Great ‘builders/decorators/handymen insider tips’ Hunt

Flylady_Flower

As a home stager, I have to come up with quick and easy tips for my clients to make their homes look good for sale while not costing them loads of money. You can't do things badly - especially when it comes to the fabric of the house, but you can 'bodge' just a bit, just to make things look pretty and welcoming, without spending a fortune. Here are some of the things that I have done:
1. If curtains are too short, try adding a contrasting fabric to the bottom of them to lengthen - check local fabric warehouses for their remenant bins - often only £1 per piece!
2. As per the above, get some extra remenants and make some easy sew cushion covers to brighten up your rooms.
Website address removed by Nile - sorry, didn't mean to advertise.
3. Brighten up a kitchen with new chrome knobs, £11.99 for 10 in B&Q (not in the handle section, but usually on the top shelf of the hinges, etc.)
My usual tips are in decorating on a budget, how to match furniture in a room, picture hanging, etc to make the most of how a home looks - quick tip - have pots of hanging ivy on corners of shelf units to soften the harsh lines, plants always make it more homely.
Hope these have helped - happy decorating!

skiking

For tips and advice from DIYers (like me) and tradesmen (honest and non abusive!) try https://www.ultimatehandyman.co.uk.
P.S. I do not own this site altho I do contribute to it as a DIYer asking for advice and also trying to give it

Snazbaz

alancfc wrote: »

I will be looking to get my bathroom done soon, whole new suite, tiled top to bottom, but I have floor tiles currently, and some tiles on the walls. Do I have to get a tiler AND a plumber? Or are there places who do everything? I'm stuck....help

My OH is often asked if he does tiling, plastering etc but he just sticks to the trade he is qualified and was trained in, which is his area of expertise.

You often see people advertising that they do it all, but be careful because this is where you often get someone who is an expert in one trade, but not particularly in the other (unless it is one larger company that is supplying people of each separate trade).

Personally, I would play on the safe side and book a tiler to do the tiling, and a plumber to do the plumbing (both on recommendation of course).

Julian*_2

If you need more than one trade done at the same time then try a handyman, or property maintainence. I'm a self employed handyman and I cover a wide spectrum of work under my belt and this can save the customer alot of time and money. Still get your quotes or estimates in, I ask the customer to pay at the end or halfway through I may ask for part payment.
Don't pay any money up front, I hear so many horror stories where that was the first and last time they saw them!

HugoSP

alancfc wrote: »

I will be looking to get my bathroom done soon, whole new suite, tiled top to bottom, but I have floor tiles currently, and some tiles on the walls. Do I have to get a tiler AND a plumber? Or are there places who do everything? I'm stuck....help

I can do both for you

No doubt others in your area can as well.

My advice to you is to get some recommendations from estate agents etc, phone them up and ask them.

HugoSP

Snazbaz wrote: »

My OH is often asked if he does tiling, plastering etc but he just sticks to the trade he is qualified and was trained in, which is his area of expertise.

You often see people advertising that they do it all, but be careful because this is where you often get someone who is an expert in one trade, but not particularly in the other (unless it is one larger company that is supplying people of each separate trade).

Personally, I would play on the safe side and book a tiler to do the tiling, and a plumber to do the plumbing (both on recommendation of course).

I would disagree with this view to this extent.

I do both plumbing and tiling. I am not a fully time served plumber, but have learned to do what I need to do to a reasonable standard.

My tiling has been consistently commended by, clients, kitchen and bathroom fitters and tilers.

I have to confess that I don't have a 'trade' though. I have always been very practical and precise with understanding methods, then following them closely until I get comfortable.

There are some people who try and do everything. That is not me. I keep to a fairly narrow scope, excluding most decorating tasks and major builds plus other areas. I have found that I cannot be competitive in all areas, and still achieve the standards I would like.

HugoSP

GiganticDays wrote: »

Is this offer still available? I've checked WHS's site and they have it for sale at £25

Go in and ask. My wife used to work for them and they are often out of step with their website.

jo_de_sylva

If you're planning an extension on your house that potentially needs an Architect it's worth checking if an Architectural technician can do the job. I've been renovating and building houses for the past 15 years and have always used a good technician rather than an architect and it's saved me a fortune. No doubt someone will say that there is the potential for an architect to work out where money can be saved on a build, but if you are only planning an extra couple of rooms it's worth considering using a technician. They should be well versed on all building regulations, be able to draw up your plans and submit them to the local planning department.

Gorwel

Here's just some of the DIY stuff I've bought recently from my local Quid Shop: Nails, screws, hooks, hammer, putty, woodfiller, frame sealant, paintstripper, turps,grout etc etc. They all seem to do the job so why pay more?

theoddjobman

Small tip for the DIYer doing some painting at home.

Rather than clean out your gloss brush at the end of the day wrap the bristles tightly in cling film. It will keep well for approx 2 / 3 days

The brush also works better this way the next day too..

A professional decorator has a special box which has spirit fumes to keep the brushes live.

This way you clean them out at the end of the job.