Great ‘builders/decorators/handymen insider tips’ Hunt

riggy_2

As a cabinet maker and joiner here are a few tips

Dont rely on the tradesman being a member of a trade body, the guild of master craftsmen pretty much guaranteed that my work wouldn't be inspected by a knowledgable person, but told me just how much work their logo would get me! As always, personal reccomendation is the best indicator.

Expect to wait a few weeks for a good tradesman to be available. If they are busy it is a good sign.

Cheapest is rarely best with tradesmen or materials. It doesn't always pay to employ a joiner on labour only as they often get trade discount and know the best deals. It is worth getting a quote to supply and fit but make sure to specify what is supplied.

Have a clear idea of what you want before you call a tradesman out for a quote. Clear a work area for them and leave good access to where they are working. This means less chance of damage or mess. and tradesman who is not rushing or frustrated. A happy tradesman will normally 'go the extra mile' - regular cups of tea help!

When having a kitchen fit, have the new kitchen delivered well in advance of the fit, and make sure everythings there and undamaged. It is more common than unusual to have end panels or units missing, and this can delay the fit which can mean you are stuck without a kitchen and have to pay the fitter extra for another visit to finish the job. The fitters supplied by the major companies cost a great deal more than a reputable local fitter and in my experience are no better or more trained. If you are using more than one company to do the different jobs, don't forget you are the foreman, discuss with the fitter(who will be there all the way through the job) the best day for first and second fit on the plumbing and electrics, plasterers and tilers etc. so they aren't all getting in each others way. To save money, rip out the old kitchen yourselves - it's the one job you can make a mess of! Homeowners are allowed to use the council tip free of charge, even if you've got a skip weigh in the copper work, old cooker etc. at a local scrap metal merchants and recycle the cardboard packaging at the tip, this can fill half a skip.
I would suggest buying your kitchen through a tradesman at Howdens(trade only), they offer the best service to my mind and keep all of their kitchens in stock, so any replacements can be delivered straight away. If your fitter supplies the kitchen, they are liable for any delays, if you supply it - you are.


hope these are of some help

Cartboy52

Can anyone recommend a good plasterer in the Leicester area?

I was told a couple of years ago that skimming should cost you around £4 per square metre. Is that still the going price?

yamster

I am a Surveyor for a building contractor. I'd just like to offer the following general advice;

1. Recommendation is the best way to finding a decent tradesman. As has been said already, membership of the various trade federations is no guarantee of quality. To gain membership, the contractor would generally just need to show 2 or 3 happy customers. Even the worst can normally manage this.

2. Write a specification. Lots of the disputes that crop up between trades and members of the public (often lay-people) are down to differences in expectations. Make sure everybody knows what they are doing.

If doesn't need to be incredibly detailed. It just needs to lay down your intentions or your agreement of what needs doing.

For decoration it could be a simple room schedule;

Bed 1

Walls - remove existing lining paper, make good and redecorate; 1 mist and two full coats water based emulsion, in colour XXXXX. Paint by Crown or similarly approved.
Ceilings - repaint existing emulsion ceilings with two coats water based emulsion; colour white.
Skirtings - prepare, clean and redecorate paintwork.

For electrical works it could be a few simple sketches of the rooms with sockets and lights marked on.

IZZY01

Hi Snazbaz
I also am the wife of a self employed decorator.
Totally agree with everything in your post. It's amazing how people suddenly set themselves up in business and call themselves a decorator.

My hubby has been in business for 25 years and has never had to advertise, due to the reputation he has built up and either gets work through recommendation or going back to ex-customers. What I would say he has started doing, is when it comes to payment, he either askes for cash or a bank transfer. The reason he does this is due to the ridiculous amount of bank charges he has had in the past, due to the timescale in waiting for cheques to clear, therefore I am using the bank charges forum on this great site, to claim them all back. Will let you know how I get on!!

pigeonpie

Anyone got any recomms or ideas about plumbers, electricians and the like in the London area (SE)? We don't know anyone who can recommend anyone. We used the handyman from hell while tenants but need a proper job done. Plumber must be able to not just fit new bathroom fittings but also move/remove gas radiators, so the plumber recommended by the B Gas serviceman won't do it as he only does non gas plumbing. A dedicated London guide would be great as the biggest rip offs seem to happen here!

