Trying to get decent trademen

aloise

Since moving here 8 years ago we decided we would employ local tradesmen from the area.
We have had the house rewired, a new boiler installed, floors laid and a bathroom fitted. We wanted all done and dusted as we were retired and we did not relish going into real old age with a lot of work needing doing.
Every single thing that we have had done has gone wrong.:mad: And it is so hard to try and make them take responsibility. We made sure we employed reputable people with qualifications. We were not looking for cheap just efficient.
The last lot, the boiler, has just cost us £450 to repair and he is now suggesting a new boiler, after only 5 years. Our new electric wiring has been found to be faulty after 3 years.
We are told repeatedly to help small bushinesses but my experience is they take your money and run. There must be efficient and honest workers out there but how to find them.
We are now living with heating that doesn't work properly, a bath that leaks and wood flooring that is lifting, and no money at all to repair. And no answer to our calls.
I'm going for the big firms in future. At least you have some comeback if things go wrong.
The only job that was really well done was flooring laid by a polish fitter. Did a brilliant job and had no trouble with it at all.
We are in our 70s now dh nearly 80 and no chance of saving to put things right.
I am sorry for the decent workmen out there but that is my experience.

bryanb

Personal recommendation is the best way to find decent tradesmen.

battleborn

I agree with the comment by bryanb

MamaMoo_2

As bryanb says, personal recommendation is always a great way to find a tradesman as, if its from a friend, you'll usually be able to trust and feedback and even see the work.
Also make sure you have a quick Google of the company and even the engineer to make sure nothing crops up.
Some workmen will also have a portfolio of work they've done previously, including references. It's always worth asking to see if they have one.

aloise

Thanks for your replies. it was a rant really.
We were new to the neighbourhood so didn't know anybody here.
I'll get over it when the shock of the last bill has gone lol

scooby75

Go to your local Trading Standards and ask if they run a safe trader type scheme. It's no promise or guarantee of workmanship, but customers who use these traders are asked for their opinions and traders agree to be bound by the spirit as well as the letter of the law.

And it's independant. There are a lot of commercial sites that operate that purport to do similar, but these are commercial.

Timalay

Back in the day of my dad's private plumbing, he never advertised. He totally relied upon word of mouth. A good tradesman will always be recomended by people.

aloise

scooby75 wrote: »

Go to your local Trading Standards and ask if they run a safe trader type scheme. It's no promise or guarantee of workmanship, but customers who use these traders are asked for their opinions and traders agree to be bound by the spirit as well as the letter of the law.

And it's independant. There are a lot of commercial sites that operate that purport to do similar, but these are commercial.

Thank you for that Scooby really good advice, didn't know about it. IF I ever get any spare cash again to do the jobs that is what i will do.

spacey2012

The Good tradesmen were put out of work by the influx of migrant workers.
Those left are those who can match the rates of the Migrant workers.
Obtaining quotes and going with the cheapest is also a sure way to get poor work.

Meadows

bryanb wrote: »

Personal recommendation is the best way to find decent tradesmen.

Even that does not guarantee a good tradesman! Depending on what job one has done against the next, what one deems is a good tradesman but the next person does not.
Recommendations that when you speak to the person that recommended you find they had said tradesman back to do another job and subsequently now find them useless!

Dookbob

Get in touch with your local authority ( town hall or whatever ) they should have a list of registered trusted tradesmen.