Traders with too much work to care.

Franbern around us there has been an absolute boom in housing, catching up with the lockdown and to make the most of a booming, rising housing market, although it is starting to close down.

In addition during the lockdown many people saved quite a lot of money (yes, I know many ended at Food Banks but many didn't ) and saved a lot of money and this money is being spent on making their homes and gardens more confortable. The number of kitchens being fitted and landscaping and fencing being done is amazing.

I must say that all the tradesmen we have hired, with the exception of one superb very specialist contractor, have been local tradesman, people who have lived in the village or area for decades and mainly work for private clients, but as I said, so much work is being done, supply is very limited.

Monica those developers have always been there. The difference to pre-pandemic times is that there are now so very many fewer qualified tradespeople, as we lost them all due to Brexit.

One of the great benefits of coming out of Europe, is that we now have far fewer of these people and therefore have to wait far longer for them and pay so much more.

We have had an extension built, starting last February with DH project managing. We have a good local builder and he soon had the structure up. No problem getting brickies etc, but by Easter(21) , when we needed specialist tradesman, they couldn't be got for love or money.

Our builder said, that as, last spring, as everything opened up after COVID and all the housing developers started their sites again, all the sub-contractors went back to work for them. Why do an odd job for a private client when a developer would take them on for months doing 200 identical houses? He was having problems with much of his work because he was at lower end of the market, project size, not quality.

I think this is still what is happening.

We have been trying to get a new fence in our back garden for 18 months. We had some ridiculous quotes but were finally given a realistic quote which was £1500 less than the previous cheapest price. The job was scheduled for mid April but was only done last week. While he was working, four neighbours approached him to ask for quotes for jobs, he told us he gets at least ten enquiries a day on his phone for gardening or fencing jobs.

I too have experienced this … they don’t get a second chance to quote.

StarDreamer

From time to time I have seen advertisements for handymen who have in the advertisement No job too small

Has anyone any experiece of wanting a very small job done and contacted someone advertising in that way and can say way happened please?

Do the mean it, or is it "Oh not that small"

For example, if you want one branch about an inch in diameter pruned off a shrub as it is growing out over the path at head height and it is gradually growing out further.

Will they do that or do they require bundling in a lot of other gardening?

I tend to save up unimportant minor jobs then as a local handyman who I’ve used before. He’s fantastic, very hard working, reliable and leaves the area very clean - but he is in demand! By asking him to do several jobs I think that it helps him by cutting down on individual journeys to do one thing at a time. Last time he came he reseated my bathroom sink, fitted a new smoke detector, fixed a broken tile on roof, fitted a key safe, mended leaking gutters, hung up some new pictures and fitted a rubber strip to stop leaves getting into my garage.

I did share his phone number with a couple of friends who now use him a lot - I’m not doing that again as he’s getting too busy now!! I don’t know what I will do when he retires in four years time!

jenpax

It amazes me how many people have the money to get work done! We have just had a pandemic and now cost of living crisis, so where are all these people coming from ?

I have the money to pay for work around my house because I have not been on holiday nor dome much socialising for over two years! I expect many people are in the same situation.

Franbern

I think it does need to be pointed out that the problems with tradespeople is not so much to do with the Pandemic as the fact that Brexit caused so many good plumbers, electricians, builders, decorators, etc. etc. to be told they were no longer welcome in the UK and to return back to their homes in Poland, etc.

We reap what we sew!!!!

This is true there were a lot of East Europeans doing small jobs and charging sensible prices too.

I think it does need to be pointed out that the problems with tradespeople is not so much to do with the Pandemic as the fact that Brexit caused so many good plumbers, electricians, builders, decorators, etc. etc. to be told they were no longer welcome in the UK and to return back to their homes in Poland, etc.

We reap what we sew!!!!

We’ve had this for a couple of years, trying to get someone to come and give a quote for work on our roof. They all say they’ll come and don’t turn up. You ring them to find out why and they don’t return your calls. One that did come was clearly not up to the job and we’ve been caught out like that before. My nephew who is a builder says everyone worth their salt is absolutely pulled out with work and it’s taking longer to do jobs they do take on because they can’t get materials. I am fortunate in that I have a plumber who is a former neighbour and is always prepared to come out for me, especially since DH is no longer here. Unfortunately he doesn’t do roofs, though?!

