Post your work for builders to quote?

roses

Hi, I read on here recently where you can post the work that you need doing and local builders will give you prices.

Can anyone remember what this website is?

SelenaLouise

Try www.myworkman.co.uk at least I think thats it.......

dacouch

The ratings on these websites is not fool proof (Its possible to manipulate them) so excercise the normal caution you would with a builder eg ask for examples of previous work, maybe contact previous customers and make sure they have insurance (Ask them to show it to you and make a note of the Insurers name and policy number)

jason_s_2

Theres also https://www.ratedpeople.com

markie1980

There are a few about. A couple more are, mybuilder.com and myhammer.co.uk

While i agree that the rating system isn't foolproof, I would say it's better than a stab in the dark into the yellowpages or similar.
Also, would a tradesman go to all the hassle to manipulate the ratings in order to get a job and then do it badly bearing in mind they will then get poor feedback and no more work?

jockster211

I am self employed as a Refurbishment contractor (kitchens, bathrooms, tiling, decorating, etc).

I get most work through recommendation & feel my reputation is important. As I'd felt work getting a little slack my missus suggested trying a few websites to see what they were like (she got most of them from the MSE forums :money: ).

I've used and so feel I can recommend MyBuilder. Very difficult to manipulate feedback. I don't get to see anyone else's quote, so the job doesn't get bid down by any desperate individuals. Cheapest don't mean best;) . Certainly get a copy of someone's Liability Insurance certificate 'cos that bit is easy to abuse.

Thankfully things haven't slackened off as much as I'd feared, but I think I'll continue to use MyBuilder:D.

Jockster

dwarvenassassin

The problem with site like these is that while you get honest tradesmen, you also get a lot of cowboys.

Here is an example...

As an experiment, a group of electricians posted a ficticious job on one of these sites where contractors bid against each other.
The job in question was a consumer unit change over
Within about 1hr, it had been priced so far down that none of the electricians carrying out the experiment could provide the materials (never mind the labour and certification) for less than twice what had been quoted for the whole job.

Joe Public is a tight a**e in general and always wants everything for free (or preferrably cheaper) and sites like these encourage people to use cowboys instead of genuine tradesmen because the cowboys are in it for a quick buck instead of a proper job and so will take anything instead of the true price.

Happychappy

So what price did the electricians think was reasonable for a consumer change over ? and how far below was the lowest quote.

I am looking for a similar job and have been quoted from £300 to £1300 ? so who is right, all say they are City in Guilds, CD-VD&scar etc so how does a tight !!!! joe public not get ripped off by the "group of electricians"

I always look at the labour cost and think someone on gross £30k a year is paid £576 per week, or £115 per day.

One electrician who quoted £650 and said it would be a full days work and I would get a Part P etc, etc he worked out materials would be around £100, so therefore he charges £550 for labour for a days work, multiply that by five days a week and say fourty four earning weeks a year, allowing executive stress and needing eight weeks a year off for holidays and bank holidays, not working more than five days a week. £121k per year for a sparky ?

My point is how do we the tight arsed public know what is good value other than comparing our own salary if a skilled worker and then some for self employed, own tools, van, phone etc so to me £150 per day for labour costs for a skilled tradesman I would think is reasonable. This allows £7700 for overheads, which can then be offset against taxes etc, etc.

Interested in your views, and this is not a pop at qualified tradesmen, just a question, How do we know a good deal from a cowboy or a well qualified rip off merchant?

jockster211

dwarvenassassin wrote: »

The problem with site like these is that while you get honest tradesmen, you also get a lot of cowboys.

Here is an example...

As an experiment, a group of electricians posted a ficticious job on one of these sites where contractors bid against each other.
The job in question was a consumer unit change over
Within about 1hr, it had been priced so far down that none of the electricians carrying out the experiment could provide the materials (never mind the labour and certification) for less than twice what had been quoted for the whole job.

Agree entirely with all your points . Everyone's after somethin' for nowt'.:mad:

However I did say that on MyBuilder, none of the 'competing' tradesmen get to see any other's quote. So there may not be a lot of bidding down?

Jockster

roses

Thanks, I posted on myhammer and mybuilder

twinklyrach

There's also http://www.egenie.co.uk. I can't attest to how good it is but it's worth a go.

My only concern with those sites is people quoting to, say, plaster a room without actually seeing it to gauge prepwork, corners and so on. I wonder how many get halfway through the job and then declare it'll cost a lot more than they said.