moment because of lockdown, people have saved a lot of money and are now spending on their houses.

We spoke to someone that fixed a fence for us recently. He’s so busy it took him weeks to come and collect his money. He said everyone he knows is up to their neck in work.

I'm waiting for an electrician to finish a job (most probably a day in work) I have paid him for the first half....but he said he and every other tradesperson is having to 'catch up' and they inundated with work because of the lockdowns we had last year/this year.

Is it because I'm an older woman on my own? Am I a rotten picker of tradesmen? Or am I just astoundingly unlucky?

I think its a bit of all of those! And I have total empathy ...been there, seen it, done it, got the T shirt!! and help a bit [for you, not them!!] ...but don't get the job done!

We have just been let down again by recommended builders. We need new guttering and soffits, also a new front door and a porch building. It seems that these jobs are just not big enough to get builders interested.

In Spain, where we have a second home, we honestly never have any trouble getting builders, plumbers or electricians. We have built up a list of trusted workmen who will always come out within a couple of days. These workmen are all Spanish. The only times we have been ripped off there was by Brits.

Tradesmen are like gold at the moment. We only recently got a plumber to deal with a water leak we had since Christmas, and then only after several emails and chat sessions. Mind, when the plumber was eventually sent he was friendly, polite and quick so we couldn't fault him. Made sure to get his direct number jic.

Definitely not just you this happens to everyone! If you do find someone who turns up and does a good job they’re worth their weight in gold !

Not only that they did the job and refused payment. Just asked for a donation to a local animal charity. I’m overwhelmed by just how wonderful some people are.

Someone is coming to fix something else and has just phoned to say he’s running a bit late due to traffic. We weren’t expecting him to be bang on time anyway, but that’s the way to run a business.

We've had 3 painters for the front of the house not turn up! It seems to be just how things are atm. People are not going on holiday as much so they are spending their money on having things done to their houses, hence busy tradesmen. No excuse though for not turning up.
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I’m waiting for a builder to come and do some modernising, and rebuilding of a utility area.
He told me several months ago it would be next year, and said he wouldn’t want to begin to do an estimate the way things are.
We’ve been using him successfully for twenty years, so I’m happy to wait.
I agree about the parish magazine, I’ve been largely successful with that, a couple of rubbish ones, but no disasters.
In defence of our tradesmen, who I have dealings with every day. They too have staff problems, but they have massive supply problems, and prices are leaping up, I heard someone saying today that he’d had to leave a job half done, because he couldn’t get the materials.
No excuse for rudeness of course, but they are having a tough time.

I have had lots of work done over the last 6 years and I have only had a problem with 1 Firm and other workmen in my house at the time stood by me and helped me sort it out.
I have met a lot of lovely people and have built up a set of reliable contacts if I need work in the future.
I use Checkatrade and I have also found a Gardener and Handyman on Next Door site.

It’s not just the older women I do wonder if it women though my daughters been let down by three men Going to fit a new kitchen for her

Have found someone. Of all places it was a shop with a rather grumpy owner. And a much larger organisation has sent me a contact number for someone they use? I can’t believe how some people go out of their way to be helpful and others just can’t be bothered. When I worked I always went out of my way to help people. What is amazing me at the moment is the brilliant service I get from internet companies since I’ve had to resort to using them. I’ll order something and get it the next day sometimes. But I do prefer to use local people if I can. I’m hoping I can relax now!

I think Sussexborn has hit the nail on the head. Jobs are 'cherry-picked' and the smaller ones get left by the wayside as not worth bothering with. I sympathise. I need to call an electrician soon and I wouldn't mind betting that my experiences will be similar.

We've renovated 2 properties and I could write a book about tradesmen. The tiler who asked my DH if he had a tile cutter! The builder who didn't look at the plans and started building a wall in the wrong place. The man who spent 2 hours measuring up for a big new fence and then never bothered quoting. The person who laid the wooden floor so tightly that it buckled. Ah... I could go on.... It has come to the stage that when someone does turn up or something goes right we are amazed.

That’s a good idea.

I think a lot of tradesmen don't want the small jobs. I would be better if they said no at the start instead of letting people down.

We have a friend who is a plumber and does jobs for us. He is still a nightmare to pin down if we need something doing. We do pay him

Contacting Age Concern is a good idea as I would think the people on their list would be happy to do small jobs, as this is mostly what older people request as they can't do them themselves any longer e.g. clearing gutters.