Taken 2.5 months and still not received a quote??????

vera163

I'm new to the forum here so i do apologise if this has been asked many times.. but i just want to know what is it with tradesman in giving a quote? i'm doing a full 4 bed house renovation of an outdated property. So new kitchen, bathroom, stairs, lights, living room, windows, hallways, bedrooms, etc the whole lot.

In total i've had 3 tradesman come round on separate occasions where they brought their electricians, window guys, plasterers etc you know the usual procedure... now it's been almost 3 months and 2 of them have disappeared (presumably because of their inability to take on the task) and won't even reply to my messages/calls. Now there's only 1 left but even he's taking the p*** (although he's been very responsive unlike the other 2). I genuinely think i haven't done anything wrong as I haven't pestered them, or even seemed picky or hard to work with (all i've done is messaged them a few times on small details on what i'd like doing since their initial visit which is normal i presume).

I'm currently in that stage now where i'm chasing them up and only 1 has been responding - which this 1 does seem promising but you never know these days, he might just run off last minute eh.

Has anyone waited this long for a similar project? what is the etiquette in chasing for quotes?

krey

it's near x-mas , any half decent workers will have their schedule booked up way way past xmas already, it's the most active season of the year since everyone wants to get their stuff fixed/done till xmas. So chance is they have some better stuff to do...

Stevey198321

Yep, best to wait till after xmas as everyone wants work done for xmas. Most other trades i know are working 6/7 days a week at the moment. Jan/feb are usually quiet times so you may have more luck then

krey

btw

i'm doing a full 4 bed house renovation of an outdated property.

no you are not doing it yourself.. you are hiring people to do it...

Chanes

I suspect you've picked a bad time to do this being near December? It may work out better to bring trades in one by one if you are struggling to get a contractor to take the whole job.

Davesnave

krey wrote: »

btw
no you are not doing it yourself.. you are hiring people to do it...

I see some pedantic posts on here, but this beats most of them!

Yes, I've had similar problems, but I've always put it down to being in Devon where things are [STRIKE]a bit[/STRIKE] very laid back.

Latest is supply and install a wood burner: 3 contacted, 2 turned up (one a week late) and 1 quoted. Total time to do this 2 months, but the one who got the job has moved like lightning since. Mind you, I'm doing the prep and brickwork.

Another trade, a plasterer, has been booked for 6 months. He knows the job and I know he'll want it when the weather breaks. Any week now...

The electricians.....err not answering at present; must be another dead spot they're working in!

It goes on, but having lived here for 7 years now, I'm much the same. If it doesn't get done today or tomorrow, well... there's next week.

thescouselander

I had the same problem when getting a large kitchen renovation/move 18 months ago. My suspicion was that most tradesmen are after easier jobs where they can be in and out quickly and avoid the more complicated work if there's easier alternatives.

Don't wait around - just keep looking until you find someone suitable. I had to get in touch with many tradesmen before I had success. In the end I happened upon this Ukrainian bloke and his eastern European mates who did an excellent job at a good price.

EssexExile

I'd stop pestering & start looking elsewhere, if any of those you've already contacted suddenly become available they'll soon let you know. It's been the same for the forty years I've been (trying) to employ people in the building trades, I used to think it was a"south east" thing but it's the same up here in the midlands. I'm waiting for a decorator at moment who promised "early November", then "the first week in November" then last week "I'll let you know Thursday". It's a shame because I know he's good but there you go, what can you do?

It's a shame that the response is always "I'll get back to you soon" whether they will or not. I'd be interested to hear from any in that field why they never say "Sorry I don't want to do that job".

manda1205

We're in Norfolk and have had exactly the same problems as you. So many times people say they'll ring you back and never do. Currently trying to get our woodburner installed. One (who lives just up the road too) said it was a nice easy job and he'd call me back next day, 2 weeks later and still nothing, another guy said he'd call me back that night when he had his book in front of him, that was last Monday! Seems daft to me, I want to pay them.
I'd rather people where honest and just say they haven't a hope in hell in doing it any time soon, than leave me waiting around.

FreeBear

Same in this little part of Norfolk - Ring a dozen tradesmen, six might turn up to give a quote, and then two or three will send a quote over. One gave me a reasonable quote for a small plastering job which came under budget. Told him it was acceptable and agreed a start date - !!!!!! never turned up or even bothered to ring to let me know what the score was.

manda1205 wrote: »

We're in Norfolk and have had exactly the same problems as you. So many times people say they'll ring you back and never do. Currently trying to get our woodburner installed.

I could recommend Bure Valley Wood Burners - They installed my stove early last year. Not the cheapest of quotes, but Chris turned up on time and did the job to my specifications. The only time he asked for money was after the job was completed and he sent the invoice.

Hoploz

I'm in fast-moving Surrey and still can't get people to do a job!

I had a carpentry job last year. Phoned a total of 5 carpenters, 3 came to look, only one gave me a price.

I always end up giving the job to the one who actually manages to give me a price.

Currently waiting for some wallpapering. I had a guy round who was recommended by a friend in March. He said he would definitely fit it in by 1st May when I had relatives coming from overseas. Chased him but nothing. Had another man look, never heard from him again. Finally contacted a third person who I thought had forgotten me but phoned on Thursday to tell me he is coming on Monday!! Excited! I've had the paper in the cupboard since March! (Haven't had a price from him but tbh I don't care what it costs now I just want it done)

When my nephew dropped out of college last year, everyone was disappointed - my advice to him was get yourself a trade, any trade, and you'll be laughing all the way to the bank if you can do little more than show up for a job!