Magnet sales

moneyistooshorttomention

A week Dave! Steps back in envy at that short timescale. I'm rather expecting to think of 2 weeks (including repainting) as a basic amount of time to get it done. Then added 2 further weeks - down to the cutting out/templating/whatever it is for the fact that I'm having quartz worktops/upstands/cooker splashback.

Am gloomily thinking it might be as much as a month of some level or other of disruption (even assuming I don't get to be on the receiving end of "Pembrokeshire Promises" from workmen - which is something that wastes huge amounts of time over here from all the let-downs of workmen not turning up when they say they will).

Tries not to think about that - now that I've got A Life here pretty together and regular commitments and things.

pollypenny

We also used a local firm. His tradesmen are all independent and trade as much on their reputations as skill. Superb work all round.

Any local firm will be dependent on reputation, so likely to give you a good deal. Our guy didn't charge for extras, such as pull out wire drawers in a couple of narrow cupboards.

If there's a problem I know I can ring and speak to the person who will get it done.

Davesnave

moneyistooshorttomention wrote: »

A week Dave! Steps back in envy at that short timescale.

Yes, a week to go from rough floor, and I mean rough, to installed kitchen and Karndean floor.

Obviously, there was electrical prep and decorative ceiling/wall prep beforehand, but that was best done by others or ourselves.

A father and son team did the install and a specialist guy did the floor. The father/son do all their showroom work, so I thought they'd be OK!

Your workman issue is nothing specific to Pembs IMO. Most of our trades are like that and you either roll with it or pay city money.

moneyistooshorttomention

I take the view that I'm used to "paying city money" and getting "city service" personally. So - my preference is to "pay city money" - provided I get the level of service/work standard I'm used to.

I guess even more annoying than "Pembrokeshire promises" is there is the odd firm that will charge "city money" and still do let-downs. By and large - I think they do one or the other. The problem is choosing the ones with "city firm standards".

I think I've got one of them trained now. He does charge "city prices" - but has learnt I expect my standards for that. He's just rung to ask if it's okay to pop round - rather than just turning up on the assumption I don't Have A Life and will be permanently in for whenever workmen choose to call LOL. Fortunately for him - I'd just got back in.

glasgowdan

What the hell are city firm standards?

A week is very normal for a new kitchen. It's an easier job than a bathroom. Ours was 2 days for raw kitchen rip out and fit, a day for cutting and fitting bulkhead, a day for flooring kitcheb and hallway and two days for plastering, tiling and decorating.

moneyistooshorttomention

City firm standards = dead basics like actually turning up when they say they will.

Dave knows what I've been used to in this respect - ie reliability - and that I come from somewhere we will "switch firms" on a whim basically - and I am used to doing that. It helps keep standards up to some extent - as they know that's the way things are.

I'm learning here that, if one finds a firm that's okay in that respect and standard of work wise - that they will throw in "extras" for free. Now "extras" isnt something I'm used to. I'm used to having to pay for every last "dot and comma". So - one firm I used and found acceptable for one job chucked in some free "extras" and came back for another job and chucked in some free "extras" again.

Just seen a workman earlier today that I am going to re-employ for something else and there is an element of throwing in freeby "extras" there too.

glasgowdan

That's such a confused rambly post.

City firm standards don't equal being good at basics. I've used city firms and small sole traders so much and there's no pattern to things. You need to use people who have come recommended by friends or neighbours. What has throwing in freebies got to do with things? Or is that another subject you've brought up for some reason?

Having a mindset of switching firms on a whim isn't a geographical phenomenon either.

Doozergirl

glasgowdan wrote: »

That's such a confused rambly post.

City firm standards don't equal being good at basics. I've used city firms and small sole traders so much and there's no pattern to things. You need to use people who have come recommended by friends or neighbours. What has throwing in freebies got to do with things? Or is that another subject you've brought up for some reason?

Having a mindset of switching firms on a whim isn't a geographical phenomenon either.

money is an expert on most things once they've had one piece of advice on it.

I agree anyway. There's no particular thing as city firm standards. I have project manage the likes of Siematic (2 different design studios) and they're not perfect by any stretch of the imagination. I own a house that cost less than their kitchens.

cajef

Doozergirl wrote: »

money is an expert on most things once they've had one piece of advice on it.

Or looked it up on Google plus talked to someone they just happen to know that is an expert on the subject.:mad:

Davesnave

What I meant is that if one lives in a rural place, there's at least 45minutes of travelling time at each end of the day to account for, and that's if they'll come.

Recently, I tried to buy over £3k worth of wood burner, flue and fireplace in Exeter (45mins) and they wouldn't do it. Of the two local firms I asked to quote, both showed, but one didn't bother to quote. They're 30 mins away. I went with the one who quoted and he was very good.

Another example: Heating firm 30mins away: £11k
Local bloke: £7k but he might have to go and see the heifers first!:rotfl:
Same boiler, rads, tank pipes etc. No flashy van decals.

I could go on. I booked my plasterer over 6 months in advance last year. He came, but downed tools for 2 days for TB testing and took twice as long, because he couldn't reach his mate by phone.

Like I say, roll with it :undecided Naturally, only use people recommended by those you trust.