Graham_M

First post for a while:beer:

One thing I've found very useful is to go onto Google.com and visit the Groups area here Groups

Theres loads of DIY groups, uk.diy is a good one, get yourself registered and start asking questions or just search for a problem similar to your own.

Screwfix also have forums where you can search for info or post questions.

On all of these theres always someone willing to help.

happyjo34

pigeonpie wrote: »

Anyone got any recomms or ideas about plumbers, electricians and the like in the London area (SE)? We don't know anyone who can recommend anyone. We used the handyman from hell while tenants but need a proper job done. Plumber must be able to not just fit new bathroom fittings but also move/remove gas radiators, so the plumber recommended by the B Gas serviceman won't do it as he only does non gas plumbing. A dedicated London guide would be great as the biggest rip offs seem to happen here!

Try the Evening Standard recommended Trades people, I believe this appears on Wednesdays, as I found my builder there and they have proved to be exceptional.

Househead_2

Julian* wrote: »

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!

Most of my work is on recommendation, many folk dont have funds for major refurbishments and with everyone feeling jittery about the mortgage rates and the poss of a recession, a Multi Tradesperson like us can be a livesafer !

My main occupation was bathroom refurbishment, but for the past 2 years the lack of work before xmas and after has forced me to become multi-trade rather than become bankrupt and i am providing a valuable service to my community, although not very profitable, am just about keeping head above water and i do go the extra mile to be "on demand" where possible and am building a local clientele based on trust, honesty and reliability and affordability !!!

Many larger companies employ sub-contractors paid at low rates, then the sub-contractor is then actively looking out for "extras" to make their money up. With the "community-based-personal-recommendation" service we provide this does not happen.

But customers do need to communicate well with tradesmen, especially on major works like loft conversions and extentions and not leave scant instructions and discuss, discuss, discuss, and make requirements clear and also make sure it is viable, cost effective and within local authority building regulations.

Very often customers "change their minds" when a project has been started ......and with loft conversions, sometimes the tradesman comes across unforseen "hidden" contraventions to current building regulations ... that could not be viewed during the original quotation...... and also the Building Inspector may stipulate extra works be carried out before the project can proceed further...... which does burden the customer with "extras", the builder often gets the blame and bears the brunt of the customers anger and often the relationship with builder/tradespersons and the customer becomes strained.

When choosing an Architect it is always best make sure he/she is also a "Structural Engineer" to make sure the calculations for RSJs etc are correct.

In the current climate of the bandwagon of "consumer protection agencies", it seems quite often that more Tradesmen (sole traders) get ripped off by customers, than the other way round. The Trades organisations often offer the Tradesperson "legal services" but in the main the Tradesman is told to get their own solicitor !!!!! Not very helpful when you have subscribed to an organisation !!!! There are so many organisations setting up being that it is a lucrative business, it is very difficult to establish the "sheep from the "goats".

I would be grateful to learn from other Tradespersons which organisation is true to its word and does what it says on the "Packet".

I hope this post is helpful.

Sorry its an epic ... I feel better now thats off my chest

colmil

Some people have a habit of asking for an 'estimate', this is a big mistake because that is exactly what they will get and they are leaving themselves wide open for additional costs.

Always ask for a 'quotation' this is binding, and should be accepted in writing including the amount that has been agreed upon.

robhawk1

Here's a good tip from a landscape gardener who practices what he preaches.
I always QUOTE a finite amount for a job. Unless agreed with the customer if the job overruns or overcosts in materials, IT'S MY FAULT AND MY COST. I alway ITEMISE what you're paying for: i.e. materials specified and listed (with reason, you can't list and cost the last nail). My terms state you pay for materials in advance (the tradesmen can get stung too - I did for about £30k) and you will have a written statement of account on the day I start the jobshowig what you have paid for. ESTIMATES COST YOU MONEY AS ANYTHING CAN BE ADDED. MAKE SURE YOU GET EVERYTHING IN WRITING AND READ THE TERMS. If no terms specified on a QUOTE, don't buy.