Nice people thread part 3- Nice as pie

PasturesNew

lostinrates wrote: »

PN...

It seems to me you are dealing with too many variables...that was why I was asking about the work issue last week. Can you move further from home in any direction...I know you want the coast still, but can you go to cheaper coast..how close do you have to be to them (o.e.are you going to be helping them)? If you have to be close does that limit the places you could take a job in too?

I want to be away.... max 200 miles. Preferably 100.
Cheaper coast = dire, dreary seaside towns that have no infrastructure/shops/jobs and only open for the peak weeks.

PasturesNew

I'm trying not to get involved in the whole website discussion. What to do/how.... as there's already advice coming and I feel one person's voice needs to be heard/followed and others muddy the waters. However, I will state two facts:

- marquees .... ABSOLUTELY FERKIN NOT!! They're old-fashioned, amateurish, annoying and scream "LOOK AT ME, I'M A NOOB!"

- Testimonials are your biggest tool. Contact everybody you've done work for, see if you can get testimonials out of them. Then, from this day forward, ASK everybody for a testimonial. Collect before/after images religiously - you never know when you'll need one. People will phone you if they can see that other people "just like them" have used you and been happy; people will phone the firm that has the testimonials.

Do you keep a book of "thank you" letters? One builder who quoted me for a job brought round a folder of before/after photos, mid-construction photos and his Thank You letters from happy customers.

lostinrates

PasturesNew wrote: »

I want to be away.... max 200 miles. Preferably 100.
Cheaper coast = dire, dreary seaside towns that have no infrastructure/shops/jobs and only open for the peak weeks.

n.somerset coast? near at least two centres of major employment?

Three main requirements seem to be good price, sea and infrastructure. Obviously the atter conflict with the first. so....the issue is proximity.....obviously further east you go along the coast the more dense the employment opportunities might become....but don't know about cost. If you are staying renting and everything still fits in the car why not take a series of six month leases moving to different areas along the coast each time?

tomterm8

PasturesNew wrote: »

- Testimonials are your biggest tool. Contact everybody you've done work for, see if you can get testimonials out of them. Then, from this day forward, ASK everybody for a testimonial. Collect before/after images religiously - you never know when you'll need one. People will phone you if they can see that other people "just like them" have used you and been happy; people will phone the firm that has the testimonials.

One idea I picked up somewhere is the idea of using photo testimonials or video testimonials. You get the customer to write whatever they want, then you take a picture of them in front of the project you worked carrying a clear sign that briefly says what they thought was good about your product.

Pure marketing gold, I thought.

Can use the same images on postcards, leaflets etc.

Davesnave

lostinrates wrote: »

n.somerset coast? near at least two centres of major employment?

Where are those, then? I think the only bit of N Somerset that has employment opportunities & isn't also v expensive is outside what PN would call 'coast.'

I still rate the Exeter region. OK it's not the coast, but there's work, and if you locate on the south side, a quick trip in the car gets you to 'coast' PDQ, on either side of the estuary.

Don't know Plymouth well, but there's some nice little spots inland from there too which make 'coast' easy to access, but don't strike me as prime rent-out-to holiday-folk territory. I could be wrong though.

lostinrates

Davesnave wrote: »

Where are those, then? I think the only bit of N Somerset that has employment opportunities & isn't also v expensive is outside what PN would call 'coast.'

I still rate the Exeter region. OK it's not the coast, but there's work, and if you locate on the south side, a quick trip in the car gets you to 'coast' PDQ, on either side of the estuary.

Don't know Plymouth well, but there's some nice little spots inland from there too which make 'coast' easy to access, but don't strike me as prime rent-out-to holiday-folk territory. I could be wrong though.

With commute....Bristol/Bath..and Cardiff and surrounds. I don't know what prices are up there, but might be cheaper for one beds as lack of ''weekender'' draw.



I remember PN likes Exeter...its a lovely city....but I think the lure of the sea won!

I just think it all depends how much PN really wants extra work....if she doesn't then she's much more liekly to be able to go for the less expensive areas...if she does then she might need to make a move to be nearer areas of likely employment. Only she knows!

lemonjelly

Put my car in for fixing today. £250.:(

Added to the need to replace the glasses, (£310) this makes this month a bit mega:(.

One of the issues I've alluded to but not disclosed on here has been resolved in possibly the most positive possible. It isn't entirely fixed though, but we'll just have to live with the consequences & deal with them.

Kinda wrong to whinge about this after watching http://www.rednoseday.com/whats-on/tv-listings/famous-rich-and-in-the-slums

Also, if Malcolm is reading - hope you're ok. Seems to have been a while...

lemonjelly

Quick query for you all. It is the annual lemonjelly uk tour planning meeting. Where should lemonjelly go for nice days out (or even a couple of days if affordable)?:)

GDB2222

lemonjelly wrote: »

Put my car in for fixing today. £250.:(

The cheapest car repair I ever did cost me minus 20p. I was quoted £130 an hour for the garage to dismantle the front seat and sort out the clicking noise when it moved. I had a good look at it myself, removed the 20p coin caught in the track, and was 20p up on the whole exercise. Proper money saving that!

PasturesNew

lostinrates wrote: »

n.somerset coast? near at least two centres of major employment?

Three main requirements seem to be good price, sea and infrastructure. Obviously the atter conflict with the first. so....the issue is proximity.....obviously further east you go along the coast the more dense the employment opportunities might become....but don't know about cost. If you are staying renting and everything still fits in the car why not take a series of six month leases moving to different areas along the coast each time?

The main issue is it's not easy to rent. It's almost impossible in fact as agents don't return calls, properties aren't available, you have to keep jumping through big hoops, you're never actually sure until you sign and get handed the keys if you'll really get it - and then there's all the moving around of utilities all the time.

Years ago you could find somewhere to rent, probably see it that day/the next, you'd look and say "yes", probably move in the next day .... and when you want to move on you'd give a week's notice or a month's notice. Simples. Now it's just all harder.

Let's face it: I've not yet managed to get one viewing of one property that I've enquired about in the past 2-3 weeks in this whole county.