Garden PIR Floodlight Needs Installing. How Do I Hire A Good Electrician?

nickj_2

Ken68 wrote: »

Tradesmen are short of work, Electribem. Offer them £20 an hour plus parts. Take it or leave it. And if you can't get a decent price, drop the project.

that isn't how tradesmen operate, they give you a price , if you are happy with the price then accept it ,i think if you start telling tradesmen how much they should charge for a job then i think they'll quite rightly give you a wide berth , none of the tradesmen i know are not short of work around my area , i myself are more or less booked up for this year and am starting to book for next year , if you are good and reasonably priced then you'll have work

Ken68

Lots of people out of work Nick, that is bound to have a knock on effect. I just love it when talking to trademen when they say "I just come from a big job",and "next week I got a big job". My reply is usually "well if you can't fit me in", then watch 'em panic.
The plain fact is there aint the work about and no one has money to spare on non essentials, the contractors who do give out jobs are asking for a better price or a favour.
This is an MSE site.It is all about getting the price down.

fto

You could drill through the wall & plug it in...

Hasbeen

Install light and run cable from light to socket in house.
And as above if you have to drill through wall and plug in.
Buy a DIY book if you have to, it is a basic DIY job!!!

Cost practically the value of the cable from electrical dealer, not b&q etc

[Deleted User]

Ken68 wrote: »

Tradesmen are short of work, Electribem. Offer them £20 an hour plus parts. Take it or leave it. And if you can't get a decent price, drop the project.

Really?

It is still hard work trying to get tradesmen to turn up for quotes even in the recession.

electribem

Hasbeen wrote: »

Install light and run cable from light to socket in house.
And as above if you have to drill through wall and plug in.
Buy a DIY book if you have to, it is a basic DIY job!!!

Cost practically the value of the cable from electrical dealer, not b&q etc

Any books you recommend?

electribem

Deleted_User wrote: »

Really?

It is still hard work trying to get tradesmen to turn up for quotes even in the recession.

Totally agree

Rockingit

I am an electrician. I'm a good electrician, and I price fairly and not greedily. This year, I am almost too busy and booked right out, last year was not so hot. My charges are reflective solely on how much it costs me to operate (legally) and how much I think I'm worth based on training and experience, years in the classroom, exams, blah blah. They didn't change last year, nor did they this year. If somebody wants a job done cheap, then fine - there's plenty of bodgit's in the phone book, go call one with my blessing, I'll be there to pick up the pieces afterwards.

You don't walk into a garage and get the brakes serviced by starting off stipulating how much you'll be charged - why? Because you know that if you do you'll get a bodge job done.

So, Mrs Jones wants the reassurance that when she puts her foot on the pedal her car will stop, yet she's quite prepared to endanger her whole families safety with shoddy electrical work just for the sake of some MSE.

I no longer understand people.

Oh - and to the OP - I know some very trustworthy electricians in your area, pm me if you want some numbers.

Ken68

When I hear a tradesman, or anyone, for that matter, rubbish a fellow worker, then that is a clue.
What I want, as the customer, the chap that pays the bill, is a rate per hour or how long the job will take (so that I can work out the rate) and I accept that some jobs won't go smooth so maybe extra to pay.
I've just been thru the mill with for grant work quotes from Plumbers and Electricians and echo that even getting them to the house is not easy. Why!!!
It's nice to see a confident person, but cocky NO and it is up to the customer to decide if the tradesman is good.

cyclonebri1

Rockingit wrote: »

I am an electrician. I'm a good electrician, and I price fairly and not greedily. This year, I am almost too busy and booked right out, last year was not so hot. My charges are reflective solely on how much it costs me to operate (legally) and how much I think I'm worth based on training and experience, years in the classroom, exams, blah blah. They didn't change last year, nor did they this year. If somebody wants a job done cheap, then fine - there's plenty of bodgit's in the phone book, go call one with my blessing, I'll be there to pick up the pieces afterwards.

You don't walk into a garage and get the brakes serviced by starting off stipulating how much you'll be charged - why? Because you know that if you do you'll get a bodge job done.

So, Mrs Jones wants the reassurance that when she puts her foot on the pedal her car will stop, yet she's quite prepared to endanger her whole families safety with shoddy electrical work just for the sake of some MSE.

I no longer understand people.

Oh - and to the OP - I know some very trustworthy electricians in your area, pm me if you want some numbers.

And what's the bet 1 of them is your own??