Builder quote, is this odd?

parking_question_chap

Hi

I emailed a builder for a very small project mid last week, they replied and then I asked a follow up question. I was busy late last week and over the weekend. Turns out they have emailed me 5 times (without me replying) asking for an appointment to come around.

They have a few good reviews on yell, but it seems a bit too keen. Thing is its a small job (though structurally important) and I want to be sure I have a good worker.

I know its annoying when tradesman ddont respond, but this a bit alarming as if they need the work.

Doozergirl

Sounds like they need/want the work.

Check references. If it's small then payment on completion, I presume.

If it's important structurally, does it require overseeing by building control?

southcoastrgi

You asked them a question & they replied but you didn't so maybe they thought you didn't get it so wanted to be sure, you want to be sure you have a good worker but are moaning because they responded, would you rather they waited 2 weeks ?

parking_question_chap

No of course I would not have waited for two weeks, however it just seems that they are desperate for the small job, from experience generally a good builder would not be so keen to get a job that will probably take one full day.

How good is yells review service? is it possible to just sign up under various usernames and give good reviews?

System

If it's a particularly small job it could be that they have (had) a small gap between a couple of jobs and thought they could fit it in, or they could have been working close by and wanted to not waste a trip looking at your job - either way the longer you take to respond wondering why they responded quickly the less likely it will be for them to be able to do the work quickly

Doozergirl

Tradesmen can't do right for doing wrong. Don't phone you, problem. Phone you too much, problem.

Check your own references, regardless of review sites. Ask him for some numbers.

It could be that he's crap and has no business, or it could be that he's not long starting out on his own after being employed, or it could be that he's been let down on the timing of a job (which happens all the time) and needs to fill a gap.

We don't do little jobs but I could manage to provide short notice labour for very small jobs much easier than I can for larger ones.

parking_question_chap

Doozergirl wrote: »

Check your own references, regardless of review sites. Ask him for some numbers.

How?

Anybody on here really asked tradesmen for peoples numbers?

Doozergirl

parking_question_chap wrote: »

How?

Anybody on here really asked tradesmen for peoples numbers?

What do you mean, how?

Open your mouth and ask them for the number of previous clients. Why would you not check someone's references for yourself? You're already wary because the guy is keen but think it's strange to want to speak to previous customers?

Another case of tradespeople not being able to win.

I've had it myself recently. Asked client to come and see another ongoing job. They didn't, yet they questioned constantly through the job like I couldn't be trusted to get it right.

rosie383

parking_question_chap wrote: »

How?

Anybody on here really asked tradesmen for peoples numbers?

Yes we do! Anyone who has a bit of sense and bothers to read all of the very useful advice on this forum will do just that.

Furts

rosie383 wrote: »

Yes we do! Anyone who has a bit of sense and bothers to read all of the very useful advice on this forum will do just that.

Brilliant to hear this, but a bit worrying for OP to hear this. If I was the tradesperson having sent 5 emails I would be thinking..."this potential client cannot be bothered to respond to my follow up. Do I really want to work for such a client?" The answer is obvious and when the follow up emails eventually come through it would be my turn to ignore them.

The tradesperson could be genuine, they could equally be a cowboy. All I can say with certainty is OP has lost Round One in gaining a satisfactory outcome.