Do tradesmen ever turn up when they say they will?

I live in an area where most tradesman don't even bother answering phonecalls or emails. We've found the answer is to find that one good tradesman (yes, I know that's difficult) and then to ask him to recommend others. We've recently had a major project completed, employing a cascade of workmen as needed,all brought in by others who've been working for us and all really good craftsmen.

I live in a small market town in East Midlands. So far, I have no trouble getting quotes from tradesmen and getting work done. Mostly locals, one or two bigger companies came from nearby cities in East Midlands.

Don’t feel that the men treated me differently just because I am a woman. I am very friendly, I chat with them and make sure they got plenty of tea and coffee whilst they work.

On the subject of IQ, my dad had no qualifications whatsoever but built his own rather big brick built retirement bungalow himself. Just wish I am more like him, more hands on and can do my own DIY.

My son is a self-employed stonemason. He always keeps appointments on the dot for quotations and work. He says that is only good manners and is the sign of respect for those who employ him.

Allira

What this all shows is that we need far more young people to train in skilled trades.

We've managed to book a decorator to paint the kitchen but is there any hope of him or any other decorator doing more work which is needed before the autumn? None.

There is a dire shortage of skilled tradespeople in the UK due to young people being encouraged to follow an academic routes and it was a huge mistake.
The attitude still prevails, I've noticed, that someone is "only a plumber", "only a decorator", "only a brickie" etc. I've noticed it on here too.

They will have their time in the sun when AI really kicks in. 😂
And good for them.

petra

Allira

What this all shows is that we need far more young people to train in skilled trades.

We've managed to book a decorator to paint the kitchen but is there any hope of him or any other decorator doing more work which is needed before the autumn? None.

There is a dire shortage of skilled tradespeople in the UK due to young people being encouraged to follow an academic routes and it was a huge mistake.
The attitude still prevails, I've noticed, that someone is "only a plumber", "only a decorator", "only a brickie" etc. I've noticed it on here too.

They will have their time in the sun when AI really kicks in. 😂
And good for them.

DH informs me that I will be able to programme my very own robot to do all the housework in about five years time.
If I haven't expired from exhaustion by then. 🤖

I thought it was only me.......and Cheltenham.

Yes.

How dare you look at his diary, you cheeky beggar. How would you like it if someone did that to you. As said in Charles Kingsey's The Waterbabies, "Mrs Do as you would be done by"

Two bathroom firms I contacted came and measured. One said £50 for the quote. I said fine. Never heard from either of them again. How do they stay in business?

My Son-in-law’s nephew is a plumber was supposed to come 2 weekends ago to move a radiator for us and to swap a toilet with a new one . Not big jobs , can be done in half a day , and not cheap either as he doesn’t do mates rates but that’s fine . Three times he didn’t turn up when he said he would as had broke up with his girlfriend and needed to get drunk .
I may have to find someone else as I have all the stuff in to decorate my living room but can’t do it until the radiator is moved.
I hope I don’t have to wait too much longer.
Maybe there are a shortage of tradespeople because they are all encouraged to go to uni and nobody is working with their hands anymore

No lack of workmen, but with the government demanding more and more houses be built, they can get three months or more secure work on a housing estate, why hassle themselves going from small job to small job.

I have a plumber, electrician and grass cutter who turn up on time. One arrives at eg 1pm rather than pm. I am very lucky.

There is a local plumber who has decided to do small jobs only. He is apparently very good and rarely out of work.

Not a problem here but different down at the beach house. Guess they are all busy fishing and surfing!
One of my grandsons who lives up the bush gave up uni to become a tradie. He has so much work he is run off his feet. He does small carpentry jobs, plastering etc. Now happy as Larry, never was cut out for study.

My husband was a qualified electrician after 5 years apprenticeship. He had his own company after years of employment with others. Now they do a 12 month NVQ course and are deemed qualified. ‘Tradesmen’ these days cherry pick jobs, that’s why half of them don’t turn up. They’ve found another job easier. quicker and more profitable. If my husband and those who he employed gave a time and date, it was always kept.
Sadly that courtesy from modern tradesmen is sadly missing

Yes, they do.

bobbydog24

My husband was a qualified electrician after 5 years apprenticeship. He had his own company after years of employment with others. Now they do a 12 month NVQ course and are deemed qualified. ‘Tradesmen’ these days cherry pick jobs, that’s why half of them don’t turn up. They’ve found another job easier. quicker and more profitable. If my husband and those who he employed gave a time and date, it was always kept.
Sadly that courtesy from modern tradesmen is sadly missing

We generally find that the better qualified and more organised the tradesman, the more likely he has a professional attitude to his job and can be relied on.

There is a phrase 'jobbing, as in 'jobbing gardener' that seems to encompass the other end of the spectrum.

Just before Christmas I employed a professional fencing contractor to do some fencing. He turned up in his van with his assistant, did an excellent job, and I have got him coming in in a fortnight to do some more fencing.

This week a jobbing gardener was due to come and do some gardening on Monday. He did not turn up and isn't answering his phone. I have a local student, advertising for work, coming round this morning. Hopefully he will be more reliable.

I think one of our local firms has just become too big and hasn’t the staff to cope. They originally just did trees and shrubs, then added landscaping then drives and dropped kerbs.. They have an office and a landline. I could only get the answering machine. Nobody rang me back after two messages left, then a week later the boss rang and promised to come himself. He didn’t turn up and hasn’t got back to me. Yet people keep recommending the firm on the local Facebook page,

Yes they do if your dh is in the building trade . My dh is an electrican , who had his own company and over the decades has an address book full of plumbers, plasterers etc . We rarely have a problem getting hold of someone.
Just a thought but if someone has a list of appointments, it’s easy to run late either with the client or due to traffic . But they should call to inform you . Also many tradespeople fit jobs around other jobs , especially small jobs which may take a few hours .

I think it depends where you live. Generally, tradesmen here are punctual, polite and helpful.

I wish my daughters had all married useful tradesmen. My house is old and nearly always needs some job done.
I used to ask for recommendations on the local Facebook site but you get Fred recommended by his wife, father, aunt and son. If you can contact Fred (phone and email never answered) he might arrange a time to come but comes late, very late or not at all.
If Fred does actually start the job he will then disappear or leave it half-done. He gets flu or goes on holiday or it rains.
I could go on but I must ask Google how to repoint the chimney, fix the loo and lay a patio.

Our dishwasher made an odd noise last night, called a local chap this morning, he came at 3 today and fixed it, £60.

I've waited ten days for a joiner to come to fit a new door, he didn't answer any messages I left on his phone, so had to find someone else. Other tradesman appeared the next day, gor the job done when he said he would, and I wasn't ripped off.

My daughter has had 3 landscaping people round this week to quote.
One of them gave her the spiel. She asked where the soakaway was going: his reply dont worry love we’ll make it look pretty
😂

Most are full of bull- unreliable, want London wages, don’t turn up & don’t respect people’s property.
Lucky for me my husband can do all aspects of DIY, we don’t have to rely on workmen.

I posted earlier about an electrician arriving ten minutes after I called his company.
I have just had the bill for an excellent job. It was £40. I am not complaining!!!