I wanted new kitchen worktops but was quoted £1000. I took the plunge and bought some sticky back plastic and did it myself. Friends hink it's the real thing. Cost £40. Really pleased.

Milest0ne

I have had several lots of work done recently.
Worcester Bosch are excellent. A lady technical expert agreed with me what wanted doing and put the part on the engineers van. She couldn't give me a time for the next day. but at 7.50am the engineer arrived. Job done and departed by 8am.
I had a leak and rang the plumber at 9 15am, who had done other jobs for us He came at 10am. Half an hour and job done.
We have also had new carpets. The fitters came when expected and did a good job.
Solicitors? I won't go there.

> She couldn't give me a time for the next day. but at 7.50am the engineer arrived.

Did she tell you that arrival at 7:50 am was a possibility please?

As in providing you with a time range within which the engineer might arrive. 7:50 am does seem rather early to arrive otherwise.

Yammy
“If there's something wrong with your drains you try to get a plumber you cut your shopping bills and budget until you can pay the bill. The problems have been building up since the beginning of the pandemic and if your OH can't do it you have to pay someone” I was thinking more of the new bathrooms kitchens etc i had to have my roof repaired and a gas engineer during the pandemic so I understand that, its the discretionary spending I was referring to

I'd ditch him. Trades people are very busy but common courtesy is still part and parcel of a business. If he can't be bothered at this stage, makes you wonder what he'd be like doing the work.

I have owned five properties over my lifetime. After reading this, am glad to be renting, so repairs not my problem.

I have had several lots of work done recently.
Worcester Bosch are excellent. A lady technical expert agreed with me what wanted doing and put the part on the engineers van. She couldn't give me a time for the next day. but at 7.50am the engineer arrived. Job done and departed by 8am.
I had a leak and rang the plumber at 9 15am, who had done other jobs for us He came at 10am. Half an hour and job done.
We have also had new carpets. The fitters came when expected and did a good job.
Solicitors? I won't go there.

Kim19

Yes there was what I think might be a QR code on the table. My guest tried to take photograph with her phone. No success.

Thank you.

From time to time I have seen advertisements for handymen who have in the advertisement No job too small

Has anyone any experiece of wanting a very small job done and contacted someone advertising in that way and can say way happened please?

Do the mean it, or is it "Oh not that small"

For example, if you want one branch about an inch in diameter pruned off a shrub as it is growing out over the path at head height and it is gradually growing out further.

Will they do that or do they require bundling in a lot of other gardening?

Yes there was what I think might be a QR code on the table. My guest tried to take photograph with her phone. No success.

nipsmum

Several years ago I spoke to a joiner who had been working next door all week. I explained what I would like done and asked for a quote in writing. He shook his head and said it wouldn't be worth his time to do the job. The job was worth over £1000.

I've had the "wouldn't be worth it".

Yet how can they think that a job not be worth it when they set the price?

> 'Use your phone on disc on table and coffee list will be shown'.

Was there a QR code printed into the table top please?

Same but different........ I went into a new eatery today. Selected order from list above counter, paid and I was given a square flashing machine which would tell me when my order was ready to be collected from the counter. I did so and asked if we could have coffee. 'Use your phone on disc on table and coffee list will be shown'. 'Don't have that kind of phone'. 'Sorry, can't serve you '. Obviously customer is no longer king.

Our council, North Somerset, has a handyman service for the over 60s and I have used it many times for smaller jobs. Once I needed a new kitchen tap fitted , he asked what sort I wanted and bought it from a local shop on his way. They do all sorts of jobs even clean gutters and paths. Also it’s a reduced rate.

Such a good thread.
Personally - in spite of my acamdemic qualivifications my DH and his family's practial skills are keeping us going in our old age.
We need our education system for later years o return to practical things , even apprenticeships.
Faint hoped with this Govt.

I wouldn’t entertain any tradesman who called me snotty just because HE was late .